The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-10

"You are, my daughter you are making the |
sunshine of an old mans declining days God
bless you and direct you, Bessie but should !
miss you more than heart can tell"
Tears came crowdipg TO Bessies eyelids she |
dropped two upon the broad forehead Of the old !
man, and then turning suddenly, went out into
the little verandah.
Twilight had hidden the sunset gleam-a
shadow was falling upon the world, and it fell on
her heart too. She clasped her hands, and looked
up 10 the whispering elms; then suddenly pressed !
them over her still damp eyelids.
" | must not stay here !" she exclaimed, every
breeze, every leaf, whispers to me what would
forget. Dear ties bind me here, but the lie of
duty 10 not among them. nh act be a piung !
seDtimentalist-I na1aot be stOic Charles } }
will go where your memory shall not speak to me /
thus-night, noon, and morning"
A month from that hour, Bessie was a hundred |
miles away. She had obtained a situation in a
fourishing seminary, of which, in a years time,
she became the energetic and valued principal
Was she happy Who ever sought happiness in
action, where action and duty were synonymous,
and found it not2
1t is not good for man to be alone land this
Charles Franklin had proved, long ere, worn to
feebleness by unrelaxed toll under burning sun,
he came again to breathe the braciDg winds Of
of Americas shore grew dark on the world of
Internationally, not buoyantly gszng-for
few Ties bound him TO ii. There was a memory
of Bessy Lindsay next his heart but it was
memory-not hope. What destiny might have
written for her, he knew not. He had heard Of
change in her aims for this life, and her hopes
for another, before year had parted them. Two
years had passed since then. He had often ST. |
fenced the dream voice in his heart, by saying, |
I" Her pride would conquer her love Even were
she all that | once thought TO make her. Bessie |
Lindsay would never t'1ice place her hand in |
-. ~ S : - eFaeN5 - - tS Z. gstrf
Yet he sought his adopted home-he could not
do otherwise The good farmer was hoary sud
ia srR. .knt ,hs-z-2lTc=,e3 4h;rE si;h Ei9--,s
blessing. There was joyful commotiOn in the
little household, for it was Mtle now. Mary was
there, more sisterly than ever and Bella, beau
ty and blonde, kept the walls alive by her own
lveliness. The rest of the sisters had long since
gone the way of this marrying world Aunt
Hetty had found in the old churchyardn the rest
she never sought in life.
All-but Bessie "You must not go without
seeing her." said the old man She is the flower
of my heart-thc darling of my old age. have
never forgotten your care of her, Charles You
ought to-mnl see herr
al ,riH see herr said Charles to himself {"
will see her, and blot out her memory with her
indifference
Charles sat in the study Of the clergyman of
c., on a day not long succeeding the last date,
and aroused a eulogium that might have canon
lied saint in the middle ages, as he casually in
quired for the youthful Principals welfare.
"Thank God, that she has risen to crush trial
beneath herw responded his heart
You could not find better rife, young
friend, concluded the minister, with that glance
of peculiar curiosity to which the young mission
airy had often been painfully subjected in his
wanderings.
Charles replied by laconic bow, and slightly
ironicsl smile "Thank you, sir. The lady is
cousin of NINE might say, an adopted sister"
"Ah well" returned his well-meaning adv-
SER" need not then proclaim her excellencies in
your ear We are by no means DESTROYS to part
with the jewel of our town The clock strikes
will you accompany me, sir to my Thursday lee
ture and relieve me by conducting it's exercises
Miss Lindsay is its constant attendant, and she
will be therep
Charles Franklin had not thought that his
pulse could ~ibruto again as he icts away, when
he seated himself upon the platform Of that As
sembly room. Ii was n summer evening. There
was quietness in the air-a quietness in the
| willow -boughs that almost dropped within the
open windows. He scanned piercngly each face
that entering, took in freshness from the crimson
curtains of the sunset sky. Bessie Lindsay, with
her own gentle though elastic step, and a counte-
nance radiant with calm joyousness AS the glow
ing heaven ITSELF came soon along the aisle buried
in her own quiet thoughts.
The simple evening service commenced
at the first low word, Bessie lifted her eyes, to
meet the gaze Of those over whose memory the
moss of years had grown green in her heart A
quick throb of that heart told how deeply rooted
had been that memory but she hushed its heav-
inn hot; lly nod; harc loaaR viii
her hand, she communed with the voice of Rea-
son, till the sunbeam sbone again unclouded in
her countenance Cheerfully, cordially, each met
each mt the door, and gave and returned an old
friends grasp of the hand
The next mornings CALL need not say that it
was dreaded on both sides but it must be met !;
and 80 Bessie advanced frankly to meet Charles
he entered the door Of her elegant little parlor
and held out both hands to welcome him With
the inimitable grace Of an accomplished woman
she seated herself at his side, and blended cordial
inquiries after the home-circle with many ques-
tons upon the history of the past three years
At length an awkward pause intruded itself such
as frequently falls in between two persons who
know, or have once known, a great deal of each
others hearts A certain indefnabe dread of say
ing either too little too much, strikes both into
dumhness Bessie was the first to break this, with
touch Of her frank, olden gaiety.
There is an iceberg of embarrassment be-
tween us, Cousin Charles and it must be thawed
away. laid its foundations, and must be the
first to attack them, suppose Forgive me for
abiding once only, to an hour that you cannot
have forgotten. do so, merely that it's memory
may be thornless in your heart Cousin owed
you more than life-all that made life valuable
you woke In my heart and when that heart gave
itself TO you unsought-
Charles would have interrupted her, but she
hurriedy almost proudly, went on.
The girlish folly was a sincere one but 1t has
not passed away without leaving a baptism on the
heart it swayed, more purif, ing than that Of fire
Its tendrils had all been entwined round an earth
Iy prop. When rent from that, they turned
Iiesvenward. Cousin, none but you could have
taught me that lesson -the lesson to love the Gre
ator more than the created; and all the hsppi-
ness which this lesson learned has shed upon my
life | owe to you, under kind Heaven! For this
most of all, | would thank you, and would bid
you dismiss every regretfu remembrance OF the
trial which alone could have tanned into submits
sion the wild turbulence Of my nature. Shall we
not nor, be again the friends that we once were N
exclaimed she, extending her hand to her cousin.
Not till you have heard me, Bessie" respond.
ed her listener, burying nevertheless the offered
pledge Of reconciliation In his own manly hand
6" Not until you have allowed me to correct
misapprehension Of yours, at the risk even OF
your displeasure You gave not your heart I'M
sought'p
LET the dead Past bury its deadW returned
the lady, almost haughtly yet with color height
ening In her expressive countenance
{" know that pride Is the last enemy which re-
mains to be conquered in your heart, Bessie
You tell me-and your lips never spoke words
not Of truth-you tell me that my influence over
your spirit has been strong to snbdue its con-
scious waywardness Bessie, it is for you to an
swer Shall challenge the last mighty passion
thereW
Bessie sat motionless with dropping eyelids,
whose trembling told only Of the inward struggle
that was working out her destiny She did not