The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-05

iusephruple companion OF MS only cnllu,
Herbert.
He was beautiful boy, spirited and
full of life as became boy, and at all
times tender and affectionate to me. My
uncle, and indeed the term was adopted
by all the household, always called me
" Herbert's little wife," and many
time we exchanged solemn vows that
no human power should ever part us.
AT last came the time for Herbert to
leave home for boarding-school. Many
an hour l wept over the pocket hand
kerchiefs that my jealous love would
not allow anybody but myself to hem;
and real labor of love it was on my
part, for sewing was my great aversion,
and every stitch of the patchwork my
aunt required me to make gave my
heart twinge of agony.
The few short days we had together
passed rapidly, and the gloomy morn
ing of departure came. 1 was too proud
to cry before witnesses of my grief, so
sat quietly at breakfast, not trusting
myself to speak, for fear of breaking out
into the sobs that were swelling in my
throat.
could not say good-by when the last
moment come, but Herbert knew what
made my hand so hot and trembling,
and my face so pale.
AS the carriage passed down the
avenue, carrying away my idol, my
aunt turned to me and told me kindly
not to grieve so for Herbert, that in
few months we should have him back,
and enjoy him more than ever for this
separation. But could not reply to
her kindness, SO pushed by her and
rushed into the garden, bent only on
finding some secluded spot where L
could give way to the grief that 1 had
been carrying about with me for SO long.
threw myself among the tall grass,
damp with the dew of early morning,
and sobbed out my sorrow until l be-
came calmer. 1t was my first grief, the
first drops my young heart had slipped
of the cup of bitterness that comes SO
surely to us all, sooner or later.
gradually got used to my lot. That
is, accustomed myself to living solely in
the future, counting the days that would
elapse before Herbert came.
When he did come, we two children
roamed about hand in hand, discussing
our plan for the future, never weary
ing of the stories, that 1 learned to know
by heart, of his school-life.
"Was there ever such hero 20
thought in my pride of the handsome
boy beside me. How proud his school
mates must be of such companion!"
Those happy days, too, were taken
from me. In the course of time there
was talk of sending Herbert to college,
and then a Paris education was decided
upon.
Four years Would he not be lost
to meY
Herbert was now fifteen, and 1 two
years younger. Would not four long
years draw an impenetrable barrier
between us?
will not enlarge on our parting. /
thought my heart was broken, little fool
that 1 was Bitter experience has
taught me that the human heart, like
the giant that regained strength by each
blow that sent him to Mother Earth,
rises from each sorrow with redoubled
capacity for endurance.
Those four years passed, and the time
came at last for Herbert to arrive. 1
dreamed night and day of his arrival,
and yet when the carriage that had been
sent to the depot for him returned, and
the commotion in the hall told me that
he had come, stood in my chamber
irresolute, dreading, now that the mo-
ment had arrived, the meeting that 1
had looked forward to for four years.
OF course my girlhood's first instinct
said to me, "What impression shall L
make on him?" and true to that instinct
stepped before my bureau. The faith
full glass presented dark, somewhat
grave face, pale at that moment, with
large, dark eyes that glittered with ex-
element. That the lines were correct I
knew, for 1 had often been told SO, and
was artist enough to know that they
spoke the truth. But was it face that
man would lover Did it indicate that
gentleness and amiability that man
instinctively chooses in wife, Wife
what had to do with that word A
deep flush dyed my cheeks, and quick
ly withdrew from my glass as knock