The Laurel Bush: An Old-Fashioned Love Story

does occasionally happen in Scotland, and the domestic barometer seemed to go down accordingly. The girls grumbled at being kept in-doors, and would willingly have gone

o go out with him; abused the place, the climate, and did all those sort of bearish things which young gentlemen are sometimes in the habit of doi

David was so unlike his usual self. Mr. Roy, too, to whom he behaved worse than to any one else, only the elder man quietly ignored it all, and was very patient and gentle wit

that she had not, but so it was. We all find it difficult to realize the moment when our children cease to be children. Still more difficult is it for very serious and earnest natures to recognize th

appeared, greatly disappointed to find the girls

had a gentle but rather dignified way with her of repressing bad manners in young people, either by perfect silence, or by put

ainst-certain things which the young man was never li

r a minute," said he, imploringly; "I want

ht have got into a scrape of some sort. Debt, perhaps, for he was a trifle extravagant

tening. Nothing very wrong, I

ong, only-When is

she felt her color changing a little

ou mean? How can I tell? He has

not going back to Oxford leaving him master of the field. I have sto

ou forget

le auntie. But just hear me. You are such an innocent woman, you don't know the world as men do.

out

in a household of women, without having, or being supposed to have-ahem!-intentions. I assure you"-and he swung himself on the arm of her chair, and looked into her face with

Moseleys Mr. Roy

m rightly. No fear of her blushing now; every pulse in her heart stood dea

ider what you are saying. This

en knows where, all these years, to come home, and, because he has got a lot of money, think to go and marry one of these nice, pretty girls. They

I

t, Auntie, it might turn out a rather awkward affair,

ow

mention it to you-he ought. It would be a cowardly trick to come and steal one of your chickens from under your wing. Wou

hought I had any right. But Mr. Roy is quite able to manage his own affairs; a

dear good girl. But do you think any man w

crick-crack of a pretty Indian paper-cutter he unfortunately was twiddling in his fing

Oh, David!" wa

st have found it out long ago: though I kept myself t

the remotest idea. Oh,

all my

hope I should not be a bad husband to any girl, when it comes to that. But it has not come; I have never said a single word to her. I wanted to b

aking, if such it was, had been carried on in such an exceedingly open and lively way, not a bit of tragedy about it, rather gentee

th all these young ducklings who would take to the wa

nd to be taking upon yourself the responsibilities of life so soon! Still, I am gl

I won't promise not to speak. It is all very well for you; you are old, and your blood runs cold, as you said to us one day-no, I don't mean that; you are a real brick still, and you'll never be old to us, but you are not in love, and you can't underst

ntains," sympathized involuntarily with the lad. It was just what she would have said and don

made an awful fool of myself, but at least I have not made a fool of her. I have been as careful as possible not to compromise her in any way; for I know how pe

es

n, "and I'd do a deal for Helen too, the sisters are so fond of one

sist a smile, "you are quite certain you will be ma

ot very voluminous yet, look

ar, I'd try. I have a tolerably good income of my own too, though of course I am not as well off as that confounded Roy. There he is at this minute meand

t hold of David as he started

ed about-my pretty, merry, innocent girl. He ought to know bet

bear. She stood up, pale to the lips,

or meanness in him-that he would be the last man in the world to compromise any girl. If he chooses to m

l not stand b

people don't do it nowadays" (there was a slightly bitter jar in the voice): "but love

as not listening. He had heard the click of the

ir warning I can't stand it. He has walked home with them, and is

en she saw the whole party standing together-David talking to Janetta, Mr. Roy to Helen, who looked so fres

; even as now she perceived a certain naturalness in the fact that a middle-aged man so often chooses a young girl in preference to those of his own generation, for she brings him that which he has not; she reminds him of what he used to have; she is to him like the

other girl of Helen's standing, appeared more

p at the laurel bush were still talking; then she sli

, except that it might be pleasant in one man's eyes. Sweet it was still, but the sweetness lay in its expression, pure and placid, and innocent as a young girl's. But she saw

some time; but he says if you are busy he will

be very glad to

open it; and then lying down on her bed and turning her

othing and peaceful, so entirely out of keeping with the reality of things, th

g boy often has for a little girl, and a little girl returns with the tenderest fidelity. So she did; and she was so happy-they were both so happy. In the second part of the dream she was happy still, but somehow she knew she was dead-had been dead and in paradise for a long time, a

nd in the twilight of the soft spring evening she washed her face and combed he

of an hour. They were supposed to be golfing, but they staid out till long after it was possible to see balls or holes; and Miss Williams was beginning

derful feats which David Dalziel, who had not too small an opinion of himself, was always ready for, and generally succeeded in; and if he did wear his

d to take their hats off. "I've been and gone and done it, and it's all right. I didn't intend it just

whole conduct was exceedingly juvenile, but so sim

l quantity of half-pennies, between them-and they had not only fallen in love, but engaged themselves to married! She ought to have been horrified, to have severely reproached them for their imprudence, used all her influence and, if needs be, her authority, to stop the whole thing; advising David no

iams did no such thing, and said not a single word. She only kissed her "children"-Helen too, whose innocent

s, the lovers were too childishly happy to be at all reticent over their felicity. Before David was turned away that night to the hot

a "sneaking kindness" toward young lovers, she kept her own counsel; smiled blandly over her old cook's half-pathetic congratulations to the young couple, who were "like the young bears, with all their troubles before them," and laughed at the sympathetic forebo

as if he were going to marry two young ladies at once, but bearing his lot with great equanimity. His love-making indeed was so extraordinarily open and und

had departed,

d when she did come in her manner was nervous and agitated. They spoke about the weather and one or two trivial things, but more than once Fortune felt him looking at her with that

ver she wanted help, there he was to give it. And in all their excursions she had a quiet conviction that whoever forgot her or her comfort, he never would. But then it was his way. Some men have eyes and ears for

; and, though he said nothing, there was a te

out?" he said. "I met all your young people walking

t not care to hear. Old maid as she was, or thought herself, Miss Williams knew enough of men not to fall into the feminine error of fancying they feel as we do-that their world is our world, and their inter

ese young people, who never thought of any thing beyond their own new-born happiness. And she had perplexed herself with wondering whether in consenting to this engagement she was really do

t her with his kind

e all about it; for, i

id you g

night and poured out everything. He is a ca

eved, Fortun

as if you had the cares of all the world on your shoulders. No, that is not exac

, that tender hand to help her through the world, s

there are many things which these children

ind. Sit down here, and let you and me talk the matt

ld bring her to poverty? He is a little reckless about money, and has only a very small certain income. W

like their neighbors. You do not believe very much in men, I see, and perhaps you are right. W

est; but this was certain, he meant to cheer and com

a worldly point of view, these two have done a very foolis

o idea of such a thing till David told

. He blurts out every thing, the foolish boy! But he has made friends with me now.

ade her feel not in the least vexed, nor onc

ay make his way all the better for having that pretty creature for a wife, not but what some other pretty creature might soon have done just as well. Very few men have tenacity of nature enough, if they can not get the

at matte

e world. Now I have changed my mind. At any rate, David will not have one misfortune to contend with. He has a thoroughly good opinion of himself, poor fellow! He will not suffer from that horrible self-distrus

taking a liberty," he changed the conversation into another channel, by asking whether this marriage, when

of age or married, and the sisters would not like to be parted; besides, Helen's money would help the e

hall you st

s, and I might find two or three more. But I do not trouble myself much about the f

d so very hard,

two boys, returning from their classes. It was nearly dinner-time, and people must dine, even though in love; and boys must be kept to their school wor

are not uncommon at St. Andrews in spring, and it seemed likely to last al

In weather like this our hotel coffee-room is just a trifle dull, isn't it, Dalz

t not in all men?-was, that with all his shrewdness and cleverness, and his having been knocked up and d

o turtle-doves into a room by themselves, for the use of which they had already bargained, in order to "read together, and improve their minds." Meanwhile she and Helen tried to help the two

lked, coming to him for sympathy in every thing. Yes, every body loved him, fo

d always would be. That which we fight against in our youth as being human wi

s they could like ordinary mortals, in general society, for the rest of the evening. A very pleasant evening it was, spite of this new element;

eir direction, and then adroitly maneuvering with the back of his chair s

, always affectionate, if not always wise. "Besides

about in St. Andrews. Had he? No one could even speculate with such an exceeding

nce in company. And he never troubled any body, not even the children, with either a gloo

ia for newspapers, and used to draw one after another out of his pockets, as endless as a conjurer's pocket-handkerchiefs. And he liked to share their contents with any body that would listen; though I am afraid nobody did liste

then stopped suddenly, but finished it. It consisted only of a few words: "'Young love is passionate,

ot see, but she felt it-even as a person long kept in darkness might feel a sunbeam strike along

all gone, and that it was a most beautiful moonlight night; full moon, the

lliams; adding, "Let the young folks make the

N

oo. It will be more comm

which St. Regulus tower keeps stately watch. How beautiful it looked, with the clear sky shining through its open arch, and the brilliant moonlight, bright as day almost, but softer, flooding ev

to sleep in,' as some

But 'east or west, home

will that you are to bu

dying. And you are to come with us up to the top

Uncle Robert, decisively. "She will s

ntly side by side the quiet graves-by the hearts which had ceased beating, th

in earnest; I have no wish to leave it again. And you," he added, seeing that she answered noth

are all fond of t

t goes on wandering to the end. But I feel just the contrary. I think I shall stay permanently at St. Andrews. You

tain

o far; so much to him, and yet so little. She was conscious of a wild desire to run away somewhere-run

people be very l

look at her, and saw that she was deadl

to the figures now appearing like jackdaws at the top of the tower, "we are going straight home. Follow us as soon as you like. Yes

ng it there-holding it close and warm at his heart all the way along the Scores and across the Lin

so I shall leave you. You

te w

itation-"tell me just one thing, and I will never trouble you again.

one word from you after the Sunday yo

y. "I posted it with my own hands. You s

laurel bush, and in a few breathless words told

letter. Why did you no

en. You never said a word. In all these

r his lost life-lost, not wholly through fate alone-was such as she, the woman

ispered-"don't mind it.

mediate answe

dea what was i

N

hanged my mind. The answer, I told you, I should wait for in Edinburgh seven days;

r. Alas! those lost years, that might have been such happy years!

o have let you go. I ought to have asked again; to have sought through

e girls a

-with whom life was at its spring-who had

r. Roy, hastily. "Bu

es

says the proverb. Which is not always true, at

of strange solemnity-neither sorrow nor joy. Both ha

r few nor small, and then sat down with her needle-work beside the open window. It was a lovely day; the birds were singing, the leaves buddin

ill a few minutes before she could go into the little parlor to meet him. At last she did, entering softly, her hand extended as usual. He took

ring. She looked up

I did not love you?-yo

arm, living arms; and it was this world, not the next. All those seventeen bitter years seemed swept

*

ade every body respect and like her; though nobody was much excited concerning her. Now people had been excited about Mr. Roy, and some were rather sorry for him; thought perhaps he had been taken in, till some story got wind of its having been an "old attachment," which interested them

nd won late-is the one woman in the world forever. Poor Fortune-rich Fortune! she need not be afraid of her fading cheek, her silvering hair; he would never see either. The things he love

ways loved her: she had no fear but that

ld they wait? they had waited too long already," he said, wi

y out of the difficulty, and neither of them was inclined to be content with happiness, leaving duty unfulfilled. So he took the largest house in St. Andrews, and brought to it Janetta an

den with great equanimity, nay, cheerfulness; saying sometimes, with a smile which had

as spring. They were both too wise to poison the present by regretting the past-a past which, if not wholly, was partly, at least, owing to that strange fatality which governs so many lives, only some

in heaping his wife with every luxury that his wealth could bring; better than all, in surrounding her with that unceasing care which lo

e, that I should see those two, made one at last after all those cruel divided years, wandering together along the sunshiny sands, or standing to watch the gay golfing parties; nay, I am not sure that Robert Roy wou

ed, they were neither of them ever great talkers. But each knows the other is close at hand, ready for any needful word, and always ready with that silent sympathy which is so mysterious a thing, the rarest thing to find in all human lives. These have found it, and are satisfied. And day by day truer grows t