New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-23

agitation soc thought. and trsmbled While sh'
/ thought OF once more stealing down stars snS
veutaring % his door
She listened a. her own TIE house was quiet
and al the hghts were oat IL was long lone
time she thought siace she used TO make her night
" pilgrimsges TO hs door IL wssa long. ions
time she tried 70 think since she hsd entered BIZ
nom At midnight. and he bad led her back 70 the
stsirfootl
With the same childs heart within her. as Of Old
even with the childs sweet umid eyes snd cluster
inS hair Florence strange % her father In her
early msiden boom. rs IN her nursery time. crepi
/ down the staircase listening as she went and drew
near 10 his room No one stirring IN the house.
The door was partly open 10 admit air and al was
so still within. that she could hear the banning Of
the Ere and count the ticking OF the clock that st0eo
upon the chimney piece.
She looked 10. In that room. the housekeeper
wrapped in blanket was FAST asleep IN an easy
chair before the FIRE. The doors between Il and
the next were partly closed. and a screen was
drawn before them but there was ght there,
sud il suoue upon the cornIce of bis bed. All WAS
very sui that she could hear from his breathing
| thsthe asleep. This gave Der courage 70 pass
round the screen. and look into ms chamber.
! IL twas as great a start 70 come upon bis sleeping
face as II she had not expected tosee it. Florence
stood arrested on the spot and If he had awakened
/ then n. have remained there.
There was a cut upon his forehead. and they had
been wetting his HAIR. which law bedsbbled aud en-
! tangled on the pillow. One OF his arms, resting
outs de the bed, was bandsged up. aud he was
very white But Il not this that after the hrst
/ quick glance and FIRST assurance OF his sleeping
quietly held Florence rooted 20 the ground. 1t was
| something very different from this, and more than
This. that made him look SO solemn IN her eyes
she had never seen his face IN all her life, but
there had been upon it--or she tsncied so-some
disturbing consciousness Of her. She bad never
seen his face in all her life, but hope had sunk
within her. aad her timd glance had dropped be
/ fore its stern. unoviug and repellmg hsrsnness
As she looked upon il now. she saw H. tor the hr't
/ time. free from the cloud that had dsrkcned her
childhood Calm. Tranquil might, was reening in
It's stead. He might have gone 20 sleep, for any
thing she saw there blessing her
Awake uuhind father Awake, now, sulen
man The time is fitting BY the hour is coming
with an angry tread. Awake
There Vas no change upon his face and as she
watched It, awiully. its motionless repose recalled
the faces that were gone. So they looked so would
he 50 she his weeping child. who should say
when so sll the world OF love and hatred and IN
difference around them When that time should
come il would not be the heavier to him, for this
that she was going 10 do and It might fall some
| thing lighter upon her.
She stole close to the bed and drawing in her
breath bent down. aud softly kissed him on the
| face and laid her own for one bret moment by rs
side, aud put the arm, with which she dared not
| touch him round abOut him on the pillow.
| Awake. doomed man. while she Is near The
time is fitting by the hour is coming with an an
gry tread its foot is m the house. Awake
! Ia her mind, she prayed ~ God 10 bless her IA
| Their and TO soften him toward her # Il might be
So and if not, to forgive bin ii he was wrong aud
| pardon her for the prayer which almost seemed lm
! pietv And doing go and looking back at hlm with
| blinded eyes and stealing tlmdy away. passed
out OF his room and crossed the other aud was gone
| He may sleep on now He msy sleep on while
| ne NAV But let him look Tor that slight figure
when he wakes and fad il near him when the hour
is comet
Sad and grieving was the heart Of Floreuce. az
she crept up stairs The quiet house had grown
more dismal since she came down. The seep-she
had been looking on IN the dead Of night, had the
solemnity 10 her Of death and lite IN one. The So
crecy aud silence of her own proceeding made the
| night secret silent, and oppressive. Sle ielt un.
| willing, almost Unsble, 10 go on To her own cham
| Der and turning into the drawing rooms where the
clouded moon shining through the blinds
looked out into the empty streets.
The wind was blowing drearily. The lamps
| looked pale and shook as II they were cold. There
was distant glimmer OF something mat was nor
quite darkness rather than OF light, - The sky and
forebodng night was shIvering and restless, AS the
diving are "a no make a troubled end. Florence re.
membered how as a watcher, by sick bed, she
had noted this bleak time, snd felt Its inrueoce, as
| If in some hidden natural antipathy 70 NJ and now
il was very, very gloomy.
Her mammahad not come 70 her room that night,
which was one cause of her having sat late out OF
her bed In her general uneasiness, no less than
in her ardent longing % have somebody TO speak TO-
and 10 break this spell of gloom and silence, Flor
ence directed her steps towards the chamber where
she slept.
| The door was not fastened within, and yielded
smoothly to her hesitstng hand. She was surprised
10 find bright light burning still more surprised
on looking in, 10 see that her mamms, but partially
| undressed was sitting near the ashes Of the fire,
which had crumbed and dropped away. Her eyes
were intently bent upon the air and in their light
and in her face and in her form, and in the grasp
with which she held the elbows OF her chair as If
about to start up. Florence saw such fierce emo
ton that il terrified her.
"Man,ma % she cried what is the matter"
Edith started looking at her with such strange
dread in her face, that Florence was more fright
ened than before
Mammal" said Florence, hurriedly advancing
" Dear Mamma what is the matter J.
Il have not been well, said Edith, shaking, and
still looking at her in the same strange way Il
have had bad dreams. my love
And not yet been - bed. Mammal
No" she returned. Half waking dreams
Her features gradually softened and suffering
Florence 20 come close 10 her, within her embrace.
she said in a tender manner. But what does my
bird do here What does my BRO 90 mere
Il have been uneasy Mamma, IN not seeing you
tonight and in not knowing how Papa was and
-
Florence stopped there, and said no more.
.Isit late 2" asked Edith. fondly patt!ng back
the curs that mingled with her own dark hair and
susyed upon her isce
Very late. Near day
Near day :" she repeated, IN surprise
Dear Mamma, what have you done 70 yonr
hand J" said Florence
Edith drew it suddenly away aud. for rnomeat
looked 90 Der with the same strange dread ltoere
va. a sort Of Wild avoidance IN III as before Ont
she presently said Nothing nothing. olo"
And then she said. Ny Florence And then
her bosom hesved and she was weeping pas
s0uately
Mamma p said Florence. On Mamma, what
FL an do. what should do % make US happier Is
there any thing!
Nothing. she replied. =, +,
Are you sure OF that Car It never be II J
speak now OF what is in my thoughts, IN spite Of
what we have agreed" said Florence. 700 will
not blame me, will you 2
Iris useless" she replied, useless. ! have
told YOU. dear, that have had bad dreams. Moth
ing can change them, or preyenttheircoming back "
q do not understand, said Florence gazing IN
L Oh al dcr