Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-06-06

Dtfljlte nNI ttLcnipl 10 rpttN HShtiN'
there was light in the old maids eyes.
softnes' and tenderness in her voice
which betrayed that to her this offer OF
youthful love the first ever laid ut her
feet, probably-was the dearest 10 hor
heart of anything on earth.
IF | were young" she continued 80
and there was positive sharp pain in
her voice and expression | were
young and pretty rs / once was,
might think of it. And If had luet him
then, 50 exactly like what used TO think
of aud dream OF Us the sort of man
could lows, so refined, and noble, and
handsome, so different from the coarse
men | was accustomed to-why, we
might have suited each other and been
happy together. But an old maid like
newly, IL s ridiculous. isn't il? People
would make no end of fun over it,
Notwithstanding all this, things began
to assume definite shape, such as il was
impossible TO mistake, and | was not al
all surprised when Miss Priscilla at length
admitted to me in confidence that She
and Arthur Field were TO be quietly
married in October. And meantime, she
added, Alethia was coming TO stay with
her until the marriage should take place.
Owing to circumstances, il was two
weeks before again saw my friend Miss
Allison. Then riding out to spend an
afternoon and take tea with her, / came
suddenly upon her in the fields, walking
very fast and nervously, and az il with
no special aim She warmly welcomed
me, but not in her old bright, happy
way, and noticed that she was looking
badly.
"Whcre is Mr.. FieldP" inquired.
sin the house,
"What, by himself ?"
go, no Alethia is with him. Did you
not know that she had cone? Been here
nearly two weeks"
had, in fact, forgotten Alethia's ex-
pected visit, but pre- sently approaching
the house, saw Mr.. Field bending over
the shoulder of an extremely pretty and
deicate-looking girl, apparently direct
ing her in sketch she was making.
CHANGING from them to Priscilla | saw
her lips unconscioasly contract into an
expression OF rcpras'ed pain, which ri
once revealed the whole story.
1t was won ierful what sclf-command
she exercised during the evening am
quite sure that neither Arthur Field OIL
Alctha suspected what she was suffer.
ing. But, indeed, they appeared toe
much absorbed in themselves and each
other to bcstow much notice on other
people.
repeated my visit on the following
week. II was now the Young people
who were looking miserable. Ar,hui
was seated beside Miss Priscilla, dutfully
reading to her from ancw'papcr, scarce
ly CHANGING ut the young girl who stood
with her back to him, looking from the
window. By-aDd-by sho went ont
Take this shawl To her, Arthur" said
Miss Allison; "she has gone to walk il
the garden, and fear it is cool"
II don't think it is cool" he answered.
DULY, land | would prefer staying here.
if / am not in your way"
But | saw. and so did Priscilla, that
his chances inyoluntlrily wandered from
the window towards the slender figure
lettering amid tho rose bushes in the
garden. Perhaps she expected him to
follow, but he coDsciantiollsly re sisted
the temptation.
On the Sunday following | mt all
three at the country church Miss ALI
son was looking very badly, pale, ncr-
vous and hollOw-eycd; but both the
young people were radiant. They were
a remarkably handsome couple as they
sat one on each side of their older com
panion, who looked older than ever from
the contrast. Yet both were most ten
derby solicitous for her comfort, and Ar
thur conducted her on his arm to her old.
fashioned carriage with an almost
chivalric devotion. | role home will.
them at her earnest request, an after
our early tea we walked in tn rb'c-
garden together, leaving the ,NDun,
couple to themselves.
"What day have you fixed upon foi
your MARRIAGE" | inquired.
She drew quick, sharp breath, but
answered calmly:
That is broken off. shall never
marry"
was almost prepared for this.
ut was an absurd notion from the
first" she continued, land am ashamed
of myself for having ever dreamed
of it
HAS he said anything ---?h
She interrupted me quickly.
"No, no; not Il word. On the con
trary, he insisted upon it ntil-until
succeeded in making him believe that J
had never really cared about it. You
see, he held himself bound in honor
But they were so unhappy, he and
Alethia-poor child; and how coGld
be so hara-hcartcd ~ to separate them.
So talked to them both, and -" here
she broke down into II little "a sping sol
-"thcy are to be married at Christmas
"Docs Alcthia's father consent?'
''IIe did not ut first. He came down
for II day or two, aud hal t. talk him
over to it. mean To- leave everything
of mine to Arthur; and shall, mcantma
make over to him sufficient to prevent
its being said that Alcthia married beg.
gar And in every other respect he i.
her equal, il not her superior"
The generous. unselfsh little old maid
could have kissed her in my admira
ton and sympathy, and | quite agrcoJ
with Arthur Field when he said TO nut
again, with great fcrvor and certain
moisture in his fine eyes:
"She is an angCt!"
was not at the wedding but Priscilla
herself sent me Il piece of the wedding
cake. She wrote n few lines checrfu!ly,
telling of their plans, and of how sha
had purchased few acres more OF hand
TO make the farm larger for Arthur
But do not believe that the little old
maid, though she makes lirst-ra'c
aunt, ever got entirely over the first love
that had come to her-too late. alas. f.
be to her JOY and II blessing. o, youth
what an incstimablc treasure thou art
so often lightly disrogardcd to be after
wards lamcntcd in vain regret and
yearninr