Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-01-14


"3ut Won must; your mother says you
must. They are waiting for you, and
thew have looked everywhere for you.
There was one piece Of music in which
Victorine exceIltd. For the whole even
inc she had failed TO detain the senator By
her ner side for more than few minutes
at time. Her charms, she feared, bad
failed of their effect, and this one last eL-
fort must be tried. The voice that sang
must steal 10 his soul with a subduhg
power.
Eva looked up bewiIderingIy, and invol-
UNFAIRLY she lifted her hands to her aching
brow. A sudden, painful darkness struck
upon her brain, and sUlIed to silence the
wild throbbings of the tried heart.
leave me, Lucy; will 90" The
wo.ds sounded strange and hollow; the
girl withdrew.
Eva laid the dead boy upon the couch,
and, with her hands closely cIasPed to-
gelher, and with a faItering step, descend
ed 10 the parlor. What blaze of light
and beauty struck her sight! What an
enchanting being met The gaze ct the be-
holders Her dress Of simple white, not
a fold was dispIac d, and the 10 = tresses'
so damp and dark, swept down over 'he
white shoulders, half conceaIIng their
auldess symmetry, half shading the mar,
bic paIeness of that sweet face yes, up
and brow were even whittier, if possible,
than the transparent garb oflight she wore.
For momen! the large, wild eyes were
lifted; what a world of dreamy loveIiness,
Of mournlul beauty, Of wild sadness was
there.
The rooms were stIIcd as if by some
magic hand-the voices of the guests
were hushed; they were gazing wonder
jnaIy on that ETHEREAL, angcI-Ilke being
that gIided on past them.
She stood by the piano. For one mo-
ment the white hand was pressed upon
the brow, as if to still some deep pam
there, and then it lay upon the keys, list
lesslv, as if no strength were there.
There was wild srart-Victorine's rich
voice broke upon the deepening silence.
TrembingIy the wearied fingers passed
over The KEYS, and the sounds they O. We
forth were low and sweet and mournLuI.
Closer drew the crowd around her; the
melancholy measure had stolen with
bewiIdering power over the listening heart.
Lower and lower grew the wild, spirit
tones, and were sliIIed. The strain had
changed. A low dirge fer the dead was
PLAYED instead. And the beautiful nuo.-
bers tremblcd in all their mourniuI Wild
ness, in all their sweet sublimity through
out the stately saloons, and thrilled back
with strange and hallowed power 10
each awakened heart, like some immortal
minstreIsy, like the low cry, like the wild
moan of an angel, lone wandercr here on
earth.
A shadow fell upon the keys. Eva
looked up. The secretary stood there be-
side her; and what a look was that that
met his troubled gaze. The startling eye
of the young girl fell; faint hue rose to
the pale temple and fled again-the hand
was stilIed upon the echoing keys. In
voluntarily he laid his hand upon hers
it was cold as ice; she did not withdraw
it; she had not the power to DO so; she
could moi breathe, yet she did not faint
but leaned almost wholly against the IN
strument for support.
"Miss Ashland" 1t was the deep.
low voice of Henry Sherwood that broke
startlingly upon the painful, fearful still
ness.
Eva, Eva" The father had return
cd he stood close beside her. She look.
ed up wildly into his anxious face; the
grieved lip quiyerCd with the broken
words that stole slowly over them.
Father, father, it is tomorrow now.
"Wth a fearful pang at his heart he ga
zcd upon his child. Slowly she passed
before him; she had left the room. He
bent his head abstractedly; the secretary
placed his arm within his and drew him
away. The senator, VIclorine, Mrs.
Ashland and some others followed.
Mechanically Mr.. Ashland led the way
to the chamber of Willie. The door was
flung open; the room was shIis was coIa
as if it were the home of death. Family
burned the lamp upon the table, yet It's
dying rays fell upon Eva;, she sat Ikea
still shadow there with Willie in her
arms.
Eva, Eva, my dear child" Mr.. Ash
land approached and kneIt down beside
her. One low moan trembed upon the
fearful stiffness there. She laid the sit
feneI form Of the departed one in lis
arms.
Father, it is tomorrow now"
That dreadful darkness had lef her
brain; she was herself again, now thai
they knew that Willie was dead.
Great God ," was all that the father
could ri,e-. tho Ieeo agony Of his soul