The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-13
THE FADED LEAF.

Q6ESOH
thought safe from the remotest chance Of matri,
mony, that person was Aunt Hettysdsar,
placid, middlaaged Aunt Hetty And yet I
have just seen her drive away from the door
hand-in-hand with her handsome husband, and
looking as sweet and bonny as any young bride
of nineteen, notwithstanding her silver hair.
/ have lived with Aunt HettY ever since
mother died. When came to her was quite
little tot, and now 1 am x-andtwenty, so you
may imagine 1t 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 80 calm and gen
tie, and did everything in such quiet business
like way, that regarded her as different Kind
Of being from my restless. excitable self Ihaye
had my little Irritation now and then, but Aunt
Hetty seemed too grave, too wise, too good alto
gether ever TO have been mixed up in anything
so frivolous as q love affair. remember. al
most as if it were yesterday, faneying one day,
about q year ago, that anntie was dressed more
carefully than usual don't know what the
difference was only extra piece OF lace or rib
bon, or something of that sort, but said to her
for fun.
why, auntie, dear, how smart you are. One
would think you were going to a weddingp
'sNo, DEAR she said. II am not going to a
wedding, but this should have been my own
S1IKef-WeQdlHg day." Ana tine dear lips qIl1Ver0d
for moment and q tear cana into the soft gray
eyes.
But how was it, then, that you were not
married, after all, auntie2" 1 inquired "But
perhaps ought not ask Don't tell me if it
pains you
mo, dear, she said, lit was painful story
once, but the pain has gone out of it now. And
/ think should like to tell it to you. Perhaps
| some day il may save you from making such q
mistake asI did. 1t is a. very simple story
just a lovers quarrel, a few nasty words all
| said and over in FIVE minutes, but they altered
| my whole life. Sit here on the hassock at my
feet and will tell you my story. 1t won't take
long"
Tsat down accordingly, and with her hand
resting on my shoulder and now and then wan
dering lovingly over my hair, she began.
1T happened when / was only eighteen
younger than you, Ruth full Of life and spirit
very different from the faded cid maid you have
always known me. was engaged to be married.
My lover was four years older than myself; he
WAS a mate Of ship, and a fine, dashIng young
fellow named Edward Blake We had been en-
gagged six months and were to be married q
month later. The day was fixed and Edward
had arranged to giveu up the sea, and take a situ-
alton on land We were happy as any two
young people could possibly be; but, uuluei just
anonth before the time fixed for cur wedding day,
picnic was got up by some Of our friends, and
| Edward and were Of the party. There was
handsome young fellow there named Percy San
dysr the son Of neighboring clergyman. He
/ Glanced to be placed next to him at luncheon,
and, not knowing, as afterward discovered, that
was engaged, he was especially attentive to me
did not care for his attentions IN the least but
| was IN high spirits, and only bent on the en-
| ioynent of the moment, and did not check
him. as perhaps I ought to have done. Pres
entity caught sight of Edwards face,
and saw he was looking terribly cross
and angry. Foolishly, thought It rather
good fun to make him Jealous, and ON purpose
TO tease him, pretended to take all the more
notice of Mfr. Sandys When we finished lunch
con the party scattered and steolled abouB the
woods in various directions. / naturally ex-
pected Edward to accompany me, but he rather
rudely, as I Thought, held aloof, and to punish
him paired off with Mr. Sandys When the
/ party got.togetheF again, Edward looked so saw
age that Thought ii better not to provoke him
any further
II shook off MIR. Sandys, and walking away
with Edward began to- sceld him for his unreas-
enable jealousy. Unfortunately, he was white
hot with anger, and began to repFoach me in a
way that aroused my temper too, for Twas quick
enough to take offense in those days, Ruth,
though / have learned better sense. He re-
preached me bitterfy--more bitterly, / think,
than deserved. He called me heaFtless co-
qaetre, and called him little minded and told
/ him he had made himself ridiculous We got
hotter and hotter; and finally he declared that
/ if / did not admit that had been wrong,
and promise to behave differently for the
futnie, all must be over between US /
did not care 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 bitter answer.
and we both grew angrier still His last words,
uttered with all the intensity of passion, ring
still in my ears; can tell you them word for
word: sHetty, If you let me go now, understand
clearly you will never see my face again did
not quite believe him. Perhaps, if had
should still have let him go. At any rate was
/ far too angry 70 give way then. Go, by all
means, If you wish it, said and in another mo-
Inent he was gone had been tearing to pieces
| IN my passion q little spray of hawthorn ne had
given me earlierin the day. had pulled off the
stcm was left in my hand, with ore leaf only re
manning. See, here 1t is, the last relic OF my
/ first and last love. God grant that in your life