Year: 1867

story which, thank Heaven people never
tire of listening to, any more than we do
of seeing the buds swell and the leaves un-
folding, and the world made young again
by the coming of spring-the story, to
which, as we listen, our own youth comes
back, and once more the flowers bloom,
| and the skies are blue, and our hearts are
beating joyously; and it is May.
| am not young now, neither is the da|
on which am soberly writing this little
record of long past period, balmy one
of spring, or anything like it; and yet Nay
comes freshly back to me as l recall that
day of which am going to speak.
a lark was singing far up in the blue
| sky a few sheep were pasturing in the
green distance, and Il tall figure d'essed in
gray with gun on his arm, and One or two
dogs frisking around him, was coming leis-
urely along the sea-wall. l hsd been fully
intent but the minute before upon the
sketch of an old boat was making; but
now felt but the beating Of my own heart,
and saw nothing but Mark Sutherland
coming leisurely along the sea-wall, with
his dogs playing around him.


The little picture was never finished. for
! at the instant that became conscious of
the advancing figure, l dropped my brush,
and hopelessly ruined my distance by a
great smear of Vandyke brown. 1t was
never finished, no-but have it yet, and
| mean it shall be laid beside me in my
coffin.


lie was long way off when first saw
him, and vet it seemed almost the next in
stant that he stood beside me, speaking
My heart had not left off beating, and
could feel the color hot in my face as
looked up, but my fiery little terrier took
exception to his dogs, and flew at them
with tumultuous disapproval, taking his
attention off me for the moment.
When this little fracas was quieted, he
put his gun on the bank, made his retriev-
ers lie beside it, and sat down himself by
me.


"Have you had good sport?' l asked,
by way of saying something-anything
NO. he answered, ''but don't COM
plain. | didn't expect any. l came out
here because thou ght should see you,
and wanted to tell you piece Of news
and ask you question:


'News is precious commodity, indeed,
in these wilds; but please remember my
Scotch blood, in expecting an answer to
1


| He did not seem u ~. ..tandinr to what
said; he had taken up one Of My sable
brushes and was absently playing with it.
but he threw it down the next minute, and
said softly:


"Hester, have got disappointment that
l have been trying for, and shall leave
for India next month; that's my news"


NV heart, that had been beating so wild
ly, seemed to stand suddenly still, and
drop downtown. The water and the
green marsh rocked. blended hazily into
each other and the sky, and then voice
that sounded dim and far of, but was my
own, too, said, ut is good news, sup
pose."


"Good news Well, yes, hope so.'


He stopped minute here. His voice
was a very deep one, for he was large,
broad-chested man; but when he spoke
again it had soft undertone in it that
used to ring in my ears afterward-it does
now.


IL thought it good news this morning,
for without it l could not think of wife
till, all till l knew you, Hester. My
dear. l think you have guessed my ques-
ton"


Guessed it! All, yes. But my face was
down upon my hands; he could not hear
the cry that was sitting my heart, and he
went on gently, pitilessly:


'But shall not get an answer to it so.
Will you 60 with me to lndia?'
did not answer-I could not. Oh !!
those who have deliberation to kill their
own happiness, to raise up, themselves,
the barries that shut them out from hope,
and love, and life, will know how hard il
is-will pity me.


''Will you be my wife and 60 with me
to India p


81 cannot" And no wonder that he
made sudden movement of surprise; fol
| myself wondered to hear the hoarse pas
sion of my own voice.


"You cannot! What fool I have
been, then. l hoped-I hoped-Hester
is it possible that you have not known
what have been thinking about all this
time?'


HKnowing what he had been thinking
about All the light and life, and Joy o
those moments when had dared to hop,
that did All the anguish Of feelins
now that they had been in vain!


"Look at me Hester. don't think
understand you, my DEAR" he said pati
emily and gently.


"You say you cannot love me, and I an
answered ut once"


He put his arm over my shoulder as
leaned forward with my face buried in m.
lap, and whispered
III think you don't love me, Hester"


'Oh, do, Mark, do y cried, liftin!
my head; shut cannot marry you; shal
. have to give you up


'Give me up, my dear love!' and h
held me closer.


III cannot go to India"


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