The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-09-25

came in, pale and weary-looking from
last nights vigil, and sat down to write
Seeing the flowers, she drew them to-.
ward her with look of pleased sur
prise, but, as she inhaled their fragrance,
gradually there stole over her face a
shadow, marring its brightness, as q
cloud crosses the face Of the sun. The
breath of the flowers was laden with
old associations and mem cries of her
happy home at Applicable farm, of her
grandmother, who had long since
crossed that mystic river whose tide
never Gibbs toward the shores of time,
and waited on their sweet breath came
her talk with Willard Lester in the
sun-lit orchard on that afternoon so
long ago. Then azfull. knowledge of her
mistake swept over her, and, laying her
cheek against the pink petals, she burst
into passion of tears. Poor Joe, ut
terly amazed at such q reception Of so
paltry a gift, started to her, then stole
softly from the room, and stood guard
outside to prevent intruders. Like the
smitten rock at Horeb, the tears burst
through the icy wall that was grad
ually forming round her heart, and.
when the flowers whispered to her of
| Wizards solemn 81 will wait for you
always" the white blossoms Of hope
| sprung into bloom.
at was all wrong" she whispered.
in return; 81 wandered into the wrong
pathway, and my palace car of ambition
has only brought me to the gates of dis
content, but will go home and begin
over again. trusting to heaven and my
awakened heart this time"
1t was hard to tear herself away from
her business engagements and duties,
harder still to persuade her uncle that
he could certainly spare her while, aid
that she really needed a rest; but her
indomitable energy enabled her to &C
complish them all, and one week later
found her sitting on the old, familiar
porch gazing at the lovely scene before
her and listening to q perfect TRADE Of
gossip from her mothers only sister,
who now lived at the farm. Marjorie
was longing to ask for one old friend in
particular, yet something in her heart
choked back his name, and she sat Won
dering at her own reticence, and why
Aunt Lizzie did not speak of the min
lister, when two figures came through
the little wicket gate and up to the
her guests.
miss Melrose," said Willard Lester
for one them of was, indeed he" am
most happy to welcome you once more
to D., where, I assure you, you have
always been missed;" then, turning to
his companion, he continued, 81 hope
you will need no introduction to my
wife, whom you once knew as Annie
Leigh"
For one moment the earth seemed
slipping from under Marjorie's feet, and
the fair landscape looked black before
her startled eyes; but, before Mr.. Les
ter's voice died away, the womaa
OF the world greeted his wife in her
calm, clear voice and most winning
smile.
Marjorie stayed two weeks at Apple
dale farm, and then IN spite of their re-
monstrances went back to her old life
and work. To her aunt's pleadings and
Wizards arguments, who pointed out
to her the good she could accomplish in
the village with her wealth, energy and
culture, she made only one reply.
BUSY myself as will, the range of
action seems monotonous and confined.
[ began too soon to draw around me the
large circle of literature and action, and
the small sphere open to me in D. seems
sad going back in life. No, the wan
derer's ban is again upon me, and l
must turn again to the land Of excite
ment.'
Her city friends saw no change in
their queen, when she was again among
them, except, perhaps, the lines about
her mouth were trihe deeper, and the
shadow in her wonderful eyes a shade
denser and more impenetrable than be-
fore. ''But," they argued, "of course
| Marjorie had been inexpressibly bored
by that duty visit TO her aunt; she would
be her old self after the anticipated trip
to Europe during the summer"
AS for her, burying the dead blossoms
of hope from her sight and heart, she
turned resolutely to her work again.
Was her fate an exceptionally hard
one, after all?
"Ah, well! for US all, some sweet
hope lies deeply buried from human
eyes"