The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-24

81
Macbeth
Soring had come again, with soft breezes and
lime skies, 10 tempt the thousands of prisoner:
within brick walls to burst their bonds, and IL
hare for while the freedom of birds, flowers
and sunbeams Esq. Hope owned a rose-em
lowered cottage on the banks of the Hudson
that Rhine among the rivers of America
where his wife and sister were accustomed tc
rsss some months of the warm season. The
Gentlemen Of the family, still tied to the bust
nsss-fic &C the city, could come only at inter
gas. 70 steal day in the bower of lone and
fragrance.
Hamilton Grey occasionally accompanied his
instructor to this most charming OF summer re
treats. at every visit, Laura Hope noticed with
anxiety that his forehead had grown paler and
bighcr in appearance, his step less elastic, and
his eve more lustrous. Yet he seemed to have
always at command fine flow of spirits, either
real or assumed. He would read, walk, or ride
with Laura for hours, without betraying sha
dow of that morbid reStlessness which had sc
marked him at first Yet there were times
when Laura remarked the shadow; moments
when he stood, as he thought, unperceived by
mortal eye and then it seemed to lie more
heavily than ever upon his face.
She surprised him in this mood one after
noon. sitting in the curtained recess of the bow
window, his heavily-brooding gaze seemingly
r;vetted upon some object without. He lifted
his head as she approached, and smiled by an
effort. turning from the window as he did So
with sm0ihered heave of the chest, Just per.
c.ptible to her notice. She cast hasty glance
over the landscape, but could see nothing ex-
cen. the glad, green fields, the bright river in
the distance, the bright sky overhead, and the
sii!i brighter face of Kitty, who was treating a
group Of evening visitors to the tour of her rose
garden.
What coHld have called up such sigh, Mr..
Cpr?" she asked, with smile.
lis brow contracted, but smoothed itself in
stan'ly.
Shadows should certainly vanish in such
sunshine rs this she added.
Suppose one carries the shadow 1ciM him
alo,e-betore him; thing inseparable from
his eAis,encel" he said, half to her, half to
himself
That is thing would not do, then" she
said. checrily; but, altering her tone, she add
ed, Are you not everlasting your strength,
this warm scason?'
"No; Oh, no. it is not that have alluded
to a shadow, for the first time" he said, in a
tone of deep emotion, "and since | have done
So let me thank you for what you have done to
lit rs heavy folds. 1t is only within the atmos-
phorc OF your family circle that can find sun
shine. wish you were back again in the city, "
he ADDED, abruptly, and, turning, left the room.
There is strange mystery about that friend
Grey Of ours, said Laura, to her husband, that
evening.
Esq. Hope laughed, rather incredulously.
" thought you were free from that woman
ISL fancy which conjures up so many phantoms
Of mystery. There is none in his case, that /
can see, except it be the mystery of late hours
Late hours - repeated Laura, in a tone of
CONSERVATION.
Yes. late hours; but not hours passed in
dissipation. by any means. l cannot find, In
deed that he has made an acquaintance any
where, but at our house; and he has not an in
innate friend in the city, unsocial creature that
be Is But he sits over his books and papers,
DAY after day and night after night, diving, as
never before pupil of mine dived, into the deep
things Of the profession. | know that his lamp
Is never eXtinguished before the small hours
SIT m; and | never can get to the Office before
MN N the morning, go as early as / may"
." lie is killing himselfl" exclaimed the moth
erly marion.
Il have more than limited as much to him,
but he Is obstinate. Try it YOURSELF if you like,
sad the lawyer, as he sleepily arranged the sofa
cushions for a Siesta.
A boating excursion had been planned for
The last day of the stay of the family at Hope
cottage. Quite a party from the city Joined
.hem, by invitation; TO which, of course, Ham
lion Grey was not lacking.
Rosy sunset was melting into moonlit eve
mnr. when the skiffs, which had borne the mer.
Fy "aier-party, neared the landing. Laughter,
song and badinage, had beguiled the miles of
nan Their length to all except the amateur oars
men, Nho as not breeze was on the wing, had
been pulling most vigorously for an hour.
MIST we leave this bewitching amphithea-
re- Tor amp-light and parlor gossip ?" asked
hamilton Grey, who, with Kitty, had been for
I've hours waking the echoes of the Hudson.
We'll. responded the merry girl, let us
make an evening of i'll veritable chorus of
Iniens and Nereidsl"
thank you to exchange singing for oar
,1I'ms' IN that case" grufiy remarked Chris
i"gf' "ho was about repossessing himself of
g9aed coat. a don't care to task my
'".y''ers another hour in your behalf"
IS IL possible that Christopher Clayborne is
'u''y worn out in the service of his fellow
s'ullFy"omen? But, prithee, brother mine,
.rJl' your sailantry to few more bold strokes,
-. TOW ,... us up by the bank, into that bed of
Naier-liiies "
tho a l.c' me relieve you" said Grey, stepping to
'"e oar bench. " Now, whittier away?"
T., Oh' am at the helm" she said, springing
,uy 70 The stern of the boat, and taking up
ug paddle which Mr. GREY had laid down.
'uHa and lottie,' she added. in low tone, to
@g companions near her, "do you keep up the
T1iaHce OF gravity in this valuable cargo, while
, as.oHiSh the fishes; for some of those lilies
must have for Laura"
u'el and his companion rowed into the midst
'''c hleS, and the former had turned, with
AL ''Ign on his lips, when a startling scream
H., SP%Sh from the stern shot through his be-
Liza va" WIN electric force. Kitty, in making a
suUAe at the queen of river-lilies, had over
f,eieu her mark, and fallen among her sister
"o|ers, whiterobed as theyl
n :. was the work of less than a moment for
be.5 ','on 10 spring from the boat and seize the
,o,."9 feu' hali-breathless girl, whose involun-
lI,..iP "hge had frightened from her face the
hsi mp, who had reigned there through
LaL~ She chung to him with the grasp and
Ls- =" d trusting child, while she was recalling
A'I scattered senses.
n'ty, my own darlingi" 1t was breathed
ne man uttered; and the close pressure of
jsai "tiil around her, sent the ife-tide bounding
IN H. 'i'o cheek and brow, as he replaced her
ami boat Coat lie retreated to the further end,
sd ringing the water from his dripping locks,
~ OOuy gazing into the ripples.
As d "e oner young ladies, as seriously alarmed
iLa usually are on such occasions. kept
ed . ee OF conversation in what might be term
" staceato flow.
Lot;o never was so near dying of fright" cried
"Yo,,m
manu-. ou catch your death O. cold, as grand
W- a would say" remarked Julia.
sb;ra.;ure y looked up suddenly, first at the
ill., laughing face of the would-be Naiad !;
pbo W me river, to the scene of the catastro-
10 H. "ow some rods behind them; and finally
l 9 COtt, which. having been laid aside when