Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-03

RA~5NANO OuClE USUAL dkL O4 CAACCI1uk friendship-an attempt which proved a dismal failure-their spasmodic efforts at careless conversation generally end- ing in discontinue. Col. Howard once or twice rallied his son upon his low spirits, but, attributing the cause to his lack of sport, bade him hope for better luck next time
 As special compliment to her hus- band and children, Mrs. Howard came in to dessert this evening, and Frank ceased to think of his own affairs in looking after the comfort of his beloved and still beautiful mother, whose gra- cious presence caused the remainder of the meal to pass off delightfully."-, all vie ing with each other in their courteous efforts to amuse and entertain the gen. tie invalid, to whom the occasion was a rare treat. Shortly after the ladies had retired, Frank excused himself to his father and MT. Graydon, the only guest, and strolled out through the grounds.
 The mild September night was calm and cloudless, and the full moon, shin ing with mellow radiance upon the tranquil scene, glanced along the wind ing paths and brought out the shadows of the dark green frs in strong relief. For some time the young man wandered aimlessly about, thinking of that one whom he now too well knew was dearer to him than all the world beside; and over and over again asking himself whether it were possible that she had discovered his secret? Soon, while talk ing no heed to his course, he came to a tangled mass of shrubbery which, for lack of better name, was known as ''the labyrinth" |" and his heart throbbed violently as, seated on messy rock, he saw the object of all his thoughts
 Miss Graydon rose quickly on hearing his step and would fain have made a swift retreat; but it was too late.
 In a moment Frank stood before her, and, as she glanced timidly up, the struggling moonbearns flashed tell tale light upon her lovely face, all wet with tears. "Oh, MT. Howard" she be- gan, in that instinctive effort at de- fense which 8 modest maiden ever makes.
 "I-I-just came out-I-must go now-and-" But she could get no further. There was a potent some thing in Franks searching eyes which checked the feeble protest on her lips and compelled her, tremblingly, to meet them with her own.
 Even in this extremity her truthful soul could not stoop to subterfuge. Frank, strong resolute man though he was, now that the crisis of his young life had come was scarcely less moved than she; but, as the rushing whirlwind in it's resistless course sweeps'an Instructions from it's path, so now the pent up torrent of his love broke through all doubts, bore down all fears and carried him, a willing cap tive, on it's flood.
 Yet, when at last he spoke, his deep toned words were few and low, while falling with that subtle power which comes alone from out the fullness of a true and honest heart. Coming, ah! so dangerously close to the fair girls side, he simply said:
 ''Miss Graydon-Agnes! Do you know that love you? May tell you all?" No moro than this. No fowery speeches; no vehement protestations. But Agnes Graydon understood; and her beauteous head bent like lily on it's stem, and roseleaf tint suffused her cheeks as she raised her glorious | eyes and bravely taItered:
 "No-Mr. How! Frank! I did not know it, but-I-I-feared-Ao no 1 hoped-that-that-- Oh, Frank!-'' \ and the rest of the sentence was whis- \ pered on her lovers shoulder, for now he caught her impetuously to his heart, drew her yielding form to his bosom
 and their lips met in that most blissful of all earths joys-the long, clinging,
 rapturous, first kiss of pure and youthful
 lovel Afferward, as, all unwitting o1 their way, they walked through an en-
 chanted land of arching glades and
 fairy dells, only Agnes and the silent
 trees and silver moon might hear the
 story-old as mans creation, yet new
 as this mornings sun-which Frank,
 with sweet reiteration, told and told
 again, while she An, no; poor night
 ingale, who trill your joyous song
 from out the thicket's depths, never
 may you hope to rival the matchless
 music of those responsive murmurs
 those sweet confessions of a maiden.
 first-told love. Happy, trustful. inno
 cent children! they fondly dreamed
 that now their lives should flow in one
 unbroken stream of perfect joy.
 An only daughter and an only son
 equals by birth, family connections
 education and personal charms s-theil
 fathers, old friends and comrades-in
 arms, would doubtless hail with deligh
 their new-formed ties. What clout
 could darken the brilliant sunshine O.
 their future hopes? What tempest wrecl ! their love-laden barqueF Alas! alas
 for guileless hearts unslzilled in worldl,, ways!
 Obvious of time, the lovers ingere' long in that sweet converse whicl
 cynics deem but foolish talk. because
 forsooth, it's truest wisdom is scale
 book to them; but at last the lengther ing shadows told of the moons decline , and Agnes, startled by the lateness c the hour, exclaimed: "Oh, Frank, w must go in; 'tis nearly midnight. : "Why, dearest" he rejoined, i've hay been here only a few moments. ar , sure it is no more than ten o'clock.