The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20

| "At any rate she said. dear cousin. do
love poor DodO, and be kind to him for my
sake.n
| Il could love anything for your sake dear
cousin for really think you are the loyelest
creature that ever saw" And Henrique spoke
with an earnestness that flushed his handsome
face. Eva received it with perfect simplicity,
without even a change of feature; merely say
ing " I'm glad you feel so, dear Henrique |
hope you will remember
The dinner-bell put an end to the interview.
-'-~'-,'-'--~ fcmarrrR Axrm Il 49,
Twa'' - :@,, aif,si G. = S1,,,
augustine pS,;eJ anu raa, 'wirv ,,a,s ,yc,Sc;S:
stimulated, by the society of her young cousin,
to exertions beyond her strength, began to fail
rapidly. St Clare was at last willing to call
in medical advice-a thing from which he had
always shrunk, because it was the admission
of an unwelcome truth.
But for a day or two Eva was so unwell as
to be confined to the house, and the doctor was
called
Marie St Clare had taken no notice of the
child's gradually decaying health and strength,
because she was completely absorbed in study
ing out two or three new forms of disease to
which she believed she herself was victim 1t
was the first principle of Maries belief that
nobody ever was or could be so great sufferer
as her@y-and therefore she always repealed
quite Indignantly any suggestion that any one
| around her could be sick. She was always
sure, IN such case, that it was nothing but
lazness, or want of energy; and that if they
had had the suffering size had, they would soon
know the difference
Miss Ophelia had several times tried to ava
ken her maternal fears about Eva, but to no
avail
81 don't see as anything ais the child" she
| would say; "she runs about and plays
"But she has coughn
"Cough. you don't need to tell me about a
cough. Pve always been subject to a cough all
my days. When | was of Eva's age they
thought was in a consumption Night after
night Nanny used to sit up with me. Oh !
Evas cough is not anything"
But she gets weak, and is short-breathedn
only hst IA h xfisd aSat '~"- --A
But she sweats So nights"
"Well, have, these ten years. Very often,
night after night, my clothes will be wringing
wet. There won't be dry thread in my night
clothes and the sheets will be so that Nanny
has to hang them up to dry Eva doesn't
sweat anything like that"
Miss Ophclia shut her mouth for season
But now that Eva was fairly and visibly pros
| trated. and doctor called Marie all on sud-
| den took new turn
"She knew it, she said she always felt
| it, that she was destined to be the most mis-
cradle of mothers. Here she was, with her
wretched health, and her only darling child
going down to the grave before her eyes0-and
Marie routed up Nanny, nights, and rum
pissed and scOlded with more energy than ever
all day, on the strength of this new misery
my dear Marie don't talk So" said st.
Clare. You ought not to give up the case 80
at once"
"You have not mothers feelings St Clare
You never could understand me you don't
now"
"But don't talk so, as if it were gone
caseD
81 can't take it rs indifferently rs you can,
st. Clare. IL you don't feel when your only
child is in this alarming state, do. It's blow
too much for me- with all ! was besing be-
foreD
It's true,n said St Clare "that Eva is very
delicate, that always knew; and that she has
grown so rapidly rs to exhaust her strength
and that her situation is critical. But just now
she is only Frustrated by the heat of the weather
and by the excitement Of her Cousins visit and
the exertions she made. The physician says
there is room for hope"
"Well of course, ifyou can look on the bright
side, pray dots mercy if people haven't
sensitive feelings in this world ] am sure ]
wish didn't feel as | dot only makes me
completely wretched | wish could be a. easy
rs the rest of you !"
And the "rest of them" had good reason to
breathe the same prayer, for Marie paraded her
new misery as the reason and apology for all
sorts Of infections ON every one about her. Every
word that was spoken by anybody everything
that was done or was not done everywhere, was
only new proof that she was surrounded by
hard-hearted, nsensible beings, who were I'M
mindful of her peculiar SORROWS. Poor Eva
heard some Of these speeches and nearly cried
her little eyes out in pity for her mamma and
in sorrow that she should make her 30 much
distress.
In a week or two, there was great improve
ment of symptoms--onc Of those deceitiul lnlls,
by which her nexorable disease no often be-
puilcs the anxious heart, even on the verge OF
the grave Eva's step was again in the garden
| in the balcones-she played and laughed again
and her father, in transport; declared that
they should soon have her as hearty as any
body. Miss Ophela and the physician alone
felt no encouragement from this Elusive truce.
There was one other heart too, that felt the
same certainty, and that was the little heart OF
Eva What is it that sometimes speaks in the
soul 80 calmly, 80 clearly, that it's earthly time
i short Is it the secret instinct Of decaying
nature. or the souls impulsiye throb, ~ inn
mortality draws on BE it what it may, it
rested IN the heart Of Eva a calm, sweet pro-
| hat Haa penr---cllm