Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-10
road; whose high banks increased the

| oDScuIlOy, aS uHConbclOuS OF his sur
roundings as if asleep, with head bent,
and mind full of new sensations of any
thing but pleasant character.
He was in love, and he knew it, for
the first time in his life. He had come
to England in the hope of finding some
amiable, good woman to share his fu.
ture, and he was to return with his
future all dark before him.
That he should never marry he knew.
For him there was bat one woman in all
the world.
Charlie Rickard, wandering uneasily
through the leaf-carpeted lanes, had
seen him go to the house, but not also
seeing his departure strolled away in
another direction, with heart almost
as heavy as that of the man he envied.
And Thirza? She listened until she
heard the gate swing to, and then sat
down by the fire. When the tea-bell
rang an hour later she reused herself
and ran upstairs.
"Where have you been ?" was Amy's
greeting. ct have been awake an
hour at least. What have you been
doing"
"Sitting by the fire thinking" said
Thirza.
care you not we'll, dear ?"
Perfectly" Thirza answered, with
smile, and the invalid withdrew her
great eyes but half satisfied.
|
A year had skinned as lightly away
as years generally do, and it was again
winter. The leafess trees were marked
out darkly against the pale afternoon
sky, as young man turned in at the
gate of Hawthorne Deane. As he
skirted the cedar that had at first hidden
the house from view, he saw the draw
ing-room window red with the freight
glow. He advanced slowly, and stood
looking.
There by the mantelpiece stood Tita.
and by her side, with her hand in his,
was some one whom the looker-on did
not know. He sighed heavily.
"She has yielded?' he said to him
self. "Will mine?"
He saw Tita lay her fair cheek against
the sleeve of her lovers coat, and turned
away TO the door, ashamed of his min.
ute's espial.
Still he stood on the step, prolonging
his own suspense, from fear that when it
should be ended the reality should
prove even harder to bear.
AS he waited in the increasing dark
ness the slight figure of woman came
slowly along the path that wound round
the house, drawing a shawl closer about
her with an audible shiver, and stopped
where he had done, looking in at the
pair by the fire.
Amy is gone r. she murmured; "and
now Tita will gol What is to become
of me?"
The echo of his sigh escaped her.
Bernard Colvin half moved to speak to
her,yet hesitated for fear that his sudden
apparition would be too startling. But
the reflection that the next step would
probably be to the door, induced him to
step out from the shadow of the porch
with outstretched hand.
"Who is it?" said Thirza, shrinking
back.
"It is l." said Colvin, with perfect
faith in her recognizing his voice. ''I
have come back"
She gave him her hand, which was
trembling, saying, as if to account for
it and for her agitation:
''You surprised mel I have been
ill-in troubled We have lost our sis
ter |"
he retained her hand, and made a
motion with his other to the occupants
of the room.
81 have been envying that man." he
said, in a low voice. Thirza, have
come to ask you again-to see if such
happiness as his may be mineI And
was waiting-I dared not put it to the
proof Thirza, love, life is worthless
without You Can You love me2
Speak, love, for Heavens sakel Don't
keep me in suspensep
Thirza could not speak-her voice
Was choked with tears, but she held out
both hands toward him with gesture
that was sufficient answer. He caught
her to him-the pain Of twelve long
months compensated in that first kiss
on Thirza's proffered lips.