Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-05-09
WHOLE NO. LAO.


within her own, saying solemny:-
" Hush, love words like these will
ever haunt you. Hush am weak,
cannot bear much"
"SybiI, pardon me, | am ungencr-
Gus" and as Kate spoke, she raised
her face to her companion. Her lips
moved, and she bent down but they
just brushed the girls braids-they met
not her own, and long deep sigh trem-
blcd upon the silent air of that little
room. With an aching heart, Kate FL
lis laid her head npon the pillow, and
as the hour wore on, oncs more Sybif
Conyers, deeming the still, sorrowful
watcher by her side, asleep, arose with
that same strange, mysterious manner
an Kate marked her withdraw from
the heart of quire Of paper sheet,
passing her finger lightly over its sur
face, as if she would fain detect any i'm
perfection therein, and once more she
wiote, folding line after line, with ear
nest care.
Hours went by ere her task was COM
pleted and when, at last, she laid a.
side her pen, she arose, and holding the
lamp close to the paper, murmured half
aloud, line after line. She spoke so
low that it was impossible for Kate to
fully understand her; she only knew
that it was arecita,on of something very
beautiful. But when she paused clasp
ing her hands over her eyes, murmur-
ing, ooh, God ! oh, God I" in tones
both wild and sorrowful, terrible fear
came over the heart Of Kate. Was Sy-
bill mad, that voice was one of madness;
and she tremblrd when she came sCitly
! to her side, hut twas with grief not
fear Low could she fear Sybil, her girl
friend, one who she awoke, even in the
night time, to love and whispering,
"my own Sybil," she wound her arm
about her, pressing her lips to her clos
ed lids-they were hot and turning,
and she murmured, "They burn, they
| burn"
Very simple was SybiI Conyers' toilet
the following day and she would bave
passed onward to the school-room i'll
her white muslin dress, with ner hair
brushed careles,ly back from her brow
unadorned; but Kate drew a delicate,
half-blown rose from vase, and Sybll
raised it to her lips, and laid it on her
bosom, glstening with her tears.
The day was wearing away wien The
! last class filed down the long school
room TO their seats, while the suns rays
stole in through the hower-wreathed
windows, resting upon Sybll Conyers,
as she passed to the platform, her port
| f lio in her hand She was sitting by
the side Of Kate Ellis, when her name
was called, and every slender limb OF
Kate quivercd for an lnstant's space;
but the next, and with slow, waverlng
step, she was passing on.
A faint murmur ran round as she
turned slowly to that crowded hall, dy-
ing away into breathless silence us she
bowed, with n faint color stealing over
her cheek, broken by voice low and
sad, but very firm, as she gave, "Thc
Blind Girls Prayer" With the first
words Kate Ell clasped her hands and
grew pale, light broke over her, ard she
scarcely heard the words with which
Sybil was bearing away the very hearts
of her audience. She only knew that
with rare poetic talent, she was portray
inr the strife between light and dark
ncss-picturlng the death-struggle of
bright perlshing hopes-,hat the blind
girl was bidding last aaieu to the
light of earth turning her darkened
vision to heaven, and its never dying
light.
There was one brief pause when the
girls lips ceased to move, then the
mgrmur Of applause rose loud as Sy-
bil bent her head-as the gray-hai!ed
preceptor came forward, placing an
exquisitely wrought boquet-holder
within her hand, filled with fra rant
flowers.
Kate Ellis caught one glimpse OF
face white and cold as marble, as lean-
ing heavily upon the arm OF MIR. FL
LETT. n. her friend was led away; and
she bowed her head to wipe away the
tears as the crowd rose up to depart.
murmuriRg the name Of Sybl Con-
yers.
The carriages were bearing away one
by one lightshear,ed girls from the old
school at Oakland, and long Kate Ellis
] 4 C.b.I ,.hoso haf