The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-25


I" 1t is early, John" she said. why
do you go SO early;"
"Nol many minutes earlier than usual
Harriet, If had the time to spare, should
ike think-it's fancy-to walk once by
the house where took leave of him"
$ ! wish had never seen or known him
john"
1T is better as it is, my dear, remember
ing his fate"
9" But could not regret it more, though
had known him. Is not your sorrow
mine' And if ! had, perhaps you would
feel that was better companion to you
in speaking about him than may seem
now"
"My dearest sister. Is there anything
within the range of rejoicing or regret, in
which am not sure of your companon-
ship ~ .a..
81 hope you to think not, John, for sure
| ly there is nothing" ~.
"How could you he better to me, or
nearer to me then; than you are in this or
anything" said her brother 81 feel that
you did know him, Harriet, and that you
shared my feelings towards him 7"
She drew the hand which had been rest
ing on his shoulder round his neck, and
answered with some hesitation:
| "No, not quite"
"True, true" he said; stvou think might
have done him no harm if | had allowed
myself to know him betteri"
Think! know il"
"Designedly, Heaven knows would
not,'' he replied, shaking his head mourn
fully; .sbut his reputation was too precious
to be perilled by such association. Whether
you share that knowledge, or do not, my
dear" az"
81 do not,n she said, quietly. '~.-.
sit is still the truth, Harriet, and my
mind is lighter when think of him for
that which made it so much HEAVIER then y
He checked himself in his tone of melan-
choly, and smiled upon her as he said "good
byer'
"Good bye, dear John In the evening
at the old lime and place ! shall meet you
as usual on your way home Good bye"
| The cordial face she lifted up to kiss him,
was his home, his life, his universe, and
yet il was portion Of his punishment and
grief; for in the cloud he saw upon it:
though serene and calm as any radiant cloud
at sunset-and in the eonstancy and deyo-
ton of her life, and in the sacrifice she had
made OF ease, enjoyment and hope, he saw
the bitter fruits of his old crime, forever
ripe and fresh.
She stood at the door looking after him,
with her hands loosely clasped in each other,
as he made his way over the frowzy and
uneven patch of ground which lay before
their house, which had once land not long
ago. been pleasant meadow, and was now
a very waste, with disorderly crop Of be-
ginnings of mean houses; rising out of the
rubbish, as if they had been unskil(ully
sown there. Whenever he looked back
as once or TWICE he did-her cordial face
shone like igh, upon hi> heart but VIXEN
he plodded on his way, and saw her not, the
tears were in her eyes as she stood watch
ing him.
Her pensive form was not long idle at
the door. There was daily duty to dis
charge, and daily work to do-for such
commonplace spirits that are not heroic Of
ten work hard with their hands-and Har-
fiet was soon busy with her household tasks
These discharged, and the poor house made
quite neat and orderly, she counted her lit
| tie stock of money with an anxious face,
and went out thoughtfully to buy some ne
cessaries for their table, planning and con-
irving, as she went, how to save. So sor-
did are the lives Of such low natures, xho
are not only not heroic to their Wallets and
waiting women, but have neither Wallets nor
waiting-women TO heroic 10 withal'
While she was absent, and there was no
one in the house, there approached il by a
different way from that the brother had ia
ken, gentleman, a very little past his
prime Of life perhaps, but of a healthy flo
rid hue, ali upright presence, and bright
clear aspect, that was gracious and good
humored. His eyebrows were still black
and so was much of his hair; the sprinkling
of gray observable among the latter, graced
the former very much, and showed his
broad frank brow and honest eyes 10 great
advantage.
After knocking once at the door, and oh
tanning noresponse, this gentleman sal down
on a bench to wait. certain skilIful ac-
ton of his fingers as he hummed some bars
and beat time on the seat before him, SEEM
ed to denote the musician; and the extraor-
binary satisfaction he derived from humming
somlhing very slow and loag, which had
no recognizable tune, seemed to denote that
he was a scientific one.
The gentleman was still twirling theme
which seemed to go round and round, and
! in and in and in, and to involve itself like q
corkscrew twirled upon table, without get.
ting any nearer 10 anything, when Harriet
appeared returning He rose up as she adj
vanced, and stood with his head uncov.
ed. r,~ .,...
You are come again; Sirn' she said fall
tering.
} 81 take that liberty" he answered.
!. g Nav ask for five minutes of your lei
: sure;" 20.
, Afera moments hesitation, she opened
r the door and gave him admission TO the
; little parIor. The gentleman sat down ther,
! /. =. hair ~ tho t,hla oyar h..