Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-30
The TreVanion Crescent.
A TALE IN FIVE CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER [.

"Julia, YOU know you love me!'
The speaker was a handsome, proud
faced youth, wearing the garb of a mid
shipman; the scene, long stretch of
grassy lawn, sloping downward to the
sea, in the north of England, and a noble
forest of chestnut on its southern edge,
beneath whose rustling shadow young
maiden sat. She laughed scornfully as
the confident assertion fell on her ear, ard
sprang to her feet.
"You augh," continued the young
midshipman, fiery glow mantling his
swarthy cheek; "yet you dare not deny
it."
The girl faced him; her great Oriental
eyes growing almost lurid in their bright
ness.
"What do you mean?' she demanded,
haughtily.
'Just what | say-that you love me,
and it is unjust, cruel, unwomanly, to
mask your true feelings, and send me
away without one pledge or promise,
when YOU know that years must pass
before we ever meet again
For a single instant the girls scarlet
lip quivered, and her cleaning eyes
softened. The youth observed it, and
caught ueT Ustuu, Ills ONu 1StCS SioN1H
with eXultatlon.
"You are relenting" he cried; 81
thought you did not mean it. Oh, my
love, my darling, my peerless, beautiful
Julia! say that you will be true to me
give me your word that you will be mine,
when [ come back to lay my name and
honors at your feet|'
But despite the CULVER about her love
" mouth, she shook her head.
"No, Maurice" she replied, firmly 4;
II shall make no promises; uncle has
forbidden it, and [ must obey him. And
it is best. True love needs no VOWS or
letters to keep it faithful. Go your way,
win your name and your honors, and
when you return you shall have my
answer.
Il shall return to Ravenswold to find
YOU already welded, the bride of some
fortune-seeker, perhaps" retorted Maui
rice, bitterly.
"Then you'll forgive and forget me.
Goodbye, Maurice!
She held out her hand, resolutely
maintaining her calm self-command,
though the effort paled her very lips.
The midshipman clasped and carried
it to his lips.
ooh, Julia!" he cried, his eagle eyes
dimming with tears, " how can you be
so heartless? We have loved each other
from our childhood UP. Your dying
mother put your hand in mine, and gave
us one to the other; and now, because
YOU are rich, and I am penniless, you
will cast me off, But [ am a Trevanion
as well as yourself; and mark my words,
the dav will come. shall come, when
your gold can make no difference between
u.s.
"The difference is merely imaginary
now, Maurice
Her calm, quiet voice cooled his
throbbing blood.
sEThen why will you not promise to
become nv wife when [ return?"
sMv uncle has forbidden it,
eyes, he intends to double your for
tune in the marriage market; but you,
at least, can give me some little token to
assure me that [ shall not be forgotten?'
She drew a tiny jewel-handled knife
from her pocket and severing one of the
long, loose ringlets that streamed upon
her shoulders, handed it to him.
sNow, are you content" she said, or
shall [ give you this?" lifting, as she
spoke, a quaint golden crescent, set with
seven blazing diamonds that swung
from a gold chain she wore about her
neck.
The Young man seized the shining
tress, and carried it to his lips.
"No, no." he cried exultantly; II
wouldn't exchange this precious ringlet
for every Jewel the house of Trevanion
boasts. A thousand thanks my beauti-
full darling. 1t shall be my talisman, to
inspire me with noble ambition. But
bark, there are the signal gunsl we sail at
three! / must be off. Farewell, Julia!
AS sure as God lives, and l live, [ shall
return and WOO you for my bride, and
win you too Good-bye!"
He caught her hands, pressed them to
his lips, and against his throbbing heart,
and the next moment he was gone.
Julia returned to her seat beneath the
chestnut shadows, and turning her face
seward, fell into deep meditation. For
ten wears this Maurice Treyanion had
been her companion, playmate, brother,
lover, all combined. Her dying mother
had Joined their hands, and babe them
love each other; but her uncle and
guardian, possessing more foresight and
worldly wisdom, had forbidden the en-
gagement.
"'Twill be like fetter in coming
years" he said; you are not sure OF
your own heart yet; twill be time
enough to accept Maurice when he has
won his laurels."
And Julia had hearkened to his ad
vice, and Maurice had gone. A little
singing thorn, of unrest remorse, pierced
her heart, as she sat there in the closing
afternoon, watching the gorgeous trail Of
the sunset on the distant sea. Poor
Maurice, no one else would ever love her
as entirely as he did! Yet the world was
all before her, the enchanted, untired
world, with its honors and homage; and
she was only sixteen, and the heir of
fine fortune and proud name. What