The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-07-13
SELECT STORY.
MY ONE LOVE PASSAGE. =
CHAPTER |.

She was fair to look upon. dea,
mother; but her beauty was not her
greatest charm. There was about he,
an indescribable brightness and fresh.
ness that reminded one of early sun.
shine and sweet morning air, and tba,
soothed and cheered and Inviporated
as only sunshine and pure air can.
She charmed me from my mournful
grieving after my lost sisters. and
made me quietly happy.
None of the gladness of her own
nature descended to mel was always
calm and sedate. From melancholy
child | passed into serious, self con
tanned woman. Beautiful girlhood,
with its wild impulses, eager friend
ships, erratic energy and pretty bash
tulness had no part in my life Some
times | nave grieved that it was so.
tor l have thought that this absence of
one phase of existence made me- an
imperfect woman, and prevented me
IRON possessing some of the most en-.
dearing attributes of my own sex.
But | grieve no longer and AZ I
think OF my mother, wonder much
that with her bright face to look upon
ana her wise and cheerful words to
listen to, l ever grieved at anything.
But l suppose in every woman's life
,here IS time when a mothers love ia
but secondary love, and this time
came to me in my 2Gth year. Until
then, although l was rich and hand.
some and knew all the neighborhood
Tor miles round, nobody had come to
WOO me-
"A small estate close to our VILLAGE
changed hands, and its new possessor
was introduced to us.
tie was of middle age, good-looking
ana dlgnified, and was often bv nv
SIDE lie had travelled much, and for
me ms conversation had great interest.
And there was in his eyes a glance of
energy, fire that leeme,. to ki,dle in
me a corresponding energy. In his
presence could sing better than when
with Others; conversing with him
seemed to acquire an eloquence that
at times startled myself; his well con.
sldered opinions found an echo 10 nv
unframed mind; his lofty thoughts
were my thoughts. | did not stand in
awe of him, such as some women do
for lovers superior to themselves. I
was simply lifted above myself and
placed upon the same plane with him
where l gazed upon him as equal Z
equal, and telt warm and Just appre
cation OF his talents and good quail
ties.
know not when first began to
love him, but | know that one evening.
as he bade me good night, my heart
huttered, and when l sought for rea-
son Tor this unusual symptom, blush.
ed and was ashamed. Nor was | long
troubled with fears of being an old
lnalu' Tor the next morning he gave
me the right to love him.
We sat in the oak dining-room. the
bright spring shone cheerfully in,
lighting up the dark wainscoting, and
placing in brilliant relief the high
carved mantelpiece, where griunng
goblin faces stared and leered and
peeped from twining wreaths of flow.
ers, leaves and corn.
stephen stood by; he had been ex
patlatlng on the beauty of the work
manship. looked at him, and l saw
also the grinning heads, and their gro
lesqueness formed a strong contrast
70 the calm, manly beauty of his face.
AS looked, an earnest and kindlinp
,lght beamed in his eyes; instinctively
rose from my seat, attracted by that
glance. lie took my hand and said:
sarah be my wife; l cannot live
you"
Ills face glowed like a cloud at sun
set. | looked no more. He mt his
'rm around me, and whispered soft
y:
Sarah, you love me; your heart
says sc y 1t was beating under his
land. 'lt says you love me, my own,
md l worship you Darling, speak
me little word will be enough!"
My head was Oh his shoulder, and I
"Yes."
He clasped me closer in his arms.
Then | thought, II am foolsh-that is
lot lifting answer" and | freed my
elt from his embrace, and stood calm
md dignihed, and said, with all my
leart in my voice.:
"Stephen love your
"teaven bless you my wife 7!
One kiss, and we stood silent, calm
ng our excitement.
Presently we sat down and talked of
he future, of our unchanging love,
md OF the great happiness the coming
iears promised.
When he left me | hastened to my
mother. She was delighted, and her
eyes sparkled with pleasure. When
went 10 rest that night joy at being so
beloved prevented me from sleeping.
we were to be married in the au.
nmn. The days passed very swiftly !;
here was no hindrance TO our happi-
ness; we Were both rich; the future
ay smiling before us, while the present
""' i"ii VI ucliBht'
loved Stephen with all my heart.
lie said he loved me devotedly, and
here was an admiration-a sort of
worship-with his love that is so dear
20 woman. He said | was queenly,
md that | was glorious creature /;
and | held my head higher, and was
more stately than ever; and when
ooked in the glass ] saw beauty in
ny face that | had never seen there
before, and | exulted in my good for
une, and thought in my ioolishness
hat no woman had ever before been
70 happy.
There were festivities in our house
hen, and the grinning goblin faces
ooked upon gayeties they had not
'een since the first years of my moth
'r's married life, We welcomed all
'ur friends and neighbors, and made
merry. My mother determined that
he last month of my stay at home