The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-01
For tho National Era.
H GRACE GRESH A M.
. BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
CHAP. III.

W SUCH quiet country town az ireton. mere
Is another grave by the side of little Nices,
within the shadow of the old church steepse; for,
battling with disease among his patients, DIR.
Gresham has fallen victim himself in the
| midst of his years; and now the gentle-eyed
widow sits at the window, and watches two
graves instead of one.
But she has much to comfort her; for all the
world, echoing the voice of her own heart, says:
Was there ever better son than Horace
Gresham? SO noble, so attentive, 80 good!"
But, like every other idol, he sometimes brings
| anxious thoughts to the motber's heart H3TSs
always too thoughtful for SO young a man, and
| at times so gloomy, 80 sad, that the mother
heart echoes in very sympathy, and, bafded in
all her attempts to ascertain the cause, she is
obliged to content herself with striving TO miti-
gate the evil, by making the house asfheerful
as possible.
ooh, if he would but become thoroughly
interested in some one If he would s,ut love
with the whole strength of his naturN" she
often thought, when surrounded by the bevy of
fair young friends and relatives, who found Ire
ton such a beautiful place to visit; and then her
eye would wander in search of lovely, graceful,
| girl, who was never willingly far distant from
her side, and add: ooh, that he would love
herl"
That fair girl was Milly Granger, and in
truth that little stinted bud has blossomed out
into very loveable being. Nine years Of hap
piness had worked miracles for her; and others
beside Mrs. Gresham might well wonder how a
young man like Horace could fail to worship
her. But he did not; and at times, his mother
was almost vexed at his calm, reserved manner
toward her. "No father could be more careful
of her health or more thoughtful of her pleasure,
and that is ALL" she often sighed to herself, at
witnessing some little passage between them.
Others marked his manner toward Milly with
quite as much interest, and far more satisfaction
| Among them were Mrs. Lester and Clara. The
| mother still cherished certain schemes with re-
gard to Clara, and it did not suit her at all to
have the portionless daughter of her sister Milly
step into Horace's heart and estate, to the ex-
clusion of her own daughter, as she had into
Mrs. Gresham's-a feeling in which Miss Clara
cordially joined, though, in their frequent visits
to Ireton, they were very careful to treat Milly
with a great show of affection and respect
There was one other who would willingly have
aided their plans, even to removing the obsta-
Gle; for Alfred Testers boyish predilection for
Milly had grown with his growth, and strength
ened by his mother and sisters opposition, un-
til he would gladly have made her his wife on
any terms. But this was step to be sanction
ed only in desperate emergency; and, Quoted
by Horace's manner and Milly's evident lack of
particular interest in Alfred, they unprecedented
no immediate necessity for doing this.
Happily Alfred, in his good-natured selfcon-
ceit, was not troubled with any fears OF rival,
especially of one in the person of " that grave
Cousin Horace" whom he secretly voted a bore,
handsome as he acknowledged him to BIZ; and ii
never entered his head that Milly or at,y other
woman could prefer Horace to himself So
confident of success, in a sudden piqup at his
mother, he rode down to Ireton, arr made
known his intentions to Horace He vas too
much occupied to observe the sudden aaleness
that overspread that gentlenan's cheet at his
words, or that his voice seemed changed and
constrained, as, after moments silence, he
asked
"Is Millicent cognzant Of this? Do you seek
me at her request7"
"No, not exactly, though of course she
knows all about it. / have always loved her,
even when she was little girl in ous house,
and have always told her go; thoughe like ali
such girls, she affects not to understand me-"
And she--you are certain she reciprocates
your feelings"
"Why, yes. 1t can scarcely be otherwise.
She has seen no one else, or no one worth see-
ing, but you, Cousin Horace, who, to say the
truth, seem to be proof against all women"
And the gay young man laughed merriy as he
whip, for he had found Horace on hvorite
seat beneath magnificent elm that shaded
the lawn.
Horace bowed and said, hastily, "ihat he
would speak to Milly, and if her wishes coin
cided with his, he would place no obstacle in
the way !" and with hearty sincerity Alfred
Lester uttered his thanks, and turned away.
"Loved her as father " All, how little
do we know of the hearts of those nearest to
us Would fathers heart thus turn to ice
within him, at the knowledge of his child's low
ing and being loved 2 Does his face wear such
look of agony at the thought of giving her
away bride MOI Happiness wings not the
soul thus. Oh, what revelation that inter
view had given Horace of his own heart Now,
all the yearning tenderness, the passionate love,
which for years he had striven to hide there,
and had shrunk from recognising, rose mp and
cried aloud and would not be silenced. Then,
how hard it was to keep his early vow and,
like Jephthah of old, he bowed his head upon
his hands, and prayed-not that he might be
spared the bitter cup, but that he might have
strength given him to quaff it with a FIR lip.
That there was great gulf between Elm and
Mlly he knew; he had never thought to pass it,
even in his most secret thought; but to Be ask
ed TO dig it deeper and wider with lis own
hands, to put another between them, b. utter
for another those words which now rose iponta-
neously to his lips--it was too much, anil in the
wild despair of that hour he prayed for death.
"Horace, dear Horacel" How every drop
of blood in his veins leaped at that voica-how
his firm nerves trembled beneath the touch of
the light hand laid upon his shoulder Young
Testers words had raised the spell witt which
his iron will had bound blood and brain hereto
FORE and he struggled powerfully against the
impulse to throw himself at her feet, and tell
her all-all his guilt and all his love; to fold
her once to his wretched, tortured heart in
token of forgiveness, and go from her sight for
ever.
But, then, came the memory of Alfred. con-
6dent of her affection; and inwardly repeating
his remark How can it be otherwise 20 he
lifted his face towards her with mighty effort
at his usual composure-an effort unsuccessful
for, brushing back his damp hair with a sisters
familiarity, she said, anxiously-
"Why Horace, what has happened You
are i'll 1t is another of your old faiot turns,
is it not? 2"
Perhaps so, but it is gone now. EiilIy," he
added, sit down here; wish to Slk with
you"
No ear save one accustomed to saote the
slightest intonations Of that voice VIC aid have
detected anything unusual in the tonesin which
these words were uttered. But Milf, felt
change at once and as Horace's heart grew
colder and heavier, hers began to throa with
tumult of sweet, unde6nable hopes shd fears,
and, half in longing and half in suddef, bashful
ness, she obeyed him, and took sesat by his
side. He did not speak for some seconds and
when she ventured to look up, shes met his
searching eyes fixed upon her face,a as if he
would read the hidden secret of her heart and,
confused at the thought, she turned away, while
her cheek and neck flushed crimson. .