YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



As mamma reached out to take me from 

 him, I saw her eyes rest on the crushed 

 crimson rose he treasured, which she had 

 seen at sundown nestling at Beulah's fair 

 throat, and she might have caught a breath 

 of the young girl's favorite perfume from 

 the filmy lace I had helped him purloin; and 

 there was an undertone in their voices and 

 just a little tremor in their gayety that must 

 have told her more. 



For she did not linger, but said, " Good- 

 night, good-night, my children,'' more ten- 

 derly than usual if anything, and left them 

 standing on the shore. 



Was it a drop of night dew from the over- 

 hanging branches, or was it a tear that fell 



o 



on my little head, as she climbed the steep 

 steps with me and bore me toward her cham- 

 ber, for mamma sighed deeply and said: 



4 Oh, would that these young hearts might 

 dream on forever, and know no rude awaken- 



1 55 



ing! 



I never told a word, but the next morning, 

 when the soft chime had sounded for the 

 family to gather, and I hurried joyfully, as 

 I always did, to join them, then Gaylord 

 took Beulah boldly by the hand, and they 

 264 



