Year: 1870

| When to-moTow's twilight spreads its
somber curtains around this pleasant
world, the five years will have passed
away; five years since that memorable
night when Tom and stood on the bridg,
IN the clear starlight.


! l have grown changed since then. l
sometimes wonder if Tom will not be dis
appointed in the change.


| While sitting in my room this morning
thinking of Tom, Sister Anna burst IN,
flushed with excitement and delightful
ride, exclaiming,-


Here is letter from Aunt Maggie"


tore it open and read


"DEAR NIECE Come by morning
train, without fail 1 will be at Dalton
myself to receive you. Don't disappoint
me. NJ. APLING."


That was all she wrote; but was up
bright and early, and at the depot, ready
to go to Aunt Maggle's, when the morning
| train came putting in, with its load of liv-
/ ing freight. Arriving at Dalton, I was
met by Aunt Maggie, and hurried away
in her sumptuous carriage to the old farm
house among the cedars, with the garden
where we gathered the flowers, seemingly
unchanged.


| / had expected a surprise of some kind,
as l came from the cosy little room as
signed to me, after changing my dusty
| Travelling dresS and arranging my toilet,
so 1 glanced expectantly about me; but
the only object that merited the term, was
good old-fashioned dinner, spread in the
neat diningroom But that was no sur
prise to me-for had been at Aunt
Maggie's before.


But later when she told me to run and
get my shawl, as it was cool, and ride out
with her, was very much surprised, for
that was something very unusual for her
And coming to the bridge, where five
years ago that strange compact was made,
she stopped, and looking around upon the
pleasant scene, said,-


"My dear, would you not like to remain
here, in this delightful place, while drive
Barrows, who has been confined to his
room all summer on account of extreme
i'll health2 1 shall not be gone long
half an hour, perhaps"


This is a very pleasant place, aunt, and
I shall be delighted to remain; the twi-
light is so dreamy and beautiful, the water
so clear and pure" l said, thinking of an
other whom / had met there years ago


Aunt Maggie drove on, and was left
to my own thoughts, which were some
thing like this: HE said l should see him
tonight; those were his last words. To-
night Is here if his last promise to me is
fulfilled / shall see him in few hours, at
most How will he look? How will I
appear to him not like the child he saw
then, am sure. All he knew not how
my childish heart loved him, even while
we stood here, IN this spot, as near as l
can remember, and how that love has
grown since then, until it has become a
part of my being. But, alas he may
have forgotten the scenes of that night
He may never come back" l said aloud,
being so deeply absorbed in mind visions
that heard not the approach of footsteps,
nor was 1 aware that any one was near
until strange voice broke the stiffness,
and I saw tall form, with a bronzed face
and heavy beard, bend over the bridge
beside me.


"a pleasant evening; and what a de-
lightful place." said the strange voice,
which, in the twilight, with the murmur-
ing waters beneath, seemed strangely to
''mingle with the strains of departed
music"


"As 1 came across the bridge" continued
the stranger, 81 heard you saying, he
may never come back again There was
such a strain of sadness in the tone that 1
could not resist the impulse of stopping
to inquire the name of the person who was
so cruel as by his fckleness to cause that
remark-if such should be the case, and I
Judge it is by the tone in which it was spo-
ken if not, 1 thought perhaps 1 might
relieve your suspense, as am foreigner,
and Just returned from the Indies, where
l have been for many years. bear mes
sages to those IN this vicinity, who have
friends there


"His name IS Morton; know you ought
of himP' / said, waiting in breathless sus-
pense for the answer


"a know one Thomas Morton, who came
from this vicinity. Surely if it is he whom
you have reference to he will never come
back again. His last words were, Tell
Lulie am dead; if she has waited for me
tell her she need wait no longer Are
you she, Lulie Burt ?'


81 am" gasped leaning heavily against
he bridge for support


After the mOmentary faintness had by
great effort been overcome, I raised my
white face and fearless eyes to his and
said, =


''Ten me how he died. Have you told
me all he said? would have every word"


THAT is all he said But, Miss Burt,
have been with him for five long years II
His secrets are mine, and mine were his.
know you as well as he did; I know of
your strange promise and his. And YOU
have waited for him all these years ?"


"I have"


"Since he could not come back to you,
could you not give me, his most intimate
friend, the right to protect and care for
you to shield you, as far as 1 am able,
from cares and sorrows of this world? For.
Miss Burt, love you fondly, fervently,
for the same reason Tom Morton did-be-
cause you are so pure and artless; and
more-because l know that you are faith
full You have been true to the promise
made to him, in childhood, I might say.
Can l eyer hope that you will return that
love, or even give me the privilege, the
right of doting husband, to pour the
dews of affection and tenderest love on
the wounds caused by his death?'


"No, mol a thousand times no that
can never be; l can never love again, and
no other man shall ever call me wife. /
should loathe the words OF love that fell
from another's lips. No, no I can never
consent. But we Will be friends, for his
sake; nothing more" said, extending
my hand.


He grasped it, and drew me forcibly to
his bosom without a word, then clasped
his strong arms around me, and the stout,
brave man wept.


My own, my darlingp he breathed.


Release me, sir, L command you p


"Luie, Dear Lulie, can bear this no
longer. Do you not know me? Pardon
my deception, and tell me if Tom Morton
can have the right to call you his daEing
little wife


Tom l know you now" That was all
l could say, for tears, tears of Joy, soothed
the tumult in my poor aching heart,
which but few moments before had
turned so coldly from things of earth.
thinking its loved one was not among them.


He raised my head gently, and brushed
away the tears; then holding my tear
stained face between his palms, he said


81 held you thus five years ago tonight,
and could have taken a parting kiss
from those lips my toilsome Journey
would not have seemed so hard now I
feel that have right to one kiss-our
betrothal kiss-that viii brighten nv
journey through life. But first answer
me one question Haveyou ever regretted
the promise you made me here?


"I have not" answered, looking into
those truthful eyes, that seemed to be