The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-03-30

g
Afer dusk on glorious winter day
with here and there a star twinkIing
in the pale gray sky, and the lights
and the fires In the Hillcrest sitting
room making an eloquent welcome tc
Walter Austin, he stood in the
midst of the lonely home circle, tall
gentlemanly, handsome, aud selfpos
sessed.
Old Mr.. Cressington was in bis
richest humor as he led forward two
young girls.
"Come, don't be shy, now. Walter
this is your cousin, Mabel Cressington,
and this her good friend and insepara-
BILE Irene Vance. come to help enter.
tain you. My nephew, Mr.. Walter
Austin, girls. And this is aunt Cor.
nelia-you remember her well enough,
hey'"
And so the presentation was merri-
rily got over, and Walter found him
self at home in the most pleasant
family he ever had known.
They were remarkably pretty girls,
with blue eycs-although ssVance's
we're decidedly the deeper blue and
more bewitching-and lovely yellow
gold hair, although Walter found
himself admiring the style Of Miss
Vance's couture before he had known
her an hour. and when he went up to
his room that night he felt as if. be-
tween the two-roguish Mabel and
sweet little Irene-he never would
come out heart-whole.
"For Mabel is good little darling.
and l will take old great-uncleA biah's
advice aud fall in love with her, and
thereby secure generous share of the
Cressington estates"
And the handsome young gentle
man went to sleep and dreamed, in
stead Of Mabels laughing eyes. of
Irene's gentle tender ones, and awoke
somewhere in the middle of the night,
unable to get to sleep again for think
ing Of her.
And the after days were not much
better. Despite the golden value Of
Mabel there was something about
Irene Vance that made this headstrong
fellow very foolishly indifferent to the
advice he had sworn to follow.
because, by Jove! fellow would
have to be made Of granite to resist
the sweet, shy ways of such little
darling as Ircnel And I'll marry her.
if she'll have me, and the money and
may go to the-dogs! I've
a head and pair Of hands, and little
Irene shall not suffer-"
1t was not an hour later that he met
her in the hall, carrying great boughs
of holly, to festoon down the sombre
walnut staircase.
give me your burden, Irene.
Why didn't you tell me you were 60
ing to gather it, and let me go with
you,"
He managed to get the lovely
sprays frou her arms, but it required
an immense amount Of tardy effort Oh
his part, AMI shy, sweet blushing on
hers.
"Answer me, Irene. Why didn',
you let me 60 with your Wouldn't
you have liked it,"
He demanded her answer in hi,
most captivating, lordly way, and she
dropped her eyes confusedly.
Yes"
"Thcn why were you so cruel to
me? Say, Irene"
IL am not cruel to any body. In
deed | must 60"
Walter planted himself precisely in
the way, and wa' looking down at
her rose tinted face.
"No, you cant go yet. Irene you
are cruel. or you would never deprive
me of one opportunity to enjoy the
blessedness Of your society"
Hi. voice lowered tenderly, and he
dropped his head nearer her golden
curls.
"You know think it is cruel in you
to be SO distant, aud shy, and reserv-
ed with NEEDN'T you, Irene?"
She shrank away. her lovely form
dropping like a lilly of the valley, her
checks hanging out their Signals of
distress and confusion.
"Oh, please, don't talk so to me!
Indeed l must 70. Mabel is waiting
for the holly, and she-they won't
like it if"
But Irene was a prisoner in his
tight grasp.
"If WHAT If they find you and
me talking SO confdentially together"
"Nc! mean if | don't take the
holly at once"
Walter put his arm around her
waist before she hardly knew what he
was doing.
"Irene, look up! You shall not 60
until you let me see in your eyes if
You love me as well rs | love youl