The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-06-03
THREE TIMES.

AoihO, hCISu, uCul, BO Will us 10
theP meadows to come home with
brother John-dol"
And Lilly Leslie's voice grew plead.
ing as 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
81 wish school was not done. Is this
what makes you SO sober to dayP"ques-
toned Amy in a 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 JohnP 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 door
way, waiting with trembling yearn-
ing to unsay the hasty words OF yester-
day, 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 though
of John Leslie, and wished (oh, how
eanestlyD that she had waited before
saying that "No," which she 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 and 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 un
pleasant 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 governess, and she
would soon be at home, and he would
soon forget her. But perhaps he might
give her chance yet to return a differ
ent answer. A 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 fe over her neck in graceful curls.
She smiled as she saw reflected the
faultless picture, and with new hope
went 1Owm 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 exquisite loveliness of the young
girls face and figure as she came round
to her place. Perhaps he read in her
downcast, tender eyes, the change that
had come over her, but he gave her no
intimation of it, and after supper, when
the children romped about her and
called brother John TO. place a wreath
of wild flowers on her head, he showed
no signs Of embarrassment or emotion,
but talked to her coolly as il she too
had been his sister. Helen was little
angry. Isit a wondcrP for she thought
he had been trifing, and that she could
not bear. A fire blazed up in her deep
blue eyes, and burned brightly on her
soft cheeks. John watched her beau
tiful face and varying color, and gloried
IN his triumph; but, oh, when was glory
not bought too dearlyP He leaned over
her, and touched lightly her soft hand.
Ibid you not mean yesp l know
you love nae. We shall be very happy"
"Impudent Do not know my OWE
mindP Love youP"
Anger prompted the words, and as
soon as they were uttered she wished
they were unsaid; but John Leslie
could not know it; and if be had, per
haps he would not have forgiven her,
His face grew very pale, and he turned
away without word.9
Years passed away. and fortune IA
vored John Leslie. He became sue
cessful merchant, and therefore was
mark for matrimonial speculation; but
still he troubled not his head about
marriage. At last the pleasant, insinu-
ating mammas, who talked to him so
swectiy and afIectionately about the
dear girls who were their greatest treas
ures, got to saying unkind things..about
the 'cross old bachelor" behind his
back. OF what use was it, to be sure, to
always behave so prettily to such re-
served old fellowP He seemed to care
nothing at all for ladies.