Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-09-26
E Err II.


icitI. IN -anto make preparations
'ur i,aNiu1 home. The novelty of
her new position lem considerable
-iIirrrS' to her .utulc work aud to "A
great degree KEEP mp her spirits, 80
that the parting with loved ones AT
home MAS Sumcw hat mitigatrd, nj.
though it was still Il hard struggle
ior. her tender heart, cIinging to
every loved spot of that rural retreat,
The home of happy childhood, now
rendered dnuhlN sacred that she
must leave II to go among strangers
in a strange city.
On the eve of her departure next
day She took Il walk over the beau.
iiiul grounds surrounding her vine.
clad home, 10 take a lingering adiru
of her favorite hauntS, Steu perhaps
for the last time for many months.
Standing amid the shady branches
oi Il thick Sightseeing grove, her mind
all absorbed IN memories of the past.
a little doubtful as 10 what the future
might uniold.to her: whether an cX.
pcrlrnce that wOnld only add To her
recent SORROWS, may be, the bitter
mort liirition OF failure. Suddenly
her attention was called to the
present hy the rustling of leaves
behind her. She looked. All. too
well she knew that manly. graceful
form. In an Instant he was bS hen
side. and as he took her white little
hand in hlS-a hand of such beauty
at symmetry an artist might finger
long upon III cNtdilc admIratloIl-
he no iced the pallOr of her cOnntcn
ancc-hcr trcmhlln. lips, as she
tried to greet him. and Il; the same
time to tell him she would leave un
the morrow for the city of VI.
not once lntilnallng 10 him her mis-
sion there, only thar she WAS gorpg
10 >lsli a relative oi Arr mothers.
Henry Noonnam had been Ecr.
ties friend from the 7r-ttrrt
fist crossed the hills and lawns
together, Oh their way 10 school
Often and again he would calrN her.
himself Walking the log. across the
swift running crcch after a i'rrsiict.
and ever insisted with maniy cour.
tcSy on carving the bucket con.
tanning her dinner and her Sdichcl
OF books So that she might ramblr.
To gather thc-Wi;d flower ~;ri i h,lI.rs
that grew nv thcWa; sid Athpug'
four years her senior, he ever lu,,j
h"r sweet SorictN. even Nclird To
her gentle intl elc.. lie often at.
know lrda rd IN lis owl in,IilItioa>
that hr vas a hr,tci hoy lor ia, lug
known Berthe. She seemed ~ cert
Il magic influence over hinI---d charm
he could not lcsiSt-suNduing the
rougher feelings of his nature aud
ever calling into action his inner
traits.
Henry truly loved Bcrtie, and in.
tended some day To tell her so and
ask her To become his wife. knowing
the stlun- principles ui her nature.
the honesty of her heart. she would
not consent unless she loved him in
return. This thought WAS the guild.
ing star of his life. Ii dawned upon
him IN youths bright morn, and in.
Spircd his every noble aspiration OF
soul. He determined to be good
and great for Berries sake. When
at college he applied himself assidn.
Ously to the task of ahstruse studies,
OF relaxing from these, he would in
dulge in all the riches of ancient
lore, regale Imagination in fanciful
dreams, or poetic visions, from the
one incentive II he loved BERTHE.
Now be had finished his collegiate
course, had returned home with
high hopes, and anticipatiOns such as
yonng love only can inspire, to spend
awhile in the society of BERTHE. II
was indeed most bitter dissppoint.