The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-07-04

lbc little oBcs, aad through al Tie sabily
swes, sense of George Warmers reiaFn-
George Warner, 20 changed, and yet Hoi
changed!
What a noble locking man be bad b.
come that youth Der scbool.day friend,
the sworn lover OF Der childhood, whom
she bad not seen Ia Eve years, and from
whom IN four years she bad only heard
indirectly, for their correspondence. kept
up diligently for year, ceased when te
went abroad.
Doves OF Gre! The words haunted her
through an The magical display. There
were no great pieces, sueh as We see IN
city parks, bat there were innumerablc
aud combinations Of minor
fireworks that were far more beautiful,
and the doves lining their white and
purple wings aud bearing their emerald
olive branches were the beauties OF the
evening, The finale d'actiop Of the dis
play.
Eva, with her little brother and sister,
went home. She fanoied that she heard a
rapid step behinl her, and within few
steps Of the gate George Warner came to
her side just before the gate-notice-
able as they turned into the dewey gar.
den walk, stood old Dobbln and the emp
ty sulky. Father has come home, said
Eva; aud SO she sent the children into
the house, confident OF the fathers care
for them, and herself fingered for few
moments on the piazza with George
Warner.
A few moments? More than that, for
the midsummer evening, the midsummer
meeting, enchained them. Aud there
was the manly ideal OF her boyish lover,
with the firm true eyes giving those low
ing looks, dear for The sake OF constancy
and there was Eva, more than the ideal Of
the dream George Warner had cherished
of her. Os the piazza, she leaning
against the rose.trained trellis, he on the
steps beside her, they fingered aud said
so little afterward they regretted how
little-but felt SO much, and looked into
each others eyes SO mnch, that was in.
etlable; and then at last whispered,
Good night. 1t was near midnight.
Eva went directly to the office, as they
called the sitting-room or library that
was, for study or rest, her fathers famii
lar place. lie was not there. Perhaps
with the children, she thought. No, MOI
there. She found them, with their little
clothes carefully folded as she had taught
them, gone to bed, and fast asleep in
each others arms. With sudden paDg
of anxiety, such as in all his uncertain
going and coming she had never felt be.
fore, she flew TO her fathers bedroom.
Not there. Not in the house; she went
all through it. Not returnedl not come
homel And yet there stood old Dobbin
waiting at TIE gate; and the village
subsided from its tumult, still as death.
Perhaps summoned TO some place with
in door or two, and SO left Dobbin, ex-
pecting TO be home in few moments
She tried TO comfort herself so. CouId
not comfort herself so, for a wild misgiv-
ing seized her. But she waited-waiied
for an hour. Every light In the village
had become extinguished; but it was
clear starlight, and Eva ventureG beyond
the gate, and looked up and down the
street. Not sign of watching or NOV
ing, Another hour, and another, and
then faint streaks Of dawn. BY this time
Eva knew that some disaster had fallen
the pang of ii grew upon her moment by
moment. She could endure ii alone nc
longer.
She aroused neighbor Inquiry was
made. The doctor was not in the village.
He had been TO see old Mr.. Benton al
nine O'Clock, then started home by the
meadow road, which was followed in the
search; and there, just as the Fourth.of-
July bells began to ring over the town
with their clashing peals Of freedom,
they found him.
BY the roadside, on the grsensward, In
the attitude Of slumber, with his head
resting against bis folded arm, and bis
face, SO kind, so peaceful, with smile
upon the lips, as of happy dreams-iasI
asleep; no, not sleeping dead.
Pre-admonished, perhaps, by some
fatal symptoms which skilled physician
would know, be had dropped the reins
aligbted from the sulky, given faithful
old Dobbin the FREQ way home, and upon
the grassy border Of the road be had
Travelled go often laid himself down for
the last heart beating.
So 10 the enchanting evening OF the
fire. works and doves OF fire there came
no morrow of love and happiness such as
ii had seemed TO promise, but only tears
and mourning. Yet at the funeral, be-
side the open grave, as the most solemn
words Of burial were spoken, Eva felt,
or remembered afterward that she bad
felt, one meeting look Of firm and manly
eyes; one look that, comprehendlng her
anguish, sought TO soothe IL. Two days
later she received letter Of coincidence
from George Warner, with the postscript
| dare not intrude now upon your sorrow
but when ! visit Cedar Creek again
shall claim the promise you gave to lei
me see you.
Eva relaxed no effort TO perform hel
daily round Of duty. Joe aud Josy knew
no change 10 her wstchful care; the or.
der Of the household, under her ceaseless
industry, went on as usual; but with
what faiutness Of heart did she pursue
her path, where thorns were knitted into
every bedge-row, and every foot-plaee,