Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-06-04

" MS sworn ~ curl OF ngnt NaAon
hair tied with a blue ribbon. ! once
begged him TO tell me the story Of the
golden lock, but he answered, quietly,
that there was nothing 10 tell.
"'lt looks like a child's,' ventured
10 suggest.
"1'o which he replied, 'The head
on which it grew must have known as
many summers and winters as your
own.'
"T hope she is not dead, l ventured
again.
"And he answered, in the same quiet
way, q never heard OF her DEATH
"'Is she marriedP' / asked, bluntly.
81 presume so; | don't know he
answered, trifle less calmly.
"'The ribbon Is faded; | viii bring
you fresh piece, and put this in the
rag-bag, 1 suggested.
"But he shook his head decidedly.
A new piece would not be the same,
he answered grayely.
"This Is a slight foundation on which
torear aromance, but have always be-
heved there is memory of the past con-
nected with the faded ribbon and sunny
hair. Hal, with all his bravery, is a shy
man. He would be like Miles Standish,
whom he is always quoting, in love and
in war. don't believe he ever heard
that terrible No from the lips of the
woman who had sunny hair and wore
pale ribbons, but can fancy him losing
his chance, and letting some other man
win her. You see, he would have only
himself to blame, and would 90 on re-
membering thepast dream with dreary
kind of pleasure. Still, 1 always expect
to see him married. Home and wife are
the just deserts of men like Hal"
The man of whom this cheerful
prophecy was made was on his way to
an uptown residence, in no enviable
frame of mind.
"It's absurd of Joshua's wife to send
me on this errand," he was thinking.
"I am sure to blunder. Let me see
paper, paint, walls, closets, and sewer
gas were the items of special. impor-
tance."
"What a pleasant-looling housed"
he thought, as he assembled the steps of
the residence designated in his brothers
telegram. In the hall he carefully noted
the wall from floor to ceiling, looked
closely at the paint, and made an in
ventory of closets at the back of the
hall. Then he was admitted into the
parlor, and saw at glance that the ar
rangement was such as Mrs. Maclane
desired. A faint perfume of violets was
pleasant odor to inhale when he feared
to encounter sewer gas. He glanced at
the wall, and then his eye fell on lady
who advanced from the rear room, and
exclaimed, "Mr. Maclanel"
"My old friend Rebyin he responded,
as he took her hand. "This is an unex-
pected pleasure"
There was genuine pleasure on both
sides, if sparkling eyes and glowing
cheeks were signs of pleasure; then
each surveyed the other, with glances
half questioning and half apprehensive,
as they exchanged ordinary remarks and
Henry Maclane explained his errand.
"My sister occupies the house, and
will show it to you presently" said the
lady. 'tDo you want it furnished as
you find itP"
Henry Maclane looked at the fair
woman-sunny hair waving over her
forehead; clear blue eyes looking search
ingly into his at one moment, and glanc-
ing shyly away the next; lips moving
nervously, as if she were mastering some
emotion-and he replied, emphatically,
Just as it isl"
"There is a pleasant view from the
back windows" said the lady, leading
the way to the rear room.
"Very pleasant" !" replied Henry Mac
lane; but he had given only glance
outside, and was gazing down ON the
fair-haired woman, standing a little
lower than himself. Then he fell to
asking questions about her family and
mutual friends; and all the time he had
the air of a lawyer who asks indirect
questions hoping to elicit some unknown
facts.
Mammal" called a childish voice in
the hall.
The fair lady stepped to the door, and
said, gently, "Go to the nursery, Hal. "
Henry Maclane started at the sound
of the name he always bore in his own
home. Had it been given the child for
sweet remembrance's sakeP The
thought that this remembrance must
count for naught, if there were husband
and children, had in it the sadness of
sit might have been."
g." The years must have brought many
changes to you," said Henry Maclane,
with view of gaining some personal
knowledge.
" Yes" answered the lady, with a
meditative look on her face, there
are few reminders even of the old days
left. have had my share of joy and
sorrow.n
Henry Maclane noted, what he had
not seen before, that there was a min
Cling of Grape in the lady's black dress.
Perhaps she is widow" was his
thought,
"My mothers death last year was the
greatest atfliction | have ever had" she
said, sadly.
" Not a widOwl'' was Henry Mac
lanes mental comment. " The loss of
her husband would have been a greater
afllctiOn to this woman than the loss of
her mother"
There was a pause, and Henry Mac
lane said: "You must know Mrs. Mac
lane. She will give any friend of mine
a warm welcome"
Certainly" replied the lady. at
will be a pleasure to know her. Ali
here is my sister, Mrs. Ellis. Sue, don't
you remember Mr.. MaclaneP"
" Remember him! What, Hal, our
most devoted attendant and dearest
friend2 Upon my word, hadn't any
dearer friend in those days." exclaimed
the sister, in voluble way he remem-
bered well. "How glad / am to see
youl The servant told me a gentleman
was waiting to be shown the house.
little dreamed of finding an old friend in
the house-hunter, Are you a judge OF
housesP" she asked, in practical way.
al fear not; but Mrs. Maclane was