The Southern herald., 1888-09-15

snOuldering fire that needed but a
gentle breeze TO make il a burning
fame One by one the roses dropped
isom my hands. One by one the blind
ing tears fell. | was only a weak wo-
man, after ali. as, covering my face
with my hands, I sobbed:
Robert, oh, Robertl Why we're
you false?"
It all came back to mo that visit to
Aunt Martha, where first met Robert
Preston, young student just returned
from college. | can not tell you all
those bright, happy day dreams; how
l loved him and waited for the happy
day when he would ask me for that
love. He read my answer in my tell
tell face before my lips uttered it.
SO engrossed with Roberts society,
took little heed Of other matters,
scarcely giving thought to the fact that
young lady, the daughter of adeceas-
ed friend Of my aunts, was going to
make her home with us. She came.
From the moment ! looked upon her
lovely face my happiness was gone. /
was pretty girl, fair and fragile, yet
one might as well compare a simple lit
tie daisy to a full-blown poppy orrich
red rose as my frail beauty to this girls
exquisite loveliness.
For time his love was unchanged. l
laughed in my foolish heart at my
doubts and fears. At times | would find
his serious eyes wandering from me
and resting admirably on the beautiful
face Of Kathleen Lee. No man could
resist that wondrous, fascinating face.
She never encouraged him, but the
dropping lids, the faint flush, the trem-
bling ofthe little hands, all told plainly
that she, too, loved him.
How / suffered! In my mad jealousy
/ grew almost TO hate the child. He
loved me before she came, with her
beautiful fower-like face, to rob me OF
that love. Was she blind that she did
not see that we were betrothed? /
prayed that she might go away and
leave us to ourselves once more, and
Robert would go back to his old fond
ways. His caresses were growing cold
er, his kisses lighter. l spoke of his
seeming neglect. He answered lightly,
taking both my hands in his and look
ing fondly at me.
Nonsense, Matte! Do you know,
my little girl, that you are growing
nearer and dearer to me every day"
For time | was satisfied, trying
to be content with but a share Of bis
love.
We were seated in the garden, one
afternoon in the early autumn, Robert,
Kathleen and !. She was looking un.
usually handsome in a dress of soft lii.
dian null. My lover had just paid her
q well-merited compliment, for which
she was about TO make a gracious reply
when Aunt Martha came to us.
Robert" she said, placing her hand
fondly on his shoulder as she spoke
twill you gather some grapes for me:
/ find that some of the punches hang toe
high. The girls will go with you ant
hold the basket"
He rose to comply with her request
Kathleen was at his side in moment
while refused to join them, feigning 6
severe headache.
"They do not want me-" reasoned
within myself.
watched them as they walked away
together, he carrying the little wicker
basket and she tossing her bright curls
with that coquettish air that came SC
natural to her.
can not tell you what tempted me tc
follow them. 1t must have been some
evil genius. Slowly I followed dowr
the pathway, taking every precaution
however, not to be observed. Seated
upon little rustic bench, l could SET
every movement Of my lover and Kath
leen.
How lovely she looked standing in tho
orchard, the sunlight falling athwar
the lovely upturned face, on which {
smile rested Never was seen fairel
vision. Her sleeve of soft texture fall
ing back showed the shapely out
stretched arm.
Sometimes peal of merry laughter
would fall upon my ear. They did not
miss me-not even Robert, he was con
tent with Kathleen.
The basket was full to overhowing
and still they fingered. One bunch o.
lucious grapes the last gathered, was
in Roberts hand. He stopped to place
it with the others, when their eyes met
their hands touched. Was | dreaming!
Alas! no. | saw him stoop and kiss hel
fondly. l waited no longer. With &
cry of pain | turned and fed to the So
clusion of my own room, where | sobbet
out the trouble Of my young heart, with
only God to hear me,
went away quite Unexpectedly.
was homesick. / told Aunt Martha.
left letter for Robert, giving no ex.
planation of my conduct, simply telling
him it was better we should part
was proud girl and would not stoop tC
acknowledge rival.
| / remember taking the ring he had
given me from my hand, and what a
struggle it cost me to place It with that
letter-the last | should ever write to
Robert.
came home to mother, who was
quite an invalid and needed all my care.
never heard from Robert save once,
through Aunt Martha, who wrote:
"Of course, Matte, you've not for
gotten Robert, whom, to speak cam
didly, you treated rather unkindly. He
has gone to New York to practice med
icine. He is doing we'll"
| A., ~ I 1. I f-l1