The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17
VOL. TX.

"the witching hour Laura, hearing a step in
her sisters apartment, arose, and stole in soft
ly, to see whether she were i'll.
To her surprise, she found the easement
thrown back, and the light of full moon stream
ing on the bending form Of her sister, who lean
ed through it, with head half bowed on her
arms.
"Why, Kitty! what Is the matter?"
"Hush" commanded Kitty, imperiously,
without so much as turning her face.
Laura crept to the window, and, leaning out,
caught what seemed the fantest echo of dis
tant flute.
"Where is it?" she asked.
"Be still I" breathed her sister, lifting her
hand with gesture of extreme impotence.
Laura listened in obedient silence. She
could Just distinguish what seemed familiar
air, but so disguised in rich variations that she
could not recall it. Now it was like the mid
night note of that wondrous-voicea warbler, the
mocking- bird of the South; now again it melt
ed into melody more ethereal than purest bird
voice could ever be.
1t ceased. Kitty sprang up, pulled the shut
tiers together, and turned to her sister, gaily-r
"Now-'speak thy mind, sister ,"
"You should keep clear Of the night dew,
Kitty; you might take cold," observed the gen.
tie Laura.
"Romantic young damsels who lean through
windows to be moon-struck, have right to
take cold, | suppose, and so develop the beauty
of their physiognomy to the fullest extent L
dare say shall rival your pet, Hamilton Grey,
in good looks, tomorrow |"
II thought you had done laughing at that
fellow, Kitty"
"Done laughing? BY no means l only
spare him out of consideration to your feelings,
whenever it is not inconvenient to myself. L
see the charming fellow is captivating you, as
we'll as Christie / should call Roberts attention
to Beauty and the Beast on the sofa, IN to-
bleau rirante, one of these days, if | thought
there was any hope of exciting his jealousy!"
''Good night, my dear, naughty girl " said
Mrs. Hope, bending to kiss her.
"Good night, my dear Golden Ruler! a" re-
turned Kitty, using soubriquet which she had
long since conferred upon the sweet enforcer,
by precept and example, of that best of rules.
"Be thy dreams haunted by thy thousand dew
otees."
In a few days Mr.. Grey again presented him
SELF ado you ever play with a flute accom-
paniment?" he asked of Kitty, as, in turning
over some music to make selection, she
dropped sheet designed for the piano and
| flute.
"Not now," she REPLIED "I like it very
much, for / am an admirer of flute music, that
Il
play with me but he murdered time and tune
beyond all comprehension and finally broke
his flute much to my reliefl"
"Will you permit me sometimes to bring my
flute, and accompany your" asked the tall
gentleman, abruptly, yet politely.
Kitty lifted her eyebrows in establishment /;
but, suppressing for once sudden inclination
to laugh in his face, she indiiferently replied,
Certainly !"
~ shall die of suppressed laughter, know
shalll" she exclaimed to Laura, as she threw
herself upon the sofa, after he had gone.
"What now, Kitty?"
"Why, your Adonis wants to blow the flute
in concert with my fingers Just think of his
hands and lips upon flute sheer sacrilege !
! 1t is too bad but couldn't in civility refuse
the fellowi"
| Hamilton Grey made his promised advent
one evening. Kitty bit her lips, with averted
face, as she saw him draw richy-wrought
case from his pocket, and proceed, quite delib-
erately, to screw together the fragments Of a
costly flute.
ale is plainly proud of his accomplish
ment, whatever it may be-" said she to herself.
snow, Miss Clayborne," said he, with a
nearer approach than usual to animation, " will
you give me the pleasure you promised? D."
az will, sir; and Kitty demurely seated
herself at the piano. He selected one from
her few accompaniment, and both commenced.
Kitty stopped at the end of the first strain, with
a half-bewildered, halfroguish look into her
/ companions face.
"Am / out of time 2" he asked, dropping
his instrument.
"No," returned she, still cycling him curious
ly, butt want to play something else +"
Without needing his look and bow of per-
plexity, she ran over few preliminary notes,
and glided into the air she had caught on that
moonlit night. 1t was nothing more nor less
than an exquisite variation of her favorite
Postal"
A strange look almost convulsed his face,
as, starting, he exclaimed, Who taught you
that?"
"A bird of the air." she answered, archly.
Not catching the full earnestness of his emo
ton, she went on, gaily-
$50, it is yOu, who serenade the elves and
the watchmen! | never dreamed it."
But his!" he spoke in a choked tone, and
Kitty started at the GOODNESS and tremor of his
hand, as it slightly touched hers. "Tell me
who taught you this 1t has never been played
but by one before!"
E" l never heard it but from onel" answered
Kitty, evasively; and feeling herself somewhat
mystifed, she touched the chords again, saying,
"Will you accompany me?"
sat by in silence, looked up, and saw the same
changes fit over his countenance that had once
before puzzled and perplexed her.
Kitty was disappointed at his silence but
her disappointment changed to delight, when,
as she ended, he lifted his flute to his lips,
caught up the trembling echo of the last note,
and recommended. He turned away, and
walked the room as he played, pouring out at
every turn a richer SWELL until the parlor SEEM
ed hooSed with waves of melody, on which
Kittys giddy soul went swimming up and
down, until her hands dropped forward on the
piano-her head upon those-and tears, strange
tears, born neither Of sorrow nor of Joy, sprang
to her large, laughing eyes.
a single glance from the performer would
have broken the spell. But he, wrapped up in
his own enthusiasm, did not once look at her.
His eyes were flashing his forehead seemed
to whiten and widen in light from above
his form, for the moment, was as erect and
graceful as though it had never bowed under a
weight of gloom.
AS he ceased he stood for a moment in the
light of that transfguration-the soul, in its
revelation, irradiating its upcouth tabernacle,
and giving rich earnest of what it might vet be
among the angel host. Suddenly he raised his
hand to his eyes, and the shadow fell again !
A hasty bow, without word, and he was gone.
No explanation of the scene was asked or
given when he came again. He did not then
bring his flute but he brought his selfposses-
sion in fuller measure than had before been
developed.
He sat down to a measure he had never seri-
ously attempted-an earnest sustained CONVEX
sation with Kitty CIayborne. She, sobered by
| ,bo x,,,starv hot had haan thrown around him,