The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25

AA"Se AOL VII u lllIlC lllOlC I'll IlC gus, IJCT-
haps she had caused the fire to be rcplcn-
ished-I could not tcll-but it appeared
to me new and refreshing place. for
got all my trials; my heart grew light in
a moment. I could not keep my eyes
from the sparkling face of my ward.
There is no use in trying describe her
inimitablc grace, her varying expression
every moment disclosing some new charm
her dclicacy of department, and at
times her gravity Of demcanor and
thoughtful ways.
Well, this was comfort-thcrc was no
denying it. Every day the sweet girl
won upon me. She seemed perfection in
all she did and said. Her playing was
exquisite; nor did she depend upon mas
ters and practice, for her soul was the de-
pository of beautiful gems of melody,
and she drew them forth at will. How
she had retained her girlish simplicity,
the sweet modesty of mien for which as a
child she was remarkable. never could
tell. Certainly, Alice Haughton was un-
like all other young ladies I had ever
seen. I had rather mathematical the
whole class Alice Haughton re-
deemed them all.
Let me hurry on with my narrative.
Every day grew more hopelessly enam-
ored. She became shy and sensitive, and
gave me by her manner occasional
glimpses of hope. surprised her some
times singing over softly the songs I
loved. l saw her read the books I
praised. Sometimes / looked into them
and found such passages marked as made
my heart beat more rapidly. Not long
after my symptoms had become thus vio-
lent, received letter from younger
brother whom I had not seen for ten
years, and then he was boy. remem-
bcred his extreme beauty. and my soul
grew sick. Impending evil like a horri
bic vulture tapped its wings over my
head. He wrote me that he had become
a prosperous merchant; that he was COM
ing soon to see me. It was warm, glow
ing, impulsive letter, but, strange to say,
I crumpled it in my hand, and threw it in
the fire.
It was singular coincidence, but the
day he came-as in the case Of Alice-I
was called away. When I returned
caught the sound of a manly voice. Hate
entered and received welcome in my
heart. I went into the parlor; my BROTH
er ran up, his handsome face all aglow,
to greet me, and then returned to his
seat by the side of Alice. He must have
noticed my GOODNESS, my constrained de-
meanor, my abstraction, from which I
was called by Alice's musical voice:
"Why, guardy, why didn't you tell me
you had younger brothers,
II thought you would meet him soon,
| ,.,l H.. ~>1...,,.o -uo,,1J 1>o al A.
en-" answered, bitterly. 1t stung me to
madness to behold him sitting so near
her; to hear them talk together like old
and confidential friends. All manner of
demon thoughts crowded to my brain.
Among them came murder. I felt that
my countenance must be awful, and
kept myself busily turned away. Still
they chatted, they laug hed--oh, how no.
bly, beautiful they looked together! That
evening we were all together in the mu-
sic room, Alice at the piano; walking,
filled with horrible thoughts; Fred, my
brother, leaning over Alice. How free
she seemed with him! Much too free, it
seemed to my jealous eyes. What bust
ness had she to sing my songs to him?
Oh, if they had seen me look at them!
To be sure she always prefaccd her mu-
sic with "this is guardy's favorite," Or, II
often sing this for your BROTHER" but
what sort of balm was that to such a
heart as mine? At last 1 said ''good
night" abruptly. Alice came to me all
anxiety; she asked me timidly if I was
not WE'LL I could have howled "No, hyp-
ocrite!' but said, with as calm man
ner as I could assume: II have business
to attend to-
For moment noted that she looked
perplexed, unhappy-but I was still
blinded by jealousy.
"Look here, Harry, don't go to bed so
early again. said my brother the next
morning, lit deprives me of good society;
both that of yours and your charming
ward. She did not stay ten minutes after
you had gone. You should not leave the
young folks alone, especially when one is
as shy as kitten"
Ibid Alice leave you, then?" I asked,
suddenly relieved of a great weight.
"Of course she did What modest
young girl could sit with stranger alone.
am surprised at you for leaving u.s.
Oh, why did I not disclose to my
brother the great secret of my
heart? Itwould have saved me torture be-
You'd estimation. But would not. The
evil one was in me--held absolute sway
over my every faculty.
The next day Fred asked me to walk
with him to the cliff. We went away to-
gether.
II have something I wish to say to you
Harry" said Fred. '.a.
My heart leaped; my blood was on fire
I made as if had not understood. .sAre