The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-13
FETTERS AND LURES.

- - - ~ q l. v ~ - Il
He leaned upon the gate and peered
through the hanging masses OF vine tend
mis- that curtained the little porch that
faced HIM, paused moment and then
opening the gate quickly, in another mo-
mcnt stpud upon the doorstep OF the cot
tlEc. His step was heard and its sum-
mons answered almost at once by n Young
woman, who glided quietly from within
and took hiS Offered hand. One thinks.
and thinks justly Tor the most part, that
to See the greeting OF a man aud woman
when they are unreStraincd by cOnvcn-
ton or the consciousness of the presence
OF others, i u know what they are 70 one
another; at le-Ist thpsc OF Us who pretend
To quick pcrc, 'ptions and keen dt.,luc-
tons, guess thc heart from the greeting.
But there arc men and women too, whose
natures arc innatcly retiCent of exprvS-
slca, ,-and 10 whom the instinct Of self-con-
troland cnncealncnt ofemOtion IL rs fund
aIncntal and essential as the blind inn
pulse of the bird that waits for darkness
AMI night To spread its wings, or the
flower that closes with the first peep OF
days obnoxious eyes. In such natures
every impulse is SubOrlinatel 70 self-pos-
session; rather than break the sacred seal
set upon the vessel wherein their souls lie
sitting and compressed, they will live
forever like the gcnii shut within the mar
row bounds OF silence and secrecy. The
man who took Amy Fortcscue's hand on
tltt. lovely June morning of which am
telling you, w.tS c.lst i'm his mould. And
- he met her - hc might have done had
tIcy been brother and sister, or even
pleasant acquaintance; met her alone ON
early summers morning, in the soft
bIlmy southern air, and vet no tone or
look showed that he was her lover, more
than that, her accepted lover. So il was.
amy" he said, "can Won walk with
me? ! want to talk with you. have a
letter from the North? it came this morn
ing"
Il viii go with YOU at once, Ralph; Just
let me get my hat" And she ran lightly
up stairs and returned in 4 moment.
Vow ! am ready" she said and taking
his arm, they crossed the garden path and
wandered of under the live oaks.
Amy Fotescue was the daily governcss
OF Mrs Heyward's children. and the little
cottage in which she lived alone and
which belonged to Mrs. Hayward, was
but stones throw from the great house
whore the llcywJr,ls lived. Hther she
had come but three months before, and
here she had met Ralph Holcombe, who
was the resident tutor of the two Hey
ward lads, and had been for two years
past. lie had turned To her eagerly ut
Hr~t because she was from the North,
whore alone he could breathe freely and
b' his real self. For his nature was ab-
~rlutcly devoid OF single chord that
could VIbrdtc IN harmony with the South.
Even the physical inanimate nature gave
linn no pleasure the very air heavy with
jasmine AMI magnolia oppressed him with
every breath. The oders and colOrs cloycd
ON his senses without feeding them
lie had no Imagination 10 toe touched, no
germ OF Undcveloped tropical nature To be
tempted forth. He w.ls OF the North not
only by birth, breeding cultivation, and
conviction, but his fibre, his blood, his
spirit were Of the North in the broadest
Iul deepest sense. SO when this voilnr
girl had come into his life, she seemed a
spring suddenly bursting forth in de>-
crt, and he longed To drink deep OF its
waters sure, they would be cold and pure
and fresh rs If they trickled downwards
from one OF his beloved giant snow mount
aims. Then he loved her. He did not
spend himself for her or on her He did
not melt and flow and blend with her
soul. He stood upright, unbending, and
constrained her 70 come 10 him. He had
no doubt that for her it was best-he
knew he could trust himself-that his love
was better, surer, sOunder thing than
snv burst OF tropical fire, of Southern heat
lightning. He could safely say To a wom-
an: Lean on my heart - lay thy sweet
hands in mine and trust TO me-" for he
knew himself, and that he was strong
enough and true enough to be leaned on
and trusted in; and she had felt the
power Of his almost sublime egotism (fOr
,,.otiSm is ! power, and, in some shapes,
the great working power of this world,
and the sway of his viii, aud more than
thlt the need OF his protection. 30 when
he asked her to share his fortunes and his
lie. she said YES, and was glad u say il.
Nor had slle regretted 1t, for he had added
much 10 her life and altered nothing that
She cared Tor. She had dreamed OF Love
and a cunqueror a subsiSter, glorious
presence that came on the wings of the
wind and malc all things new, n new
heaven and new earth. She had dreamed
Of an essence which poured into her
hearts springs, should trouble its waters;
and she had even vivid though vague
sense OF storm not to be dreaded,
tempest OF elements which made her heart
throb wildly but not with fear. She had
dreamed OF 4 scene whose light would
make rtcn the plumage of these brilliant
birds, the hucs OF these radiant flowers
more intense and deeper in color-lend a
subtler sense power 10 the magnolia
blooms until they should make her soul
ache with their Intoxicating Odor. But
there were only dreams, and when she
hal 4 lover and they did not come "a re-
alitics when his looks, touches, and words
never seemed To have been born in that
ideal world, she said to herself, alt was
dream OF dream; life is not like that !;
that is poetry, and all that n man or
woman gets Is in themselves or from
themselves Ralph had made life easier
10 her in many ways. II was such a rest
To have the drudgerv of her brain-work
.4Fh -
to have some one 10 turn TO when her
poor little head got misty over books; and
lIe WAS so strong and wise and calm.
Livery one approved, every one sympath-
iZcd; IL was one OF the engagements that
- satisfy every superficial requirement as
to meet with support and satisfaction on
I'll sides. SIns. Heywar,l thought it an
excellent thing on both sides; "and then.
-ly dear she would SAY, ''hc is 80 sensi-
t,c, - coGSiderate, never keeps YOU up
late talking, or lets YOU take cold looking
at the moon; just Us 4 husband" And,
indeed, Mrs. Heyward's satisfaction WAS
but natural. Ralph never led Amy into
any of the sweet indiScrctions of lovers.
Ills passion for her never seemed u give
him that feeling which fills the universe
with it, own image, and for the time can
tolerate no lesser thought. They had no
moods, no capriccs, nothing OF the torrent
or prcclplce. All still waters and green
pastures and Ralph was 4 good shcph-
erd, watchful and tender, gentle and un-
tiring.
Amy" he said abruptly, after they
had walked for a few moments silently,
Il must 90 away from this place"
away, Ralph. where p"
81 do not quite know; TO the West,
/ think. / have a plan for school there
But let me tell YOU about my letter. Ny
brother is dead"
"Qh, RalphP ,..,o
mcnt Ia ugntcn the iron band of self-con-
trul, lest his voice should faltcr. "ile
tlicd three DAYS ago, and my mother IS
alone. l must go 10 her, and she must
live with me she cannot be left alone.
I'm. H-Inh rn1n viii nj l.ns... n.