The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-10
4" But Bessie Cousin Bessie ~


"But, my dear Cousin Charles, A. M-which
is, being interpreted, Master of the Art of long
facedness-I intend to bring an action for man.
slaughter at the next court against - Semina-
ry for killing the spirit of life in you You used
to be as lively as a woodlark and now it is
enough to provoke a contrary creature like my
self into violent fit of visibility even to look at
you p
"Bessie, will you hear me %
81 have the floor, sir and nay sermon deserves
its turn Its theme might be stated thus
Laughing is absolutely essential to health and
long lfe' DR.. Combe for that-there is author
| ity. Nov 70 make the persoSFat application in
J ,bnSa wo,Js ynD nv most esteemed and re-
spected cousin, are convicted Of committiug slow
suicide upon your physical frame! Do you never
laugh now ~ she added, with undminished mirth.
"Incorrigiblep thought her cousin, as he
looked her steadily and hopelessly in the face
with an expression that at last startled her into
some degree Of attention
81 do not often laugh. | cannot laugh to-day"
| replied he, at length. "SeriOus matters lie be-
fore me here" drawing from his pocket letter,
which he held, as if hestating to unfold
Bessie bounded to the ottoman, with look of
intense curiosity into the face that was fxedly
bent toward the oak leaves of the carpet beneath.
1t is from B, Bessie, and it calls me to
my life path sooner than had anticipated"
If his object had been merely TO sober his
young listener, it was already attained. She sat
with heaving chest, cheeks suddenly paled, and
lips half parted while, in the pause that followed
his words, she breathed chokingly.
"You were not going for year, Charlesp
| ~. AZ my plans are altered, Bessie must
feave; and | seek not-now-to stay. ( muse
leave this dear home-to-morrow ~ he added,
"elrly end dis,ine'ly COMPRISING bis l;n' With
sudden frmness
Tomorrow gasped the bewildered girl
No-noin
"Be calm, Bessiew said he, soothingly, taking
her hand-though his own was cold as ice and
passive as though that ice had fallen upon his
warm heart-pulses.
you shall not-you cannot leave me, Cousin
Charlesp exclaimed the impulsive being, throw,
ing her arms around his neck and laying her
sobbing, trembling head upon his throbbing heart
You! the only human being that ever under.
stood me-that ever guided me-my only one
you are going to the heather ] am worse than
the heathen-I need you more than they all
Stay with me, Charles, or oh if you must go
take me with you, cousin Don't leave me in this
world alone! ! am not fit and the incoheren'
sentence died away on her quivering lips
The countenance that bent above hers was con
tracted with agony for a moment, as Charlesi
arms closed around the victim of his own mis-
guided hopes and dreams. But he spoke not, til
he said, slowly and steadily" Bessie! ask your
self-are you fit to be missionary's wyeW
At that last word, Bessie unclasped her ARM
and rose to her full height The fountain of tear'
was checked instantaneously; yet she did not faint
although her cheek was white and her lips color
less 1t was as though fash of lightning had
TRANSPORTED her with those words from the child
to the woman" And woman's pride, and woman
dignity, came swelling in The full lido that bnrs
from an almost breaking heart She stood mo
ment in that sudden hush Of the whirlwind, ga7
ing, not on him, but on vacancy.
"NoW she exclaimed, while Charles looked o.
her with vague terror. She turned from hin
and walking firmly to the door, laid her hand upol
the latch
Bessie, we do not part in angerp cries
Charles, as overcome by a sudden spasm at hi
heart, he spraDg halfway toward her.
"She turned, and gave him one look-so full
of reproach, yet so full Of gratitude-so full o
alteration, that he stood transfxed Never, to hi
brightest dream, had she looked so bewilderingly
beautiful-so soul-radiant-and it was for tn,
last time! Such a glance might spirit at thu
Gate of Life, fix on its departing guardian angel
Each lived an age in that one moment. awe
should count time by heart-throbs IL passed
Bessie grasped the latch-her hand trembled
upon it; but she was gone. Too proud to be
pitied of mortal she buried herself in the
Of her chamber, snd-but we may not intrude
| there.
e. And Charles He was not less the sufferer
that he had drilled his heart into lifelong sub
! lection TO higher aim. Not less a sufferer-for
he could not look on this wreck Of hope and say
" woke not the winds and waves to 'whelm my
bark of happiness" He had grasped chair con.
vulsively, and when the door closed between him
and her, he moved toward the window
-"A moment DER his brow
|