The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29
For the National Era.
LIFE ON PRAIRIE DE LA FLEUR.-NO. Is.
BY MARY IRVING.
CHAP. ~.
Conclusion
For the National Era.

CHAP. ~.
Conclusion.
They glided across the lawn with the noise
lesspess of spirits AS the latch of the gate
ratified in enclosing a huge brown mastif
started up before it, with low growl, like
gathering thunder
aHush' Ponto!" spoke his mistress, in a
ooaxnp under tone, stroking his bristling head
Lie down, good dog--therel" The dog licked
the recognised hand drew back half under
his kennel and seated himself upon his
launches, to watch them out of sight
On they went, through the long, dew-damp
ora.s needless of paths or of fences
There IL witchcraft here, or mystery still
stranger was the young mans silent soliloquy
MEANWHILE. How could she know that my
name was Frank 2"
They had now reached the borders of the
grove. The damp leaves were rustling softly,
a. though moved by sigh from the very heart
of Night. The wood arches clogged with rank
under. brush looked deep in dark mysteries.
For a moment strange shudder, as from some
sunernatural influence, shook the imaginative
spirit of the young follower. But his guide
moved on quietly as before Leading him to
an almost invisible path among the bushes,
she crept along in advance one moment dis
tinctly thrown into relief by the yellow moon
beams that pierced some crevice in the leaf
arch of the forest and the next fitting like a
dim phantom through unbroken shadow.
Had den of robbers yswned suddenly be-
fore the straning eyes of Lewis, he could not
have been more surprised than when, emer-
ging from this hobgoblin avenue he stepped
at once into spot Titania might we'll have
chosen for her midsummer nights revel"
He found himself standing upon high, wild
bluff on the very edge of still silver stream,
which flashed up from its lowly nook, as if it
were SET there only for mirror to the moon,
The low land on its opposite side was filed with
giant trees whose tops waved nearly level with
his standpoint. A little circle of beeches and
cedars, interlacing on the very summit of the
knoll, over-arched him like bower; and in
'front.' gnarled oak stretched out its distorted
arms far over tie stream, rs though bending
TO toss its head in scorn at its own deformed
image. A white mist lay, like floating gauze,
seonnd the edgsg cf the water. Lewis shiyered,
for yelled in that deceptive mist, he fancied
the ghost of Fever and Ague intruding sud-
denly into that scene and hour Of romance.
Heigho! | have been walking in my sleep,
and am only half walked vel" he exclaimed,
rubbing his eyes involuntarily. "My good
friend, our track must needs literally run up
tree if it extends any farther"
But she had stopped at the foot of the oak,
where the moonlight fell in it's fullest radi-
ance on her pale, raised forehead, from which
the white shawl was thrown back. Turning
face to face with him, she spoke in tone OF
earnest trepidation.
a" have no time for apologies, and know
they are not necessary; for have read no
BILE heart in your face--a heart that will not
always be bound in the letters of custom
and | am resolved to throw myself upon its
generosity. Answer meas yOnder heaven is
true! are you Frank Lewis, Of ---?n
Frank Talbot Lewis--yes"
And your nother-was"-- She bent for
ward as though her very life hung upon the
answer to that halfshaped question.
My mother-I knew very little OF her. She
died before my memory dawned. She was u
Massachusetts, iady-her name"---
Amy Toibot?' interrupted his questioner,
agitatcd at last beyond control, 4" | knew it,
knew it! My boy-my young master--my
Franky!n
She sprang forward, as though she would
have casped him in Der arms but, with sud-
den recollection, she dropped at his feet, and
chung to them, pouring out deluge Of pas
sionate tears and inarticulate CALCULATIONS
who are you, woman? Speak f" Frank
demanded breathlessly. He had started back
at her mention Of his mothers name; but now
he bent to life her up with almost intolerable
earnestly.
oh, Frank Master Frank have you for
gotten your old first friend--your nurse Mily
your Aunty Milly !'n
IAunty Mlly!" Frank clapped his hand
70 hlS forehead, and strOve to pierce through
'ne puzzllng memories Of years. "Aunty Mil
"! The name is strangely natural-yet-lift
your iace-here-into the light!
-FOUR mother gave you into my arms, when
sue was dying--when you were little, help
'ess baby She told me to watch over you-to
w'e yoa-and never, never, to leave you !!
Master Frank, you could not forget me
Bat you did leave me!D exclaimed the be-
Nnuered youth, as vague ray Of remem-
trance dawned like a nebula on the farthest
verge OF his Gfe-horizon How came you
here ~
was hated-il treated-sbused and, at
as' was sold away from you. Then God
gave me my own liberty-and took it -
40" nere sldve--dnd my )oster-mother !"
our nurse, Master Frank tcas your
A.ners slave. am your siape ~
, que foso up in the moonlight rs she spoke
p,Cuaiy erect, but pale in the subsiding Of the
agitation that had convulsed her.
,o,a my young master, have prayed God
in ~. %e look upon you again. have called
tb;n. uatk lonesome hights, when not a living
baa.t was near to hear me. But have never
dresScI a whisper from you or of you since that
,'uiui morning
she ocW wave Of emotion swept over her, and
- TX. mere calmly and freely Frank sup
pO'eu her with his arm, ~ she leaned against
~t rough tree' and spoke soothingly and sym
rs your mothers very voice ~ she said
10 choked tone "Oh have heard II al,
most reproying me in my dreams!n
My good, kind, forgotten nurse do rs-
member that name. Sit down here, on this
mot OF the oak, and unrayel the rest Of the
Mystery Tor me- Tell me where you have
'cen, and what brought you heren
ana Milly, calming her sobs, told short
aud hurried story:
"a leaving c., she had found her way
ue once mysterious underground rail
osd 10 northern Ohio. There, under the
fSaAonage Of friends, she was enabled to enjoy
h s,a which one Of darker hue might no,
x;,t .s sought No successfully, and to build up,
io" a SIngence and delight the education whose
Is;d uauen her dear mistress had 10 secretly
"a - ! Know not why she had been suffered
kno,. vain her masters name (slayes seldom
ps.s any other but either through careless
% iaise sense Of security, she had done
The sudden seizure of con,nan;o., :,