The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-04-25
MY LOVE STORY.

"Arc there no underwritors for human
hopcst for tho most precious OF Interests Is
there no insurance"
had been tempted all day, tempted
by fate and the devil. All summer long
i had been trying to clasp hands for q
life journey with man ! did not love;
n man noble of soul and born To the
purple, who set up high lineage against
my poor gifts Of beauty and song, lie
threw some love into the scales, too, butt,
God help me, had none to give In return.
/ had bartered erewhile my whole pos
sessions for few glanccs of u dark,
dark eye, and my note had gone iopro-
test. .,.. a...
Could ], could l? 1t kept following
me about with fatcful persstency, for
tonight was TO give my answerto my
high-born lover. . ...
tried to look things in tho face, 10
count the cost. . .rI.I'y
Money was y good thing; it insured
one warmth in winter anddelicious cool
ness in summer, and prcttincss and
daintincss, and tho entrance into good
society. Yes, money was good thing,
and position and power, and houses
and lands. So far, good; but my soul
hungered and thirsted for u love com
mcnsllrate with my own, which this
man, who offered me purple and gold,
had it not in his power TO give, or, let
me qualify that, had it not in his nature
TO give.
The stars came out golden and soft,
and the fragrant summer dusk 9crept
around me where ! sat inhaling the scent
of the roses. Ambition and love. tore
my heart by turn, and WEAKNESS, too,
put in poor pitiful plea, for was SC
tired, so tired.
1t was n brilliant future that Rcginal,
Dacro offered me, wherein toll anC
weariness could never come. Itbough
of the purple and fine linen; the lux
urious rest; the cmolumcnts! Then my
daily life passed in review before me
that of companion to naughty, fine
lady, and singer in fashionable
church, among fashionable saints ant
sinners. began to Groom over the ole
satire: .s ...N I... .f....Il. ...
Elm q church which is garnshcd with mulllor
and gable,
With altar and reredos, with gargOyle and
groin,
| Tho penitents' dresses are soalskin and sable
Fhc odQr Of sancthys eau dc cologne .
nut surely II Luclfcr flying from Hndcs
Could gnze at this crowd with Its panier
lie would say looking round at the lords anc
| tho ladies. .r. ..0 '..u
20 where, where Is An Sinners If this is Al
had entered upon this life from a,
unloved and unloving home, hom'
doled out to me by the tardy justice o
grand-unolc whOhadrobbed me Of IN
Inheritance. / thought at first Nigh
find the ssngrcal somewhere in thi
I new country, which seemed so fair, bl
alas! ! had not even heard tho swis
of wings. VII. . ''' '..
thought of il all--the fever and tn
fret; the petty jars; the misunderstan'
ings; the pain of incomprehension; tn
unguerdoned toll; the tagging hour
the awful pauscs. .-..,.f. -.
This or marriage; this or man'iag
II seemed written like q placard 9
: earth and sky. 1t seemed bound Ill
phylactery upon the brows of the pc
: pie us they passed to and fro; and SOC
, the word marriage lost all its signl
}, Lcance for me, as words do. after oft r
/ peating. Did it mean misery or hapl
ness, bliss or woep This maria.
, that rung its changes through my bra
, was it God-appointedP Did it me-
| n~Jt ll,,eipcr nr Ilic f,,ir,cnp a.HH
You know / did not love this m
3 who offered me rest from my labol
He had not power to evoke. one thrill
/ his call. But then, love is only o
reason why one should marry a ma
There might be love and plenty
: money, and yet one 60 hungry all on'
! life. l have known such things. l'
-, Ihad tried to make my life straig
! and fair. l had tried to keep Gle
i hands and pure heart; tried7TG
who knows the secrets OF all hear
knows this-to fight despair.
e7tNs"t -. Long, green days.. .,4...l
o Worn bare of grass and sunshine; long ca
llE nights
From which the silken sleeps were fret
M witness 2n for ,neo % itgOs 9mni t7a
i. We see through shadows all our ]
" long. We come into this world wi
as out our being given choice as to {
er advent, and 60 out ofitnthe same mi
is tneri .b 49,. ...t-o,.l,..,.i
lu We have not boen consulted as
% birth OF death, More and more the prh,
! Of tEp!otstus haunta me,""Lead me, Y