The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-31

OF the DltterneSS Oh lie cup.
The tide of her thoughts dashed with sudden
revulsion back upon her own spirit. "Whom
hare in heaven2" she moaned. What right
to that comfort, that Friend Oh, Father for
give and pityl"
That night, and many nights, Kitty Clay
borne " communed with her own spirit, and
was STILL" Peace, even happiness, was stamp
ed on her face; but oh, so changed happiness !
The gaiety, the effervescence was gone, for the
time, from lip and eye; but its place was
filled by nameless something, new feature
of the soul, remoulding all the outward fea
lures Something it was that spoke the prom
Use of
"a perfect woman noby planned
A spirit breathing thoughtful BREATH
So Laura thought, when, after a months
separation, she met her at the gate of the river
side cottage. Mrs Grey, whose devotion to the
that Kitty should be called from the CITY,
"Hamiton asks after her so much," she had
urged; Sand who knows what good it may
do him?" So brief note from Laura had
summoned her.
as he better, sister," she asked, calmly
drawing aside her travelling veil, to return her
sisters warm kiss.
Mrs. Hope slowly shook her head; and Kitty
let her veil as slowly drop its shadow again
over her face.
"Not yet, poor young man but the crisis
is yet to come, and DR.. c. still says hope
DRAMAS untring attendance and skilful nurs-
ing might almost raise the dead. She has
scarcely drawn breath outside of that sick
ROOM"
"Oriana!" repeated Kitty, as if thinking
aloud.
"You know-Mrs Grey. By the way, it is
curious But stop, here she comes"
Oriana glided forward with the same plead
ing earnestness in her face that had first struck
Kitty's heart so harsh a blow, and laid both
hands on her arms, as she said simply,
~ am so glad you are come! VIII you go
n0to to Hamilton 2"
Kitty's eyelids dropped for one instant. The
next moment she raised them, with a clear, un
selfish, sympathiziug glance into those of the
young wife.
~ WILL" she replied, and followed her. ORR
ana stopped on the threshold, and gazed again
into her face, with an artless curiosity in her
eyes, from which the other shrank.
I" 1t was good Of you to come, bless you for
i'll A" said she. ~ know he loves you, Miss
Clayborne. for he speaks no other name beside
his mothers, SO often as yours and mine some
times. All l have done him wrong that
would give my life to undo and now, if can
only save him. Help mel
With her assumed calmness strongly shaken
Kitty scarcely knew how she reached the pill
low of the fever-spent sufferer But all thought
of herself was soon lost, in looking upon the
change that so few weeks had wrought. She
shuddered at the sight of the pale, sunken fore
head, where Deaths seal seemed too surely set.
Lay your hand upon his head, DEAR" whis-
pered Oriana; and Kitty, as she did so, drew
back into the shadow of the bed-curtains.
AS her light touch fell on his brow, he I'M
closed his eyes, unnaturally bright, and fixed
them on the large, patient eyes OF his weary,
loving nurse.
"Where did you get her look ?" he asked,
hastily. " Her eyes froze in the grave, long
agol But their light burns in heavenl Oh,
yes and down it floats through the arches of
the universe, deep into the heart of the evening
star / know It'll and oh! if it would only
flow into my heartl But never will forgetl"
at is of his mother, now" whispered ORR
ana.
"MotserP who calls her mother?" he ex-
claimed, in tone of whitening contempt
+" Orianal shame on the traitors heart Aye,
though curse myself, l will curse"-
"Hamilton, Kitty has come" here hastily
interrupted Mrs. Grey, leaning forward TO draw
her within his range Of vision.
"Kitty?"
He gazed with a bewildered look into the
quivering face, and his voice softened.
"Ah!" he breathed mournfully, "the earth
holds two worlds-one for the wretched, one
bless her Kitty can never be minel"
The despairing pathos of those last words
was more than the poor girls heart could bear.
She sprung from the bedside, pale and trem-
bling; and reaching the outer door, supported
herself by its panels, while she struggled to re-
gain her breath. Fortunately, it was several
minutes before Laura came to- seek her.
"You are tired, Kitty, know" said the SIS
ter, kindly; "you look so unlike yourself. Go
up into your room and lie down awhile. Mrs.
Grey has occupied it, but there is no danger of
her interrupting you. / must attend to matters
below"
1t might have been an hour that had passed,
when Kitty's chamber door was softly opened,
and the watcher, with appraised hands, and a
whole soul of JOY glowing in her face, exclaim-
ed:
God bless you'll Oh, thanks he sleeps at
lastl"
"Thank God, indeed !" breathed Kitty, with
strange calmness, though with sckening thrill
at her heart.
But Oriana, like one spent beyond endurance,
had dropped upon the couch, and was sobbing
convulsively as a grieved child. Kitty arose,
and seating herself at her side, tenderly and
silently soothed her; pressing her icy fingers
on the throbbing temples, parting and thread
ing the dark tangled masses of her hair. As
she did so, she noticed, with wonder, few sill
yer threads spangling the brown bands.
I" She must have suffered much" thought
Kitty; and her stricken heart yearned over the
pale, devoted watcher, with an intense longing
to comfort her.
A tap at the door interrupted both.
GPlease, ma'am, Mr.. Grey has just arrived,
and asks for you"
"My husband" exclaimed Oriana, bound
ing from the bed, through the open doorway
and down the stairs, before her startled COM
panion could collect her senses.
In the hall stood stranger, past middle age,
with slightly bowed figure, and singularly
mild, melancholy countenance, in whose Inca
ments other eyes than Kitty's might have read
him to be the father of his name-child, Hamil-
ton Grey.
"Oh, am glad you did not come before !"
and dropping into the gentleman's arms, Oriana
sobbed upon his shoulder.
Hamilton 2" asked the father, in stifed
tone, vibrating between hope and fear.
"Thank our God the crisis has passedl'
He did not answer; but a big tear dropped
upon DRAMAS bending head, as the fathers
heart sent up its silent gratitude.
"My poor, pale little Oriana," he said at last,
untwining her arms, and gazing into her thin
face as q gardener might look on dropping
bud, "you have worn yourself out completely,
in nursing him. But you must reap your re-
ward,~ he added, fsrvently. -.
81 shall, oh, 1 shall, sometime, God willing !"
said she, warmly.
~ have found the last link in our CHAIN,
Orianai" said he, bending lower, and speaking
emphatically a