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

came anu sIOOu PasslTely DeelND
With his hand grasping the relns' ne
awaited. The face he looked into was |
not like the one he might have seen /
framed in the waves of that rich falr
hair, an hour before. The mouth was
tremulous and tender; the beautiful eyes
barren of their coldness-perhaps the
warmth of his smiles had banished II, as
sunshine dissolves ice.
Your presumption is remarkable,
she sad and the most fitting punish
ment will be my consent TO your re
quest"
She motloned him to mount.
What do you meant" he asked
obeying her.
That you will find me insuferably
dull company" she replied, as they
turned into a cross road together.
He gave her searching look.
" Are You low spirited ?" he said.
No; only tired"
Tired of what ?"
Everything"
My dear Genie !"
The words seemed spoken impulsively.
Her sudden dash of color revealed thai
they were unusal to her ears.
q beg pardon" he said quickly, OBJ
serving it.
{" You need not" she replied. The
name is a favorite one. Call me go, II
you choose"
What2"
Genie"
But I said my dear Genie. May l
call you that %
She blushed, but the next impulse was
to retoIt saucily. Looking up at him,
however, the glance OF her bright eyes
ouailed beneath the grave expression Of
his. The crimson Of her cheek deePened,
her ripe mouth quvered. In that mo-
ment OF exquisite pain and pleasure she
wished that she weft dead.
Have I distressed you 7" he asked,
gently. His forbarance was a very
great relief 10 her.
- Yes" she answered simply, looking
/ frankly into his handsome face.
'.Then l will say no more on the sub.
/ iect F." he replied. ~ have something 10
( tell YOU" he said, after moments
nause for she did rot speak. " A gen
/ tleman with whom Lam we'll acquainted,
/ commissioned me to deliver you a small
nackage. to-day. have carried it in my
vest p0cket since morning Here it is. "
/ He handed her little white package
hearing her name Atsight of the hand
writing. her face blanched suddenly, and
she reeled in her saddle as II she had been
struck by heavy hand.
90. this is cruel 7" she murmured.
Miss Thernten-dear Virginia, what
Is it ?" said Hugh Annesley, checking
the horses. Then Observing the remain
ing pallor of her features, he spfang &c
the ground, and lifted her from her seat
What is it," he repeated, with hi
arm around her.
/" Nothing-I am il" she answered
incoherently, snd evidently struggling
to regain her self possession.
Sit down here" and he placed he
gently upon NOISY, fallen log beneath
q tree. {" Nov, do not talk until yoI
feel better. hy poor child.
The tender, plying words made he
lips tremble Standing beside her, b,
put back the nch fall of her hair, witt
the gentle touch OF a loving woman
She remained slent for a few nome hts
her head resting against the dark trunl
of the tree, her lips parted slightly, ant
her eyes, with their long, dark lash, S
YEARLY closed. At last she looked up
q was i'll yeaerday-l am not wei
. to-day" phe sad, the color coming
slowly back to her face. Otherwise
should not be so weak and foolish. / an
sorry that I met you, Mr.. Annesley, 70
what must you think OF me ?"
" | think that you are wronging bot
. yourself and me, byrefusing to tru-t me
Virginia" ne replied, quietly. " Yol
can not conceal iTom me that you sr
troubled and unhappy, l have only tn
right of friend to your confidence, bu
you undervalue that by your evideu
desire 70 conceal from me the cause {
your distress"
" Hugh - Mr.. Annesley " she con
I menced. hastily, but checked hersel
d" Perhaps it would be best to tell yoJ
after all, she said. You are kline
/ hearted and clear-headed. Perhaps 20
. may know how 10 aid me. See here"
She tore from the packet its sma
I white wrapper, and then drawing a pei
knife from her pocket hastily cut tn
g fastenings of q small white paper boz
, and drew from it fine gold chain I
which was attached tiny iewele
2 locket
= " That is a rare gift, said he, examir
ing It.
] most nv life to return to the giver wit
the assurance that the circumstances
which it Is q token are much regrette
r by me and for which, if l am not pc
niitted to do so, must barter my earthl
peace and happiness"
" You talk in riddles"
} " Well, | will explain. Six years az,
before l had entered my eighteenth yea
| parted from my first lever-a boy, Dc
! two years my senior.
Il believed then that the first Low
I was the true one. / know better nov
! but only to my despair. l plighted m
troth to him he belives to this day tbs
! | love him as ! used, fer l have neve
= seen him since l left my country homt
He sends me presents and tender me,
I sages which render me wretched. Bu
he never writes to me. He gives me n
, opportunity to tell him Of this chang,
for | do not know where he is. I do nc
] think l could DO it if | did, l assure
r him again and again on that last nigI
! that | should not outgroW my love fc
: him. He warned me of this. thought
understood my heart Poor child tbs
was II did not know that had one.
"Then YOU do not love him now ?"
J "Only with the tender, plying low
! of sister"
" And you love some one else ?-pal
} don me, but if / am to advise, | mus
, know the whole facts of the case
, Her face was quite enough, and sh
, did not raise her eyes, though crimso
blush burned up to the waves of he
golden-brown hair as she replied, 4" Ye
: love some one else.
He watched her proud countenanc
| with a searching eyes for a moment
, Then he sprang forward and grasped he
J hands.
, '"Virginia, you are a true woman.
| did not belive this. should not a.
you, as stand before you face to fact
if you love me 20
d Your assertion is contradictory
coupled with that question, if you ex
| pect me to answer it," she answered
proudly.
"But where is the necessity of M
! saying that | love you? I have made
known to you by acts a hundred tir1e
r during the past two months"
She was about to reply Immediately
but she stopped and waited a moment
" Hugh Annesley," she said suddenly
at last, " this is selfish in you
What do you mean 2" he asked.
"You contrive to betray me into
confession of love for you before you ad
wise me how TO deal with the man
formerly loved. and who you know no.
loves me. Suppose l were to tell 20
that l had only friendly regard TO
you, and that loved another? p
In that case, l should advise yo
precisely as / do now ,,