New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-05-11
NUMBER IS.

NUMBER 5S.
pressed. A rustling was heard and the dow.
ers at the window, and bright. y 6ung face |
looked in. .S
" flush p said Edward, recognising The step, |
8. hush, Mary, she is asleep p
The color and the smile alike passed from
Mary's face when she glided into the room, :. Oh
Edward, Edward, she is not asleep PIE is very,
very ii. y
& Mary darling Mary y said the dying lady,
with difficulty arousing herself, - have had
such pleasant dream but | have slept too
long II is night. Let them bring candles
EdWaru, lcaDnot see you now" :
Night, and the sun so brightly shining The
her.
Other steps now sounded in the room; and
many faces gathered round the couch bat the
blind man heard nothing was conscious Of
nothing, save the painful tabored respiration,
the tremulous hand that iuttered in his own,
the broken sentences.
&C Edward, my dearest, take comfort have
hope. God is indeed merciful,
ssOh, Edward, do mot grieye SO sadily, 1t
breaks my heart to see you cry. For her sake
be calm-for my sake, too p Mary knelt down
beside him, and endeavored to soothe the voice
less anguish which it terrified her to witness
|
stiffness that prevailed; and again Mrs Owen
opened her eyes, and saw Mary kneeling by
Edwards side. They were associated with the
previous current of her thoughts, and smile
lighted up her face ga
g AS 1 wished. as prayed, to dieit My chill
dren both, Kiss me, Mary, my blessing. my
consolert Edward, nearer, nearer Child of
so many hopes and prayers all answered
nowH' And with her bright vision unalloyed,
her rejoicing soul took wing, and knew sorrow
and tears no more.
Four months had passed since Mrs. Ovens
death, and her son was still staying at Wood
lands, the residence of Mary's father, Colonel
Parker, at about two miles distance from Ed
ward Owens solitary home: hither hadE he
been prevailed upon to remove, after the first
shock Of his grief had subsided.
Colonel and Mrs. Parker were kind hearted
people, and the peculiar situation of Edward
Owen appealed to their best feelings, so they
made no opposition to their children deyoting.
themselves unceasin gly to him, and striving BY
every innocent device, to render his affiiction
less poignant and oppressive. But kind as all
the family were, sti II all the family were as
nothing compared to Mary, who was always
anxious to accompany him in his walks, seemed
Jealous of her privilege as his favorite reader,
and claimed to be his silent watchful companion
when, too sad even to take an interest in what
she read, he leaned back YEARLY in his chair,
and felt the soothing influence of her presence
AS time wore on, and some of his old pursuits
resumed their attractions for him, she used to
listen for hours as he played upon the piano
She would sit near him with her work, propos
ing subjects for his skill, as her old custom had
been; or she would beg him to give her lesson
in executing difficult passage, and render it
with due feeling and expression. In the same
way, in their readings, which gradually were
carried on With more regularity and interest.
she appeared to look upon herself as the person
obliged, appealed to his judgment, and deferred
to his opinion, without any consciousness of the
tatiene she underwent, or the service she was
rendering. &
after she had been for some time pursuing her
seif-imposed task, and Edward, fearing she
would be tired, had repe pe,atedly entreated her to
desist, she answered gaiity:
Let me alone, Edw, .rd 1t is so pleasant
to 60 through book wit b you; you make such
nice reflections, and point out all the finest
passages, and explain tn e difficult parts SC
clearly that it does me more good than adozer
| readings myself l shall grow quite clever now
| we have begun our literary studies
Dear Mary, say rather ended for YOU
! know this cannot always go on SO. / must l.e
! turn to my own house next week; have tpes,
passed on your fathers hospi tality, Indulgence
and forbearanee too long.
'' Leave us, Edward - and the color deepened
IN her cheeks, and tears stood in her bright
eyes. Not yetf'
"Not yet The day woulds still come dearest,
delay 1t as | might, and is it manful thus to
shrink from what must and ought to be? |
nave to begin life in earnest, and if falter at
the onset, what will be the result! [ have
arranged everything; Mr.. Glen, our clergyman.
has cousin an usher in a school, who wishes
for retirement and country air. / have en-
gagged him to live with me as companion and
reader. Next week he comes and then.
Msry, farewell to Woodlands p'
"No, not farewell, for you must come here
very often; and l must read to you still, aad
you must teach me still, and tell me in yonr
own noble thoughts and beautiful language Of
better and higher things than | once used I'd
care for. And then our walks--oh Edward we
must continue to see the sunset from the cliffs.
sometimes, together You first taught me how
beautiful it was, I told you of the tints IN on
the sky and upon the sea, and upon the boa is
with their .glistening sails, and you set the,
view before me in all its harmony and loyeliness.
brought 1t home to my heart and made me feel
how cold and insensble had been before..,'
ssAh, Mary said Edward mournfully, q near
you, am no longer blind" 5z, =
The book she had been reading fell unheeded
on the ground, she trembled, her color went and
optho' 'o Oily h"ia Hef uiluu tlHlluly on his arm
understandable tenderness, reverence, and con-.
passion were busy within her soul.
$ Edward, you will not change in ANYTHING
towards US; this new companion need not ess
TRANCE you from your Oldest and dearest friends
your mothers friends Let me alwavs he
your pupil, your friend, your--sster ~
"Sustainer, consoler, guide! Sister above
all, oh yes my sister! Best and sweetest title-
say it again, Mary, say it againr' and seizinr
her hand he kissed it passionately, and held il
for a moment within his own Then as sud
denly relinquishing it, he continued in An.
altered tone. s' My sister and my friend, until
another comes to claim higher privilege, and
Mary shall be forever lost to men' !
She drew back, and few inaudible words
died away upon her lips; he could not see her
appealing fearful eyes Mistaking the cause of
her reserve, he made strong effort to regain
composure.
" Do you remember when you were child,
Mary, how ambitiously romantic you used to
be, and how you were determined to become
duchess at least2"
And how you used to teaze me, by saving
you would only come to my castle disguised as |
wandering minstrel, and would never sit at I
the board between me and the duke, Edward /, /
Yes, remember it all very well, foolish child
rem that We were! But l. at least know better.
now; ! am not ambitious in that way any
longer
's In that way? In what direction then dol
your aspirations tend p /
'sTo be loyed,' said Mary feryently; Z" to be