New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-22

With visit from her loving nephew.
1t was early In the spring, and a few
! peeping primroses frightened the aTen.
/ ne. Underneath the dining-room win.
! dows was a gay bed of purple and vel
low crocuses which I thought bore toker
| OF Aunt Milly's care, she was always SC
| fond of flowers. I fancied the hal,
/ did not look SO cherries as before: the
bright March sunbeams enliYened
though they could not warm it. In q
few moments appeared Aunt Milly her
self, not in the least altered, but as
lively and active as ever.
/ She took me into her own little sitting
room, and told me how the winter had
passed with her. 1t had been rather a
gloomy one with her, she acknowledged
the girls were accustomed to run wild
/ Louisa would have her own way; but
then she was guided by love, and her
nature was frank and warm, Picnic,
| the pale girl who had been delicate
| from her cradle, was rather INDECENT,
| but-(oh what a blessing these butts are
sometimes)- but then she was so
sweet and gentle. I own, when
1 tb0dlu SttH tuo young uodIlSoiS
thus leniently described by aunt Milly,
1 did not see the marvellous change;
Louisa seemed nearly as talkative, and
her sister nearly as insipid as ever; still
there was slight improvement, even
to my eyes, and [ gladly allowed aunt
Milly the full benefit of that loving
glamour which was cast by her hopeful
creed and sweet disposition.
'sBut now, Godfrey, how fares it with
you?" said my good aunt. ssHow is
Laura? and how are you getting ON in
| the wor1d?''
[ could give but a melancholy an
swer to these questions; for [ had to
work hard, and the law was hard
study. Besides, many people looked
coldly on me after they knew I was
poorer than [ had been; and even Lau-
ra herself was not SO frank and kind.
Vague Jealousies were springing up in
my heart for every smile she bestowed
elsewhere; and these smiles were not
few. [ was, in truth, far from happy !;
and SO [ told aunt Milly, adding:
If Laura does not love me, I don't
care what becomes Of me"
Aunt Milly smiled and then looked
grave. My dear Godfrey, if Laura
married tomorrow, you would recover
in time"
"No, never! To lose the girl [ love
is to lose everything in the world"
1T may be you do not know what
real love is, my dear nephew. The
strength and duration of mans attach
ment depends upon character and dispo-
sition of the woman he loves. For your
Laura we shall see. Once more,
have courage, work hard at your profess
sion, and grieve> as little about Laura as
you can. If she ever did love you she does
so still, and otherwise she is not worth
the winning"
I did not agree with aunt Miles
theory, hut I said no more; my heart
was too sore She took me over the
house and grounds both looked cheer
full under the influence of the soft
spring; and then she told me how kind
Mr.. Elphinstone was, and how he had
been gradually weaned from his solitary
life to take pleasure in the society of
his daughters.
''And I hope he is grateful to you
who have, made it all endurable?" [
said.
Aunt Milly smiled. eyes, I believe
he is; but I have only done what I
ought; the girls both love me dearly,
and it is sufficient reward to see them
improve"
did not see Mr.. Elphinstone, but I
earnestly hoped the solemn, coldly
polite, naiddle-aged gentleman had
shared in the general amelioration and
reform effected by the cheerful-hearted
Miss Milly.
Months had glided into years ere: I
again saw auut Milly. Everything had
changed with me; from a boy I had
grown man. from toying to struggling
with the world. had followed Aunt
Milly's advice, and had begun to reap
the fruit OF it in the good opinion of
I had proved also the truth of her old
saying. How sweet is the bread of
ones own earning!" Another OF her
prophecies, alas! had come too true.
Laura Ashton had married-but I was
not her husband; a richer man stole
the jewel Of my boyhoods fancy
but-and this was the saddest to bear
not before I had found it to be false
pearl unworthy Of my manhood's wear
ing. But I will not speak of this; in
spite of aunt Milly's sage speeches, no
one can quite forget his first love.
When l next visited Elphinstone
Hall, it was in the golden days of mid
summer. I thought I had never before
| beheld a more lovely place. The old
trees were SO bowery and full of leaves
the grass lawn SO very green the flower
garden so bright with blossoms Age
and youth were not more different than
the ancient, cherries hall of former
times and the beautiful spot I now
looked upon. Even aunt Milly seemed
to share in the general rejuvenescence.
The two years which had changed me
SO much had not made her look a day
older. She had the same clear, fresh,
cheerful face and neat little figure, but
perhaps rounder, the result of a
happy life and few cares. Her
dress was as tasteful as ever, but not
quite SO precise, and it was of richer
material. She wore, too, various hand