The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-27
THE OLD LOVE.

THE OLD LOVE.
"It seems so strange to know that
shall not see this old place by moonlight
again for long, long years.
The sweet voice of the speaker was
sad, and her brown eyes had tender
fearful look in them as she raised them
to the face of her companion. He did
not reply. His clear, bright glance was
fixed on the most distant of the far hills
and his handsome, boyish face had 6
wistfully thoughtful look on it.
"What are you thinking of, Justin p
said the young girl, when his silence hao
attracted her attention.
"I am wondering about the future,
be replied, with sigh, his gaze wander
ing nearer home, and finally resting on
her face.
"I am tired of doing that" she an
swered, carelessly, swinging the little
brown gate by which they stood, back
and forth with her hand. 81 shan't
trouble myself about what is coming
any more"
"Why?-that sounds oddly coming
from your lips, Genie"
It was pretty countenance the young
man looked into, while the owner of il
hesitated. Not perfect in outline OF
feature, but charming in its expression
of intelligence and sweet gravity. Pale
brown hair put carelessly back from it,
lay in golden waves about the forehead
and softly tinted cheeks, and was gath
cred into coil of shining braids at the
back Of the head.
cit makes me 80 sad," she said, at
last, her eyes fixed and dreamy. "Do
you know, Justin, that I think there is
some great trial in store for me by-and.
by. A dread of coming i'll always haunts
me when I try to look forward. It is
foolish, perhaps, but I cannot help it. "
81 might call it foolish if I were not
bit superstitious and mystical myself, to.
night" replied the young man, taking
one of her hands and care ssing it ab-
sently. "Your prospects certainly look
bright now, Genie, dear"
II know it." she replied, leaning her
forehead against his shoulder in famil-
lar, careless way.
"My relatives will give me good
home and all the advantages their wealth
can bring. I know that shall be the
pet OF their old age; and shall value
all this kindness the more because
have always been deprived Of it until
now. But for you, dear, how desolate
nv past life would have been"
His arms closed impulsively around
her, and he bent forward and kissed her
forehead.
"Do you think that you will miss me,
Genie?
"You know that I SHALL" she re-
piled.
"I am not sure of that, he answered.
"I know that T have been everything to
YOU, as you have been and always will
be to me, but can not think that you
will always feel as you now do toward
me. Hush, and listen a moment. 1t
will not be there as it has heen here.
You will zee new people-people who
will appreciate and admire you. New
interests will spring up, and as time
passes away, the old love stands fair
chance of being undervalued and for
gotten. Wait-no; I do not think you
tickle or naturally forgetful of those
whom YOU have loved, but you will grow
older, and-Virginia, do you remember
the doll you had six years ago, when I
first knew you, and how you priced it p
eyes"
"Do YOU remember the pet dog you
owned a year later, and which you de-
clared to me you loved better than any
thing else in the world ?"
"My poor, dead Carlos-yes."
"Do you remember Nellie Brandon,
to whom you were 30 fondly attached at
fifteen? Your intimate friend, to whom
you con6ded every thought ?"
GA schoolgirl friendship-yes. But
what do you mean by asking me these
questions, Justin ?"
81 want to show you how we outgrow
our loves. Would you love your doll
and dog now?"
"The doll--no. The dog-a little.
But surely, you do not rank yourself
with toy and pet animal ?"
"No, that is not what mean. 1 use
these things in illustration not COM
parison. How do you regard Nellie
Brandon, now2"
"She is shallow, and-well, 1 do not
care for her friendship"
"You did care for it, once. And that
is what I am trying to make you under
stand. You are not what you were then.
As you will grow older you will still
continue to change as you have changed.
You"
"You will talk uselessly, all night, if
you attempt to prove that, Justin" in
terrupted the girl. II shall never cease
to love you. You were my first love,
and you will be my last"
"Perhaps so. Heaven knows I hope
that you are right. See the moon
cleaning through that misty cloud"
His arms were about her; her cheek
vas against his breast. They stood in
silence for few moments. At last,
Virginia said:
"What have you planned to do for
yourself, Justin ?"
"I have not concluded yet what ]
shall do. One thing is sure: I shall
stay in this unenterprislng little place
no longer" I -,
"Do yor suppose the mystery about
your parentage will ever be cleared up p
II am afraid not. Yet I think that
if I were to seek my parents, instead Of
my fortune, as young heroes do in story.
books, should find both. Ihave rea.
son to believe that they are wealthy and
influential. But you are cold, dear,
and your hair is damp with dew. l will
not be so selfish as to keep you here
longer"
"But, Justin, you will write to mt