The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-10-24
'h his gloom, to let the sunshine Of her

one conquered. There were tunes
when he would hold her passionatcly to
his breast and rain tempestuous kisses
lpon her face. ooh, my little love-" he
would cry, "my good angel, | love Won
80. Tell me again that, gloomy, old,
norosc and unworthy as | am, You do
love me. Tell me, my precious, precious
larling."
And Lucie would tell him. There
we're hours when he would come close
to her side, and plead "Hold my head
in your arms, little one. Let me read
your pure eyes. Kiss me of your own
free will. Oh, Lucic, you have made
heaven in my heart, for you have given
to me my lost faith in humanity-in
woman"
Coy, laughing, vivacious Lucie, who
had all her happy life been care free,
heart whole, would look down into the
shadowed eyes, only great longing to
comfort this word-tossed spirit possess
ing her. Every atom of shyness, all
dlilidence and trcmor, every trace Of do
sire to bewilder him with contradictory
willfulness, would he forgotten. Her
hand would carcss the fast whitening
head, her light kiss would fall like
bencdiction upon his cyclids, and that
rare smile would cross his lips rs ho
thanked her, softly, revcrently, and she
would stand rosy and confused mo-
ment later under his lavish carcsses.
But these were moods. Transient
but very bitter were the hours in which
he believed no one; when every smile
she bestowed or received was lashing
his soul as the stings Of multitude Of
scorpions.
Poor Lucie, she tried to be patient,
but she was so tired of suspicious, her
quick temper famed up this day when
he said sadly, "I'm afraid was wrong,
I.ucio." "Why?" she flashed; for half
hour she had laborcd to know the cause
of his gloom. 'Becausc--I could not
expect you to love me as I love YOU"
His doubtful, weary, hesitating tone,
reused every atom of her hot, rebellious
spirit; like lightning's flash the open
ing words rose to her lips, exaspcrated,
suspected, Inundated, stung to the
quick hurt at the injustice after such
loyal tenderness on her part, her ready
tears almost falling, she spoke:
81 don't care" she sobbed, us face
downward ON the sofa she lay and wcpi
till every fibre of her tender little body
ached with sadness and fatigue. I'll
never try again." she resolved, she
ought to know-Oh he wrongs me so.
But he'll come soon, tomorrow, per.
haps," she decided as she braided her
satin-smooth locks before the glass, that
night, in her own room and Thought
with nm unsatsiicd ache in her heart ~
the sad face that went away from her,
the palelip that took no farewellk kiss from
her own-a balm for their life loneliness,
the dark, saddened eyes that even now
seemed to look with reproachiul wist-
fulness Mt her. Dear fellow" she
sighed, 81 can't help but love him,
though he is so trying. l was not pa
tient enough; but" A rosy flush
dyed tho fair face; the eyes softened
marvelously, she was thinking-her So
J liloquy was too sacred even to be spoken
OF how she would steal fond arms about
his neck, and how her first kiss would
disarm his brooding jealousy and bring
that rare, half-sad smile to his lips.
Days passed, no signs of Andrew
Carleton; like shadow he had vanished.
Two months, three, and winter, with
its storms, with its merry round of pleas
ure, was once more with the young peo-
pie of Marshalltown and right royaily
they feasted and feted the wayward
Monarch.
Repentant, sorrowful Lucie, with Mt
times wounded, indignant sparkle in
the soft eyes, and surprised quivcr to
the ripe lips that hurt you, went her
way one of the gay circle, ever incom-
plete without her bright face.
There was n discordant chord in the
ripping laugh, gravity over the hith-
crto happy contenance and always the 81
lent, secret feeling Of injustice; of in
gratitude for purcst kindness; hardest
of all heart burdens TO bear, and the
haunting remembrance of the sad face
rs it looked Mt her for the last time,
when sometimes, despite herself, her
whole womanly being cried out for the
man who had seemingly SO basely re-
turned her kindness. When her tears
rose unbidden and her soul camored
for the sheltering heart and arms that
had so cherished her, so valued her
every gift of love and loyalty, "for / do
know he loved me, for the time" rea-
soned Lucie, choking back her tears
and trying to forget, "but why"
then her eyes would wander to the
costly ring, that she had twice tried to
:, remove, and her face would again re-
I sumo its troubled look of wonder and
saddened questioning.
II will take it off now." Lucie was
, preparing for May Harrington's birth
night party. Her evening dress was Of
pale pink nuns yelling, white rare yel-
, low lace, Roman pearls worn high about
the slender white neck, the dainty
: feet in their pink silk stockings and
! white slippers, blush roses clustered in
q the low corsage and belt, and low in the
. Grecian knottcd hair with its careless
/, , rings on the white forehead, and pear
bandeau and comb on the small
! graceful head. 81 do look well," she
.. . sighed, turning away from the mirror.
"Col. Stratton will be proud. Oh, An.
n drew, if it were you, dear; how could
o you be 80 cruelY' -. -.
She picked up the long white kids MS
v she spoke, and passed down stairs, 1T will
' wait below" she muscd 'button them.
Shall ~" She laid her hand upon the
|, diamond betrothal ring that had never
/ left her finger, but vision of dark
face transfgured with its own Joy, rose
q before her. A remembrance swept ovei
!. her of the passionate arms that drew
!. her into close embrace and pair Of
# eager lips seeking her own voice 9
Is whispering, Don't, darling don't mae M
% your sweet lips, l love them so, let mt
l. Inv nv souls peace in kisses, my owl
l. promised wife," The memory was too
3" tender, quick tears blinded her oyos
1T will NOT take il of" she decided