The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-09-13

tease me, but would be quieter, and wear
a smile--so calm and beautiful, Thought.
Her figure too must have grown more
elegant, and she would have more digni-
ty in her air.
| shuddered little at this, for | thought
she will hardly think SO much of me
then; perhaps she will have seen those
who she likes great deal better. Per
haps she will not like me at all, vet
knew very well that | should like her.
l had gone almost up to to the house;
| had passed the stream where we fshed
on that day many years before; and |
thought that now since she had grown
to womanhood, | should never sit with
her there again, and surely never drag
her as did out of the river, and never
chafe her little hands, and never per-
haps kiss her, as did when she sat up
on my mothers lap-oh, no-no-no.
lsaw where she buried Tray, but the
old slab was gone; there was no ribbon
there now. thought that at least Isa-
bel would have replaced the slab: but it
was wrong thought. Itrembled when
| went up to the door--tor it flashed up
on. me that perhaps Isabel was married.
| could not tell why she should not;
but | knew it would make me uncom-
Portable to hear that she had.
There was atall woman who opened
the door; she did not know me; but |
recognized her as oneIof the old servants.
| asked after the housekeeper first,
thinking would surprise Isabel. My
heart t1uttered somewhat, thinking she
might step in suddenly herself-or per-
haps that she might have seen me COM
ing upthe hill. But even then, thought
she would hardly know me.
Presently the housekeeper came in
looking very grave; she asked if the
gentleman wished to see her.
The gentleman did wish it, and she
sat down on one side of he fire, for it
was autumn, and the leaves were falling
and the November winds were very
chilly.
Shall tell her-thought Who
am and ask at once for Isabel tried
to ask-but it was hard for me to call
her name; ut was very strange-but
could not pronounce it at all.
"Who sir !" said the housekeeper, in
voice so earnest, that rose at once
and crossed the room and took her hand;
"You know me-" said |, "you surely re-
member Paul -
She started with surprise, but recov-
cred herself and resumed the same
grave manner. | thought | had COM
mltted some mistake or been in some
way canse of offence. called for Mad
anne, and asked for Isabel.
She turned pale-terribly pale.
"Bella 7" said she.
eyes, Bella"
"Sir-Bella is dead"
| dropped into my chair, said not
word. The housekeeper--bless her
kind heart passed noiselessly out.
My hands were over my eyes. The
winds were signing outside, and the
clock ticking mournfully within.
| did not sob, nor weep, nor utter any
sound.
The clock licked mournfully, and the
birds were singing; but did not hear
them any longer; there was tempest
raging within me that would have
drowned the voice of thunder.
1t broke at length in long, deep sigh
--"Oh God!' said !, 1t may have been
prayer-it was not an imprecation.
Bella--sweet Bella was dead 1t
seemed as if with her half the world was
dead--every bright face darkened-eve-
ry sunshine blotted out--eve.y flower
wlthered--every hope extinguished.
| walked out into the air, and stood
under the trees where we had played to-
gether with poor Tray-where Tray lay
buried. But it was not Tray thought
of as stood there with tho cold wind
playing through my hair, and my eyes
filling with tears. How could she die!
Why was she gonel Was it really true!
Was Isabel indeed dead-in her, coffin
-buriedl Then why should anybody
live! What was there to live for, now
that Bella was gone!
All, what gap in the world is made
by the death of those we love! 1t is no
longer whole, but a poor half-world that
swings uneasy on its own axis, and makes
you dizzy with the clatter of its wreck.
The housekeeper told me all-ittle
by little, as found calmness to listen.
She had been dead month; Lilly was
with her through it all; she died sweetly;
without pain and without fear-what
can angels fear1 She had spoken often
Of "Cousiu Paul." she had left a little
pacquet for him, but it was not there:
she had given it into Lilly'skeeping.
Her grave, the housekeeper had told
me, was only little way off from her
home-beside the grave of brother