Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-11
For tho National Era.
a BROTHERS RECOLLECTIONs OF AN ONLY
SISTER.
BY MARY IRVING.
CHAP VI

CdAf. vi.
An avalanche from the mountain Of Hope
had fallen, and left frozen statue in it's path,
bearing still the semblance Of life
Stunned, palsied by tho suddenness Of the
stroke, | staggered, know not how, to seat
When recovered full consciousness, found
my icy hands supporting my burning forehead,
and screening my face
With mans instructive defiance Of sympathy
that can take one shade Of pity started to my
feet and turned my face, on which my effort
al sslr se-t-el had stampod desperation, rather
than composnre, to meet the eye Of Mary Hyde.
No; Mary, true to her delicate instincts had
giided like zephyr from the room 1t was a
far different face that met my view--a little
thin, sorrow. shaded and fearful countenance
that rent pang to my heart.
:. Eulalie y | spoke in hollow tone,
stretching out my hand to reassure her.
aAre you better, dear brother Ralph (? y she
responded scarcely above whisper "Drink
this glass Of water; Cousin Mary Hyde told me
10 bring il inn
Better Ayeln replied bitterly, drain
ing at quaff the contents of the glass Then,
lifting the fair child to my lap pushed back
her curls, and bit my lips to bleeding at the
inward query Shall ds grow mp to be thus
fair and falselo
Her look grew clouded, distressed, under my
intense gaze. At last, she could bear il no
longer, bat threw her arm over my shoulder,
and sobbed--
= Oh, brother | know you have been sick
and unhappy away Of in that lonesome coun.
try. DO take ee with you when you 60
back
You have been IN. my darling, and they
did not tell me !" said l. reproachiully.
a. Il its4i~ II l.r.
nation, after Con in Mary went away to teach
she does not live here any longer, only comes
to keep house In vacation, while Aunt Marsden
is gone with Augusta and Mr.. Lemoyne 80
involuntarily pressed the arm had been
holding She stopped, and looked OPP, as il in
inquiry.
Are you tired Of Embury, then?n / asked,
to divert her attention.
\ love them ALL and | lore my school better
than all Bot then, i's so lonely now have
such lonely feeling here - she laid her hand
on her breast when am not with Cousn
Mary, or with you-or when-when v-she
grew violently agtatod-Aw when ! used to be
aith precious mamma ;"
had listened to the child az an auton,aton
might have done. But that last word broke
the spell Of my abstraction. II sent me back
on the tide of years, to the hour when first
looked into that little face
"Once before sweet sister, said |, folding
her to my aching heart. .once before, you
were all the world to me No we will not
be separated again, in this world Of heart.
wreckslv
Miss Hyde returned to the parIor at this
moment, composed and cheerful, and COM
nenced conversation during which she gave
me, without seeming TO dwell upon the painful
topic, the principal details Of the change which
tho preceding three months had wrought in
her cousin.
She glanced tenderly on my sister, whom |
alludsd to my design Of taking her as my CON-
paDiou in my wild Western homo After sit
ting wrapped in thought for a few moments,
che laid her hand on the girls white forehead,
and said---
II think you are wise, Mr.. Lincoln. This
httls head - developing too rapidly for health.
have long wished Cor some change in her
mode a life She has yet to learn that her
book are not The goal Of existence ~
bad no motive for dclay. Indeed, ! felt
chat could not, with calm pulse, meet the
mother Of Augusta, ON her return from D. I
determined therefore On immediate departure.
sod despatched the half delighted, halfbewild.
evod child at once 70 her trunk and wardrobe.
found myself f<fe.a-fsfs with Mary Hyde
ouoe more, few minutes before the time for
leaving "A tastefnlIy arranged lunch, yet out
fbr The night travellers, presented its plea TO
me il win could not est turned 70 Miss
Hyds, and tried 70 thsnk her for I'll the kind