The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-29

| few moments, ana, as 8aZeu ofer Ciie
valley, the old feeling of three years be-
fore was instantly surging and swayine
in my breast; and before the train was
again in motion l stood upon the rude
country-station platform, unable to resist
the force impelling me there, thinking
could pursue my journey the next day as
we'll as this.
After the train had departed, and ]
observed the curious country eyes scan
ming my singular movements, 1 suddenly
realized my awkward position. and won
dered what to do. Mechanically
strolled toward the spot Fred had chosen
for his vantage-ground to view the val
ley. Little change was visible. The
sunset colors were less vivid, and conse-
auently the shadow over the valley was
less sombre-a much more pleasing pic
ture; and yet I could not help feeling
that the sombre shadow was over my
heart instead.
aimlessly followed the winding road
into the valley, descending at every step
farther and farther into the shadow; yet
my soul into its own shadow plunged
more recklessly still, the gloom surround
ing it seeming almost sullen in its inten-
sity. -,
Suddenly it grew lighter. What did
it presage? A large cumulus of cloud
had drifted into the range of the sums
rays, and caught the splendor, sending
them down to the earth in glow of re-
Election. eff my own soul could drift
into such volume of GghtW I thought,
bitterly, and walked slowly onward.
What marvellous shapes the clouds
take at times! This one and smaller
ones, drifting with and counter to it,
suddenly took the shape of huge an.
chor, seeming to me, in my shortened
vision, CLEAN of mighty irony glowing
with false glimmer.
So intent was my gaze bent heaven
ward that / did not observe figure i'm
mediately in front of me, emerging from
the valley. 1t was a female figure, and
I hastily stepped on one side to allow her
to pass, hardly withdrawing my gaze
from the heavens. The moment she had
passed, in obedience to sudden Impulse,
I turned my head, to see hers also to
observe me. The light from the cloud of
hope shown full in her face, and I started
at the recognition. Was my soul, then,
drifting as yonder cloud had done 2
Was this thrill that bathed it in pathos
the light, indeed, that warns and glori-
fies all it shines on-or was it but mock
ing irony?
aMiss Perryp I exclaimed, ''this is a
rare pleasure"
She advanced in the same shy manner
as of old, and held out her hand in the
old coy style.
"Was it you, then, I was to meet at the
station?" she asked.
"Were you expecting some one" l
asked, a little bewildered.
"No-yes," was the hesitating reply.
ri suppose, if tell you, you will laugh
at me. I was sitting in the parlor short
time ago, looking now and then at the
old picture you were pleased to take so
much notice of in those other years-the
picture has been very dear to me latter
fy," she parenthetically added, with a
Just perceptible tremor in her voice
"when suddenly I was impressed with
the idea that I was to meet some one at
the station. The notion occurred to me
at once as so didiculous, that I laughed
Outright. But it wouldn't be laughed
down, and finally started, and here l
am"
then told her how I had just returned
from Europe, and was on my way to find
my mother and sister, when I was almost
impelled from the cars.
"And you were going right by without
stopping to see us?"
I hesitated, not knowing the nature Of
the ground was standing on, and not
caring to make misstep.
"Fred and I would both have been 80
disappointed if you had"
"Ah! is Fred herew I asked, making
an effort to appear at ease, though sue
ceeding badly, I am afraid.
"Why, of course. He is here all the
time, now, except for a few months in
the winter"
My heart leaped into my throat in very
agony, and for a moment I dared not
trust myself to speak. We had in the
meantime been walking slowly down into
the valley, and suddenly door of q
house close by the wayside swung open.
and flood of light rested upon my com.
panion. Ahl the caprices of fashion
How its edicts drift around in circles,
and turn up unexpectedly Of course
the ruff was not SO p,'ononcc, nor the roll
ing folds to the dress, gathering in 8
mass back of the neck, so angular and SC
stiff as represented in the Elizabethau
portrait; but there she was in the dress
with notifications, in which she had
made the final assault upon my heart
and won it-"unknowingly, heedlessly,' y
I said to myself.
"Didn't you know of Fred's marriage9'
she asked, after the awkward pause in
which my mind had been so busy.
"Not to certainty. I conjectured as
much. You are very happy, sup
pose"
"Yes, as the world goes, Fred is the
dearest and best fellow in the world
How long since you have seen him? II
is long time, isn't it?"
"Three years. He was seated where
met you, just now, tne nlgntoi Hy returD
home, and after you went over the noun
tains 80 much after the French-leave
manner"
ooh! was such silly chit then"
"And you think you have grown wiser.
now?"
"Maybe not, nor happier; this world
is for growth, not happiness, after all
Growth is the object, happiness the re,
suit; not the reverse, as people generally
suppose , :. ~, ,,,o,, ..
in domestic way?"
"Ol, yes! He is quite the rage in Ger.
tain circles. But you know all about
that, probably?"
"No. 1 have been so immersed in
business in Europe that I have absolute.
ly not heard of or from him since-let
me see; no, no; not since he wrote, just
after my return from here, to tell me Of
his engagement with you."
Ellis engagement -with-meP draw
inn ohorn breath at the anunciatiOn O1