Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-27

II NOW see tNat we mQSL part,
That to another one than me,
You have given all your heart.
And have no right to murmuu
To bewail my bitter lot.
Tho know another's won you,
And that I must be forgot.
Then fare thee well. thou best loved one,
Go to him you love SO true;
May the God of peace be with you
No,u, torerermore, adieu.
Ali Mistake.
''ShaIl I go, Mary? put my fate in
your hands, dear. It is for you to DE.
eide; for me to abide by that decision"
For me to decide. John, when to tell
you is to bar out by my own act the
sunshine from my life"
"But only for little while, dear.
Remember there is a future-a future
when you will share all the good that
may be in store for me-"
"Yes," the girl answered, sadly. II
do not forget that, nor that But
will not worry you with my idle fears
and forebodings. am not so selfish,
John, as to bid you stay when | know
, that by going you can give up life you
never liked. and attain unhoped for am
billions. No, yonr uncle is right; and
though he is very late in opening his
eyes to the fact that you are the son of
his sister, even though she so far sacri
feed the family pride as to marry
farmer, his proposition that you should
go to college at his expense, with only
the stipulation that all your vacations
be spent with him, is too generous to be
ignored. Go, John; only do not quite
forget me in your new life"
And into the brave words there crept
the sound of tears,
Forget, you darling-in four short
years forget the girl I have loved all
my life? What would such q love be
worth, Mary? You would be better
without it than with it,"
Perhaps" she answered; but it
wouldn't be any the less hard to bear"
"You will never be put to the test,
Mary. It does seem hard to leave you,
dear, but this life never would have
contented me. I should have always
felt restless longing for the world out
side. When I have tried my wings,
will fly back, Mary. and then we will
build the home-nest in which you and l
are to grow old together. It will seem
strange, indeed, little lassie, to watch
gray threads sprinkling your sunny
brown hair, or the peach tints of your
complexion change and fade. Seven
teen and twenty! All, we have long
time to wait, and when the day comes
nv old eyes will be too dim to note the
difference"
What meant this sudden sinking at
the heart as she listened? Was tia dim
foreboding of the shadowy future-a
something whispering in her ear that
the heart might fade and grow old, even
though the hair retained its brightness
and the check its bloom
But she had promised to become John
Arnold's wife. It was not for her, his
betrothed, to drag him down when his
foot was on the first round of the ladder
which Providence seemed to have thrust
across the path.
So she babe him godspeed for the four
long years which were to drift between
them-to her replete with the same as
sociations. duties and cares, only chang
or smile would tighten them only, in.
stead, the letters which he promised
should tell her all his life.
Why was it that the very first sent a
pang to her heart? It read:
''My uncle's ward is with him now
beautiful girl, scarcely sixteen. |
wish you could see her, Mary. She is still
ut school, but spends her vacation with
him, az shall do. She laughs at me,
though not unkindly. Doubtless seem
gdashe and rustic enough, and. in her
presence, think am more so. With
you, my darling. I am always at my
best. All, how sadly miss you in this
new life of elegance and ease, in which
I feel uncomfortable and sadly out of
place!"
But, after he had gone to college and
put his shoulder to the wheel, she found
only comfort in his letters. He wrote
~ am beginning to feel myself man
among men, and to rejoice that I am no
longer in the hive. Oh how quickly
} the weeks and months fly! At this
rate, the. four years will seem little
time indeed"
2 When,the next vacation had begun
he wrote:
f, miss Melville is here again. A year
has made her only more beautiful. Next
year is her last at school; the winter
following she makes her debut in So
ciety.," .-s.-,
This was all. The second year he
ceasedsto mention her name, only his
letters came not quite so often, and were
less filled with the routine of his daily
life.
Why was it that in the girls replies
crept an answering tone ofreserve? Half
of the weary waiting time was over.
What had the next two years in sore
for her?
Z 1t was the night set for the debut of
Miss Melville into society. Many were
eager votaries at the shrine of her youth
and beauty, but from them all she turned
away-all but one-the man who alone
of all the rest seemed Indifferent to Der.
But he was to grace her ball to night.
She had arranged that it should take
place on Christmas Eve, when released
from college duties he might be present.
The evening was late, however-the
guests all assembled-ere he came, and
she noticed he looked pale and haggard.
'You are working too hard" she said
softly to him, as they gained few quiet
moments in the conservatory. "Why
do you not take better care of yourself ?"
just then, ere he had time to answer,
his uncle's voice broke in upon them,
clear and distinct He was talking to
an old and valued friend, unconscious
of his listeners, in their leafy retreat.
es," he was saying, ''she Is very
beautiful. It is my dearest wish that
she should become my nephew's wife.
had this end in view when / sent for
him, and when saw them together /
felt sure it would work itself out. He's
fine fellow and they are admirably
adapted to each other. He is making q
splendid record at college, too, and any
girl might be proud to win him, now
that his early rustic habits have worn
away"
Unconsciously the eyes of the two
under discussion met. In those OF the
man was an awe-stricken glance, as
though he had had for the first time
unbarred to his view his own soul,
and was appalled, at what he there dis
covered. In those of the girl was a
wistful, appealing glance, as though she
would say: