The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-03-08
THE OLD LOVE.

again for long, long years"
The sweet voice of the speaker was
sad, and her brown eyes had q 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
wistfully thoughtful look on it.
Whist are you thinking of, Justin 2''
said the young girl, when his silence had
attracted her attention.
am wondering about the future"
he replied, with a sigh, his gaze wander
ing near hume, and finally resting on her
face.
8" 1 am tired of doing that" she an
swered, carelessly, swinging the little
brown gate by which they stood, back
and forth with her hand. 4" l shan't
trouble myself about what is coming,
any more"
"Why?-tha sounds oddly coming
from your lips, Genie"
1t was q pretty countenance the young
man locked int, while the owner of it
hesitsted. Not perfect in outline or
feature. but charming IN its expression
OF intelligence and sweet gravity. Pale
brown HAIR put csrelessly back from It,
Law 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.
1T makes nue. 30 sad" she said, at
last, her eyes fixed and dreamy. Do
you know, Justin, that / think there Is
some great trial in store tor me by-and-
by. 4 dread OF coming i'll always haunts
me when ! try to look forward. It Is
foolish, perhaps, but | can not help it,"
| might call it foolish il were not q
bit superstitious and mystical myself,
10 night" replied the young man, taking
one of her hands and caressiDg it alb
sently. Your prospects certainly look
bright now, Genie, dear"
q" know it" she replied, leaning her
/ forehead against his shoulder in n tamil-
lar, careless way.
" My relatives will give me a good
/ home and all the advantages their wealth
can bring. | know that l shall be the
/ pet of their old age and l shall value
/ all this kindness the more because have
always been deprived of it until now.
/ But for you, dear, how desolate my past
! lie would have been"
/ His arms closed impulsively around
her, and he bent forward aud kissed hel
/ forehead.
( DO you think that you will miss me
Genie?"
" You know that l shall, " she replied
" | am not sure of that" he answered
6 | know that | have been everything t
you, az you have been and always vii
be to me, but l can not think that YOU
will ALWAYS feel n you now do TOWARD
me. Hush, and listen q moment. L
will not be there as it has been here
You will see new People-people whC
will appreciate and admire you. New
interests will spring up, and as timt
passes away, the old love stands a tal
chance of being undervalued and forgot
ten. Wait--no; l do not think yeI
tickle or naturally f0rgetful OF thos
whom you have loved, but YOU will grov
older, aud-Virginia, do you remembe
the doll you had six years ago, when
first knew you, and how you priced it !?
d" Yes"
" Do you remember the pet dog yo1
owned a year later, and which you Dc
clared to me YOU loved better than any
thing else in the world p
" Ny poor, dead Csrlos-yes."
q" Do you r, member Nellie Brandon
to whom YOU were so fondly attached 8
fifteen? Your intimate friend, to whoI
you confded every thought 2"
d" \ schoolgirl friendship-yes. Blu
what do you mean by asking me thes
, questions, Justin ?"
90 I want to show you how we Outg-o
= our loves. Would you love your do
: and dog now
THE doll-no. The dog-a it'll,
But surely, YOU do not rank yOurse
with a toy and pet animal 70
; g. No, that Is not what l mean u'
3 these things in illustration not oompa
, ison. How do you regard Nellie Bran
don, --ow?"
She is shallow, and-well, do NJ
care for her friendship"
" You did care TOR il once. And tn;
is what / am trying to make you undeI
stand. You are not what you were thel
As you will grow older you will sti
continue to change as you have changed
You"
AZ You will talk uselessly, al night,
you attempt to prove that, Justin" il
corrupted the girl g shall never cess
te love you. You were my first lov'
and YOU will be my last"
Perhaps so. Heaven knows | mop
that you are right. See the moon CLEAN
ing through that misty cloud"
His arms were about her; her chez
was against his breast. They stood
silence tor a few moments. At last, vi
ginia said
What have you planned to do fC
yourself, Justin ?"
" have not concluded yet what
shall do. One thing is sure: / shs
stay in this unenterprising little place u
longer"
"Do you suppose the mystery abou
your parentage will ever be cleare
up?"
{" l am afraid not. Yet 1 think tbs
il l were to seek my parents, instead {
nv fortune, as young heroes do in story
books. | should fud both. have reasO
to believe that they are wealthy and il
fuential. But you are cold, dear, an
your hair is damp with dew. / will nc
be 50 selfish as to keep you here longer.
But, Justin, you will write TO m
often ?"
Il will not promise. Perhaps it wi
be better otherwise. But you shall hea
from me once a year, until / see 20
again. Now, goodbye, and God bic;
you'll"
He kissed her twice in a passionate
earnest way, and then, releasing he
turned and quickly walked down tn
, road. She watched his fine figure, wit
its well-poised head and springlng-stel
until it was out OF sight. Then sh
walked slowly up the winding, grass
path, to the door. On the threshold sh
paused, and looked back st the plac
where they had been standing.
told him that he was my first lov
and that he would be my last, she mul
INJURED to herself. +" hope ne will RI
member it. How very strange it a
seems. / wonder if the time will com
when / shall regret what has passed thi
evening? hope not ?-I am sure not.
So saying, she went in softly, an
silently closed the door.
J What beautiful girl
" And what an elegant rider :"
Virginia Thornton heard the word
distinctly, and glsncing carelessly aroun
from her seat in the saddle, met the a
dent looks of admiration with which the
were accompanied. But not a tinge {
color stained the fairness of her cheeks
The cool seIfpossessed expression OF he
eyes.did not alter The red, mobile Lip
exhibiting at that moment only prid
and beauty, betrayed nothing more.
Proud SIS Lucifer
She heard that, too. Still her fac
did not change. Her dark eyes merel
glanced up and then down sgain. Sh