The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-06

The Nec Timon.
How many a sleepless form has no other watcher
than the patient moon One quiet night near
the last of October, and about two months from
the separation of Louis and Louise, near mid
night, the moon arose, and as il assembled towards
the zenith, shed a flood of silver radiance over
the river, the Isle Of Rays and the lofty mansion
of Mont Crystal. Near the dawn of day, steal
ing through the front windows of Mont Crystal
the mOOnbeams looked into that same front bed
chamber once described as the summer sleeping
room Of Mrs. Armstrong This chamber con-
tanned two bcdsteads-a large tent bedstead with
its white dimity curtains down, and n little cot,
covered with white 3AssSpelNvea \sS~,,.s>> l.No.
This little white cot stood between the tent bed
stead and the front windows The mOonbeams,
coming through the window, fell upon the cot
and upon the wan face of Louise, glistening upon
the tear-drops that hung upon her eyelashes
Her emaciated hands were clasped above her
head She lay so still, and looked so white, that
but for the glistening tear-drops and the occa-
sional CONFUSION of her bosom. she might have
been supposed to be asleep or dead. At last, a
her. She unclasped her hands, and listened
The noise as of some one turning in the bed
was repeated. Louise raised upon her elbow, and
listened again attentively She now heard some.
thing between hem and a groan, as of one wa
king up Now she murmured softly
L" Mother, dear, are you awaken
+" Yes, Louise y proceeded from the curtains
oh nm so glad have not slept tonight,
mother have counted every hour the clock
SNs struck | have waited for you to wake 80
long" .r-e.- .--.
"You have had a sleepless night, my child I!
Why did you not touch the bell, and summon
Kate, to give you a narcotic What has been
the matter7 Nothing but your usual nervous
ness, hope"
Mother, could not sleep for joy and for
sorrow"
Strange paradox, that what do you mean,
Louise ~
Louise slipped softly out Of bed, and going to
the side of the tent bedstead, and putting aside
the curtains, stopped and kissed her mother,
dropping tear upon her face. Then kneeling
by her side, she took her hand, and covered it
with kisses
Mamma must return to Louis nded
must mamma if he will take me back Indeed
must mamma, if he were twenty times traitor y
Hey! what how what is all this wretched
nonsense, now?'
Mamma, | shall be mother soonp said
Louise, in q voice between timdty and tender
ness.
"WHATw exclaimed the lady, raising upon
her elbow, and gathering her black brOws into an
awful frown-" WHATp
God has blessed me- l. foo shall be mother,
dear mamma Oh mamma, kiss me, now that
have told you y
1t is not true II cannot be true" exclaimed
Mrs. Armstrong still glaring at her daughter.
Mamma il is 50; and | must return to
Louis--udeed must mammal
"To man whose whole heart is given to his
mistress 2"
"If it be so, it is dreadful mamma, but | can
not help it, lie does love me a little Any how,
know I love him entirely and, bankrupt that
| am, could be happier, even in his divided
affection, than am, severed from him here. And
oh mother, being separated from him under
these circumstances, gives me feeling of degra-
dation of shamep
al do not wonder at it, if these circumstances
were as you fancy, Miss Armstrong"
ooh, mammal do not call me Miss Arm
strong any longer, beg of you; for although
az YOU say am but a mere child, yet am mol
Miss Armstrong; and to hear you call me so
mother, covers my face with burning bushes"
"OhI beg your pardon, Mrs. Louis Stuart
Gordon; will try to bear in mind your dignity
for the future"
Mamma, can you not call me Louise2 Speak
to me kindly, dear mamma"
al am not sufficiently well pleased with you
ma'am to address you so Familiarity"
Mamma, how have given you oifenceW
"By the subject of your conversation. Now,
let me hear no more ridiculous nonsense about
returning to that young scapegrace, nor the other
miserable shift-about-pshaw fudge stuff you
ought to be ashamed of yourself to have such
fancies p
II is not fancy, it is fact, mammal
SILENCE! hush! not a WOrd more of this, |
command you LOuisel 1t is false! false! you are
too young, far too young You should blush at
such imaginingsW
" IL is not imagination, mammal persisted
Louise, with tender earnestness.
"HusH! command you Never dare to hint
this subject TO me or to any else at the peril
of my grave displeasure. Shameful But you
are really out of health. You are i'll and ner-
vous and 80, of course, full Of idle fances You
Ton Nou 10 mott 10 arcian
enough you must 90 out more You shall ride
on horseback. Nothing is better for low spirits
than hard riding or trOtting horse Come, you
shall have your first ride tomorrow. We will
see if we cannot cure you Of these nervous fam
cies. Now, return to bed, and try to get some
sleep. Don't you know you are taking cold, by
kneeling here with hare feet Go to bed. Stay
come back moment"
"Well, mammal"
"This is Uery absurd fancy of yours Louise
Now, charge you, do not betray your folly to
any one Do not speak Of this conceit of yours
to soul 1t would subject you to ridicule."
al shall be silent, dear mamma"
And Louise crept back to bed" but not to
sleep"
IL was glorious autumn morning that rose
upon the world that day. Mrs. Armstrong al
ways arose with the sun precisely. This morn
ing as soon as its earliest beams, CHANGING be-
tween the hafclOsed shutters, gilded the opposite
wall, Mrs. Armstrong was up, and arrsyed ia
an ample flannel wrapper, sitting before her tall
dressing-glass, while Kate Jumper stood behind
her, cOmbing out her abundant long black hair,
that WAS still beautiful, though slightly mixed
with silver. Mrs. Armstrong glanced from time
to time upon Louise, who still lay extended upon
har xvhita cot nerfaoty motionlesa har ayaa olooJ