The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-11


Uneasy becomes psrfrce
The inevitable intercour e,
Too grateful heretofore;
Each IN the other descry
The tone const aimed, the altered eye
They know that each to each
No longer of yore;
Yet each, while thus enstrsnged Ideem
Reveres the other more;
Hers is, perhaps, the saddest heart
His, the more forced and painful part -SOuthty.
At the earnest entreaty Of General Stuart
Gordon, Miss Someryille remained at the Isle Of
Rays until the conyalescence Of Louis; then she
took'6er departure f0f her solitary home 90 fhs
Crsgs. 1t was a bright sharp morning near the
IA ~ A-s-.rs -AS..A.c -ssA&~Tr-A -
George and Harriet welcomed her home, with
heartfelt delight. George displayed with glee q
bunch of birds that he had brought home for
miss Susiesn dinner; and exhibited with great
pride vast pile Of flag mats, baskets, and chill
dren's mems, and boys coarse straw hats all the
work of his hands, which he said would bring
sixty dollars when he could take them TO market
And Harriet displayed some of the whitest spun
cotton which she said would knot beautiful fringes
and toilet covers. Both feared, however, that
"Miss SUSIE would find the house very rough
in comparison with the beautiful Island Mansion.
Miss Somerville smiled away their doubts; and,
having looked through her honse, and then laid
off her riding habit, she quietly settled herself
with her needle-work by her lonely Preside
al am but twenty -one,n said Susan to herself,
and vet begin to feel very much like an old
maid"
But she did not look so, with her tender peach
blossom cheek, and the silky black curls dropping
soft shades upon them.
The day was heavy-it was no use to disguise
A. Act Susan found il and often rising from
her seat she walked to the windows and looked
cut from very WEAKNESS And as she remembered
the pleasant family circle at the Isle of Rsys-the
hearty General, the gay Britannia, the sparkling
little Brightly, and Louis her protege her patient,
suffering, sad, but the more interesting on that
nccount--Susan nearly regretted the morbid self
respect that forbade her to yield to the pressing
eutresties of the Stuart Gordon family, and take
up her residence among them.
Night closed around her, and then more than
ever she missed the social family circle that night.
ly gathered around the bright hickory fire in the
oak panneled parlor at the Isle Of Rays. She i'm
a9ined them as they sat there after the tea table
was cleared away, the General and Britannia with
the chess board between them. The General with
his deep, hearty laugh and Britannia with her
beaming glance, and half-mocking SMILE and
LOUISE what might Louis be doing now, that she
was not there to keep him alive7-reclining back
in his crimson velvet chair, watching the game
with languid eyes.
A wild blast of wind against the window
aroused her from her reverie She arose and
looked out, and found that a snow storm had sud-
dely arisen. She resumed her seat; and while
the tempest howled around the old house, Susan
felt more desolate in her loneliness than ever
George came In with tea, and toast and lighted
candle upon a waiter. He sat it down on the
table by Miss Somerville's side, and then be quiet
ly withdrew.
"The truth is, have no appetite" thought
Susan, as she turned to her solitary meal "That
long sojourn at the Isle of Rays has spoiled me
entirely; can no longer enjoy meal that is at
once very frugal and very lonely!
A second and wilder blast of the storm star
tied Susan from her chair, and at the same mo-
ment the door was pushed open, and Louis Stuart
Gordon suddenly stepped into the room, stamping
the snow from his boots and throwing off bis sleet-
covered cloak and revealing his black suit slight
figure, and pale face
Miss Somerville palcd herself
I" In the name Of Heaven, Louis what tempted
you out on such night as this7-you, who are
barely convalescent J" exclaimed the young nurse
in displeasure, as the imprudent patient dropped
exhausted into chair beside her.
"Do not scold, my loved physician; the storm
had not arisen when ! set Quit overlook me al
the top Of the Crags"
"Yet you should not have left the house upon
any account-no, not until spring.
You are mistaken, Susan am stronger thar
you think am recovering rapidly. Give me .
cup ofyour nice tea and 1t will set me up!" "
Miss Somervie went to the other door, called
George, and directed him to bring another cuI
and saucer.
missed you! We all missed you 80 much
to-day, Susan, but most of all seem to be
supernumerary at the Isle, now. In short
Susan, was terribly bored with my own com
pany, aud having great deal Of listless news o,
hand, have come to bestow part Of 1t on you
Have patience with me, Snsaup
George now entered with another Gun AMI
saucer and more toast, and Susan poured out hi
tea
The table was soon after cleared off an,
Louis drew his chair In closer to the fire. viii,
the storm ragged more 6ercely around the hous,
Miss somerville quietly pursued her needle
work, but heavy gloom lowered slowly an,
oarkiy upon her spirits II was vague sense o
error or wrong, or danger, or dread--or all thes
'Ogether-that oppressed her. She could no
avoid signing frequently and heavily, and slsnc
Tug nervously at the windows, as she hoped an,
prayed and watched for the violence Of the storm
70 a6ste Louis, for bis part, sat there lookin,
'"s very picture Of repose and contentment. HI
WAS silent, and sometimes very abstractsd, seem
ing perfectly Satisfied to DO near Susan, withou
entering Into conversation with her. A wilt
e'a'' Of the hail storm ratified against the win
Vows Unable To control her nervousness, Mis-
susan arose and put her hand 10 the Latch o
the door, intending 10 look out, bat furiou
ga" Of wind blew 1t violsntly opsu-ssndipg
tempest Of snow and hAil into the room susau
WIN all her strength was unable = close the door
''a Louis had to get up 70 help her Then the,