Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-06-01
mis- cELLANEous.
THREE TIMES.

" meadows to come home with brother
John-dor"
And Lilly Leslie's voice grew pleading a.
she watched the sober face of the girl who
stood in the door looking down across the
cool green lawn that sloped away from the
house toward the river.
ri wish school was not DONE Is this wha.
makes you sober to.day?" questioned Amy
in whisper. as Lilly stood looking wistfully
toward the meadows.
Before the young governess could answer
Lilly called.
"Will you come, dear Miss Helen. and
meet brother John2 There he is"
Helen Arnold shook her head. and the
two girls ran down to meet the tall. sturdy
young man. who seemed to bring with him
the scent of the hay that lay freshly cut in
the meadows. The beauty and brightness of
the summer seemed doubled as he came up
across the lawn listening eagerly to the clear,
happy voices Of the girls.
Helen Arnold stood in the front doorway
waiting with trembling yearning to unsay
the hasty words of yesterday, but he gave her
no opportunity, passing in at the side door,
and seeming not to notice her.
All day, as Helen Arnold had toiled in the
little schoolroom she had thought of John
Leslie, and wished Ooh, how carnestlv!) that
she had waited before. saying that "No,"
which sho did not mean. She began to feel
how lonely life could be even among the
pleasant sights and sounds of the country.
and that her buoyancy aud brightness of
spirit during the long happy summer had not
been all on account of pleasant and healthy
surroundings She went into the house and
up to her room to hide her face as she
brooded over unpleasant thoughts One of
life's golden opportunities had been offered
her, and she had cast it aside, and now it
was gone forever. This was the last day OF
her engagement as goverress, and she would
soon be at home, and he would soon forget
har. But perhaps he might give her
chance yet to return different answer
blush mantled her pale cheek, and the blue
eyes grew strangely dark and bright, as she
went to the mirror to arrange the gold brown
hair that fell over her neck in graceful curls.
She smiled as she saw reflected the faultless
picture, aud with a new hope went down to
join the family at the evening meal.
John sat in his accustomed seat, very quiet
as usual, but his eager eye drank in the ex>
quiste loveliness Of the young girls face and
figure as she came around to her place. Per.
'haps he read in her downcast, tender cyes.
tho change that had come over her, but he
gave her NO intimation of it, and after sup
per, when the children romped about her and
called brother John to place wreath of wild
flowers on her head, he showed no signs of
embarrassment or emotion, but talked to her
coolly as If she too had been his sister Helen
was little angry. Is it wonder? For she
| thought he had been trifing, and that she
could not bear. A fro blszed up in her deem
blue eyes, and burned brightly on her soft
cheeks. John watched her beautiful face
! and varying color, and gloried in biz triumph:
but, oh, when was glory not bought too dear
ly? He leaned over her, and touched lightly
her soft hand.
"Did you mean yes? know you love
me. We shall be very happy"
"Impudent! Dol not know my own mind?
Love your"
Anger prompted the words, and as soon
as they were uttered she wished they were
uusaid; but John Leslie could not know IT,:
forgiven her. His face grew very pale, and
he turned away without a word.
Years passed away, and fortune favored
John Leslie. He became successful mer
chant, and therefore was a mark for matri-
monial speculation; but still he troubled not
bis head about marriage. At last the plea
SAINT inslnuating nammas, who talked to him
SO sweetly and afectionateIy about the dear
girls who were their greatest treasures got
to saying uDkiDd things about the ''cross old
bachelor" behind his back OF what use
was it, to be sure, to always behave so pret>
tily to such reserved old fellow? He seemed
to care nothing at all for ladies.
Lilly thought surely at her wedding with
DIR. Maynard, brother John would come out
of his retirement and make some of the mar
riageable ladies of her acquaintance happy
thereby, and he did; but it was a short. lived
happiness, for it was long time before he
again left his business.
The truth was, but the young ladies did
not seem to know tiff John Leslie hsd
wanted to marry one of them. or all of them
together, he would have asked them. Being
well satisfied to let things take their course,