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

part OF the family should remain with the
SICK man, the remnant, meanwhile, proceeding
10 the mouse IN -- street, which awaited
them Tor Esq. Hope could no longer content
himself with the servants menage. Mrs. Hope
would think OF nothing but her suffering charge,
and Christopher remained with her to nurse
him. Kitty, silent in word, but in heart how
eloquent accompanied Esq. Hope to the city
home.
81 don't know how you'll manage about
keeping house, dear. Do the best you can till
come were the last words of Laura.
Kitty gaily tossed back a kiss from her
gloved hand, and the next instant drawing her
veil, shut herself in with her bewildering
| thoughts, fears, and memories.
How she busted herself in the re-arrange-
| ments of their home for the winter-pulling
down and building up, repairing and re-insta.
ting, with a recklessness that would have shock
ed her staid sister-nobody noted for Kitty
was alone, save at the hasty meals Esq. Hope
shared with her, bodily-his spirit was far away
up the hudson. At best, he was but ma
| chine, when away from his better half, so much
OF his life was vested in her; and now that he
feared she was making TOO great a sacrifice of
healthful energies at the couch of the fevered
student, he seemed to have neither eyes nor
voice for anything around him.
The third day after her return, Christopher
came down for a few hours, to procure regu-
lar nurse, and to telegraph the father of young
Grey, at the South; for, in a lucid moment he
had alluded to his home
"Shall we send for your father and mother?n
Mrs. Hope had asked. The word seemed a
spark to the train Of his wild fancies.
" Mother! aye, call her out of the church
yard corner, and make her lay that cold hand
of hers upon my head-no, here, upon my
heart-the fire is hottest there. Who said
Mother?'" and he started up fercely, but
sunk back, murmuring, ooh, mother, aohy did
you die, and bring all this misery upon me2"
Christopher met his sister with grave greet
ing, and continued to watch her eyes furtively,
long after he had answered her few questions.
"He is a noble, priceless fellow!" at last he
burst forth. Kitty, confound it, can't be-
lieve it of you; but, there, hare you, by any
chance, been triflng with him?"
"Trttatng with him ?"
nant, scathing denial her lips disdained to
utter.
"Oh, didn't mean that seriously thought
it, sis. l know very well that you never liked
him-more's the pity; but fine face makes
up for everything to you women. Yeti didn't
KNOWN fact, Kitty, your name has been
so often and so sadly spoken in his fever
dreams. His dead mother, you, and one other
that he murmurs once in while-Oriene, or
some such outlandish name-seem to fill up
the current of his thoughts. No fault of yours,
L dare swear, sister; but if it had been,
wouldn't change places with you for the world
It's fearful responsibility, this meddling with
hearts"
I" | have had nothing to do with it." answer
ed Kitty, coldly, yet emphatically, for she was
assured, by moments reflection, that Mr..
Grey's illness, the work of weeks and months
past could hardly have been accelerated by
the one slight of few evenings before. Yet
how that ranked in her memory!