The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-02
The Sisters Reve,,,e

,pitiless beating. The tea hour was Just over,
and her son, whose talents had already rem
| dered him conspicuous, entered the apartment
which contained all the appearances of luxury
He hastily drew near her z21 & gssa
my dear mother! this is kind indeed, but
you will surely have the carriage-'tis too
stormy for you to venture from home'' 5s5 N
ssNo, Henly, poor Cato has been far from
well to day, and 1 will not call him out. You
know it is but a step to Mrs. Delville's, and
with the aid of your strong arm shall succeed
very well in my attempt. Have you heard
how Therese is to-day?' $3.50 az9
Il stopped as I came up" replied her son.
ssShe waslvery low, Florence told me that she
needed no assistance tonight, but, dear mother
| / fear for her. Her manner was SO strange
wish they were with u.s. How could her
uncle leave her in that boarding house so desti-
| tute of all the comforts of home9" and a
dark flush rose to his forehead r1 > z2-5lF
"Well, well, my son." said the mother,
soothingly. Il will not leave the sweet or
phans till something better offers-comep'
Hour after hour passed by and Florence
Lancy sat by her dying sisters side She
needed not the storm that was raging without
as her eyes were fixed upon the changing
countenances before her. Oh! those who have
stood by the deathbed of the loved alone can
tell the bursting agony of such moment. To
lthey must go from US forever, and the smile
that has come as CLEAN of gladness over our
path, be quenched in death-that there must
ever be one void place in our home, and a
weary longing for the music of avoice whose
melody is hushed. Such hours of anguish
come as chasteners, to wean us from earth ties
/ n fba azcbo Il ~,
pale face, and Florence bent over the slumber-
er. She opened her eyes and a faint smile lit
up her wasted countenance %as 1
'Sister! dear sister!" she murmured in mex
pressibly sweet and thrilling accents. Il am
fast sinking to my rest-I thank you, dearest,
for all your love to your wayward Therese. Dc
not mourn that am early called away. Earth
would have been but weary place for the
stricken heart, but Florence, would that
could have once more seen him. and faint
flush tinged her palld cheek, and she buried
her face in her pale hands. n
Florence sprung to her feet, and her dark
eye flashed wildly as she cried, "Name him
not, Therese, if you would have me keep my
senses. Cold hearted villain as he is, how can
your heart, even to the last so cling to him?'
Then seeing the effect her vehemence had
caused upon the sufferer, she became instantly
calm, and bent above her with the fondes
soothings. .. -... -,
You will forgive, as do, dearest" whis
pered the dying girl, looking into her face with
an expression of mingled resignation and fear
Il have long since ceased to think of him will
anger and have prayed long and earnestly fo1
his happiness. Promise me to forgive''-
But ere Florence could make that promise
Mrs Osmond entered, and but an hour passed
by when the pure and gentle Therese was re
i leased from earthly suffering The two swee
orphans had been left to the guardianship of al
uncle, by Mr.. Lancher, their father, gentle
man of fortune and responsibility. He wa
totally unfit for the charge, although as regar
ded their pecuniary affairs, he was strictly
honorable. He placed them at fashionable
boarding house in P, unmindful of thei
need of protector, and then set off upon {
tour of the western states. Therese, a few
I months after, left P to visit friend in the
neighboring city, and whilst there, fell into the
society of Lston Howard, man of fascinating
exterior and insinuating manners. He knelt in
homage at the shrine of her youthful oveliness,
and cast around her heart many spell Of
power, until he made it all his own, and then
triumphlng in this offering to his vanity, he
coldiy forsook her. She had
"Pour'd her hearts rich treasures forth,
But unrepad for their priceless WORTH"
and she sunk beneath the blow-but never
until earth and its visions were fast fading
away, did she breathe bis name to her fond,
devoted sister. Florence Lancy's character
was cast in different mould from her meek
and gentle sisters, and deeply feeling the want
of all the kindly influences of home, she be-
came cold and naughty, and although her ma
ture was peculiarly affectionate and her feelings
warm, yet was there something about her that
repulsed the approaches fmere worldly friends.
It was the day of Therese Lancy's funeral,
and Florence knelt beside the bed upon which
was extended her motionless form, weeping in
the bitterness of a desolute heart. She was
now to take last look of the sweet pale face
upon which still fingered the spirits smile. It
was moment of agony
- "Oh, not an hour like this
For bitterness, hath earth
| and she felt she must go forth into cold world
without one kindred tie around which her
young affection might cling. There is some
thing sacred and halowed in the strong link of
sisterly love. The unclouded days in which
they share together the same childish sports,
the confidence in which they turn to each other
when the cares and sorrows of after life leavea
signet on the brow serve but to make the silver
chain still brighter as years passed on Flor
ence needed not the time that passed, and
step reused her. Henly Osmond, with coun-
tenance pale and mournful, drew near, and
gazing down moment upon the calm and
peaceful face of the dead, cast his arms round
her waist, and raised her from her kneellng
posture. i
"Florence! my own Florence! let me lead
you hence, this is too trying for you, love-
our Florence!' she exclaimed, wildly
.away. I know you all too well, you can
smile with the lip, and teach the voice affec-
TONS music, and the heart be cold, cold. Oh,
man! how will you crush the sweet hopes you
kindle. Look Henly Osmond, on that beauti-
full slumberer Would you deem mans perfdy
had broken her heart? '.Tis even so,'' she
added, more wildly, "and never, never, sweet
sister, will / rest satisfied until l have taken
revenge for your injuries"
Florence! Forence!' exclaimed her lover,
for such he was, in great alarm, "come with
me, dearest, and rest aWhile-my mother is