Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-26
A FADED LEAF,

one person In this world whom should nave
thought safe from the remotest chance OF matri-
mOny, that person was Aunt Hetty-dear,
placid, middle-a9ed Aunt Hetty. And yet l
have lust seen her drive away from the door
hand-in-hand with her handsome husband, and
looking as sweet and bonny any young bride
Of nineteen, Notwithstanding her silver hair. 1t
has all happened SO quickly and in such Won
derful, tairy-tale kind of fashion, that feel as
if it had taken my breath away, and as If
must really sit down and rest bit and think
the matter over
i have lived with Aunt Hetty ever since
mother died. When l came to her / was quite
a little tot and now am siX-and-twenty, so
you may imagine il is good many years ago.
AUntie must have been young woman then.
but somehow she has always seemed middle
aged to me. She was always SO calm and gentle
and did everything in such a quiet business
like way that | regarded her as different kind
OF being from my restless. excitable self. have
had my little frtations now and then. but Aunt
Hetty seemed too grave too wise, too good
altogether ever to have been mixed up in any
thing so frivolous as a love affair. 1t only shows
how we may live with people in the same house,
almost in the same room, for years together
and yet know little or nothing OF their feelings.
j remember, almost as if it were Yesterday
fancying one day, about a year ago. that auntie
was dressed more carefully than usual. don't
know what the difference was-Ony An extra
bit OF lace or ribbon or something Of that sort,
but ] said to her in fun:
Why auntie, dear. how smart you are! One
would think you were going to wedding"
No. dear" she said. Il am not going to
wedding, but this should have been my own
silver-wedding day" And the dear lip Quivered
for moment and tear came into the soft gray
eyes
didn't know
NO. dear" she said. ''of course YOU could
not. 1t is very old story now
But how was it. then that You were not
married after all. auntie?" inquired. But per-
haps | ought not to ask. Don't tell NE if it
pains you
No dear" she said; sit was a painful story
once, but the pain has gone out of it now. And
think | should like to tell it to you. Perhaps
some day it may save You from making such
mistake as did 1t is very simple stOTy-just
lovers quarrel, a few hasty wOrds-all said
and over in five minutes; but they altered my
whole life
a lovers quarrel. auntie. Then am sure
the fault was not on your sidei''
You are wrong, dear. The fault ,rGs on my
side. / was proud and angry and obstinate
word would have given me back my lover, but
would not say it. We parted in anger, and we
have never met agani"
''lou. auntie.-the most patient of living
beings-you proud and angry and obstinate. |
can't believe it,''
Yes. Ruth; it is true. nevertheless Sit here
ON the hassOck at my feet and will tell you my
story. 1t won't take long
sat down accordingly. and with her hand
resting on my shoulder and now and then Wan-
deriD9 lovingly over my hair she began:
1T happened when | was only eighteen
younger than You. Ruth, and full of life and
sprit-very different from the faded old maid
you have always known me- was engaged to
be married. My lover was four years older than
myself: he was mate of a ship. and fine dash
ing young fellow named Edward Blake We
had been engaged six months. and were to be
married a month later. The day was fixed and
Edward had arranged to give up the sea and
take a situation ON land. We We're as happy as
any two young people could possibly be; but
unlucklly. just month before the time fixed
for our wedding-day, a picnic was gotten I'D
by some OF our friends. and Edward and were
OF the party. There was a handsome young fell
low there named Percy Sandys. the son of q
nei@hbOring clergyman. He was fresh from col
lege and full OF fun and trOliC. | CHANGED to be
placed next to him at luncheon and not know
ing. as ! afterwards discovered, that | was en-
gagged he was specially attentive to me. did
not care Ter his attentions in the least; but was
in high spirits and only bent on the endowment
OF the moment and did not check him as per-
haps. ought to have done. Presently | caught
sight OF Edwards face, and saw that he was
looking terribly cross and angry Foolishly. |
thought ii rather good fun to make him Jealous
and. on purpose to tease him. pretended to
take all the more notice OF Mr.. Sandys. When
we had finished luncheon the party scattered
and strOlled about the woods in various drec-
lions. naturally expected Edward to accom-
rany me. but he rather rudely as | thought
held aloof and. to punish him. paired off with
Mr.. Sandys- When the party got together again
Edward looked so savage that thought it bet
ter not to provoke him any further.
Il shook Off Mr. Sandys and. walking away
with Edward. began to scold him for his un-
reasonable jealousy. OF course d d not think
myself was in fault; nobody ever does
loving word would have made me penitent di-
rectly. Unfortunately he was white hot with
anger and began to reproach me in way that
reused my temper, too, for | was quick enough
to take Ofiense in those days Ruth though |
have learned better since. / can remember as
II 1T were Yesterday thenOok in the woods where
we stood. the sunshine glinting through the
trees and lighting up Edwards flushed face and
angry eyes. He reproached me bitterly-more
bitterly, think than L deserved. He called
me a heartless cOquette and called him little
minded and told him he had made himself ridic-
ulous by his unreasonable jealousy. We got
hotter and hotter. and finally he declared that
if | did not admit that i had been wrong.
and promise to behave differently for the future
ali must be over between us. | did not care a
straw for Mr.. Sandys. and would fifty times
sooner have had Edward with me- but would
have died sooner than have told him SO then
So | gave him a bitter answer and we both
grew angFer still. His last words uttered with
ali the intensity OF passion, ring still i'm my ears
| can tell yOa them word for word IIetty if
you let lie 20 now, understand clearly YOU will
never see my face again / did not quite be-
lieye him. Perhaps, if had | should still have
let nm go. At any rate. was far too angry to
give way then 60. by ali means if YOU wish
it., | said. and in another moment he was gone
| had been tearing to pieces, in my passion a
little spray Of hawthorn he had given ire earlier
in the day. had pulled Off the leaves one by
one and when lie left he the bare stem was
left ia my hand. with one leaf only remaining
See. here it is. the last relic of my first and last
love. God grant that in your whole life nv
Ruth, You may never weep such tears as have
wcpt over that one faded leaf"
Aunt Hetty took from her desk the little
rrayer-book she always carried. a quaint little
redcoyered book with Il gilt clasp. and showed
me Just within it Il tissue-paper pocket attached
10 the cover. This she opened and showed me
the faded leaf.
This little book" she said was Edwards
first gift to me- AMI this Old dry leaf is my ONLY
relic of the day when we parted in anger in the
wood never to meet again in this world. Stay
have one more treasure; see,"
She drew from her bosom quaint old locket
and pat it in my hand. Ii was a miniature
painting. representing young man in an old
fashioned naval costume. 1t was handsome
face. hut stern and proud looking; and could
well believe that the original would have be-
haved as Aunt lIetty had described.
But did you really part like that auntie:' /
SAD Dld you never see him again.
Never Tie did not go back to the picnic
party. but Joined an outward-bOund shin the
very next day, leaving a briet note for nv
mother stating that we had fortunately found
out in time that we were unsuted to each other
and had therefore nv mutua cnnSapt ~. -, 81