Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-14

between the acts, when the house was
half darkened, our laughter died away.
show cod it is" said Alexis, shiver-
ing l shivcred too but it was more
like the involuntary shudder at which
people say, ''some one is walking over
my grave"
said SO, jestingly.
Hush, Isabel,'' whispered my hus-
band, ,reprovingly; and again the draught
of cold air seemed to blow right be-
tween US.
We sat, he in the front, l behind the
eurtaiu of our box, divided by some foot
or two Of space and by vacant chair.
Alexis tried 10 move this chair, but it
vas fixed. He went round it, and
wrapped a mantle over my shoulders.
This London winter is cold for you,
my love. | half wish we had taken
courage, and sailed once more for His
panio'a'
ooh, no-oh, no No more Of the
sea ~ said I, with another and stronger
shudder.
He took his former position, looking
ronnd indifferently at the audience But
neither of us spoke. The mere word
Hi>paniola WAS enough to throw a damp
and silence over us both.
Isabel" said he at last, rousing him.
self, with a half smile, 81 think you must
have grown suddenly beautiful. Look
baf the glasses opposite are lif.ed TO our
box. 1t cannot be at me, you know
Do you remember telling me was the
uglicst fellow you ever knew ~
ooh, Alex :" Yet it was quite true
I had thought him so, i'll far back
strange awful times, when |, a girl oi
sixteen, had my mind wholly filled with
one idea!-one insane, exquisite dream
when | brought my innocent chiId's gar
lands, and sat me down under one great
spreading, manifcent tree, which seemed
to me the king of all the trees in the
field, unit ! l felt its Gew dropping death
upon my youth, and my whole soul with
cring under its vcnomous shade.
ooh, Alex" cried, once more
looking fondly on his beloved face, where
no unearthly beauty dazzled no unnatur-
al calm repelled where all was simple
noble, manly, true. Husband, thank
heaven for that dear 'ugliness' of yours
Above all, though blood runs strong
they say, that I see in you no likenes:
+ to-
Alexis knew what name I meant, tho
for a whole year-since Gods mercy
made it to us only name-we had
ceased to utter it, and let it die wholly
out Of the visible world We dared no,
breath to ourselves, still less to one an
other, how much brighter, holier, hap
pier, that world was, now that the Divine
/ wisdom had takcn--him into another
For he had been my husbands uncle
likewise, once my guardian. He was
now dead
sat looking at Alexis, thinking what
a strange thing it was that his dear face
should not have always been as beauti-
iul to me ns it was now. That loving
my husband now SO deeply, so wholly
clinging to him heart to heart, in the
deep peace of satisfied, all-trusting, anG
all dependent human affection, | could
ever have felt that emotion, first as ar
exquisite bliss, then as an ineffable terror
which now had vanished away, and be.
come nothing.
"rhey are gazing still, Isabel"
"Who, and where - For | had quit,
forgotten what he said about the peopl,
staring at me.
"And there is Colonel Hart. He see,
US. Shall | beckon;' -
"As you will.'
Colonel Hart came up into our box
He shook hands with my husband. .bowet
to me, then looked round half curiously
half-uneasily.
II thought there was friend will
YOU"
None. We have been alone all tn
evening"
''Indeed How strange"
What, That my wife and l shoulC
enjoy play alone together :" SAT-
Alexis, smiling.
Excuse me, but really was surpris
ed to find you alone | have certainl,
seen for the last half-hour third persol
sitting on this char, between you both.