The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-04-26
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4 One, too, that only wants mo for my fortune,
and nothing else, It is very wrong, and cruel.
and unkind Of him, and you may go aud tell
''@ aTsl, r. nj said j, bevildersa by this out.
burst Of in gnation, and great confusion Of
personal pr01asns.
Mr.. Sutherland, Of coursel Who else |
would | tells Whose opinion else do l care
forG Go and say to him No." she added
nruptly no, you needn't trouble him with
any thing about such foolish girl as I. just
be so kind as to give him his answer, and bid
him let me alonef Here, quite exhausted
with her wrath, Zillah sank back and took to
her book, turning her head from me. But q
saw that she did not read ono line, that her
motionless eyes were fixed and full Of a strange
| deep expression. I began to cease wondering
what the future would bring. Very soon af-
tcrward went back to Mr.. Sutherland, and
told him oil that had passed Just tho plain
facts without any comments Of my own He
apparently required none, Ifound him sitting
composedly with some papers before him--he
had for the last few days been immersed I'M
business which seemed rather to trouble him
he started h little as entered, but Immediately
\ oameSforward and listened with quiet aspect
to he message had to bring. could not tell
whether it made him happy or the contrary
His eountenance could be at times 90 totally
! impassive that no friend, dearest or nearest,
1 could ever find out from it any thing he did
not wish to hetray.
a.The matter Is settled them" said he, grave
ly " viii write to Mr.. French to-day, and
perhaps it would be as well il we never niludeto
what has passed ], at least, shall not do it tell
Iillah so. But, in the future, say that j entreat
she keeps no secret back from you. Remember
A this, my dear Cassia watch over her as you do
love her--and you do love her r. continued he,
grasping my hand. answered that did, and,
4 God knows even then | told no lie. She was
a very dear child to me alwaysl Mr.. Suther-
land seemed quite satisfied and at rest. He
i bade me n cheerful good-by, which / knew
meant that should 20 away, SO accordingly
went. Passing the drawing door / snw
Zillah lying in her old position on the sofa SO
would not disturb her, but went and walked
for an hour under u clump Of tir-trecs in the
garden. They made shadow dark and grave
and still it was pleasanter than being on the
lawn, among the flowers, the sunshine md the
bees. / did not come In until dinner-timc.
: There were only ourselves, just family party
Mr.. Sutherland did not join us until we
reached the dinng-room door. / noticed that
Iillah's color changed as he approached, md
that oil dinner-time she hardly spoke TO him
J but he behaved to her us usual He was rather
: thoughtful, for, as he told ME privately, he
had some trifing businessanxeties burdening
him Just then otherwise he seemed the same,
: Nevertheless, whether il WINS his fault or IN
! lah's, in a few days the fact grew apparent to
: me that they were not quite such good friends
I as heretofore. A restraint, a discomfort 4
$ shadow scarcely tangible, yet still there, was
8 felt between them. Such d cloud often rises
J. mist that comes just before the day dawn or
o as happens sometimes, before the night
I For many days--how many / do not recol
e ect since about this time all In the house alli
Z in the world without seemed TO go on Sc
a strangey--for many days alterward nothing
q happened of any consequence, except that ont
d Sunday afternoon made d faint struggle d
g politeness in some remark about going home
u and encroaching on their hospitality" which
'e was met with such evident pain and alarm b,
q all parties, that / was silent, SO we stayed yc
u lsnger, One morniDg-it was high sunime
le now-we were sitting at breakfast we thre
,f only, as Mrs. Sutherland never rose carly.
le sgas making tea, Zillah near me- mud Nh
3utherland at the foot Of the table, He locke
ot 4slnxious, nnd did not talk much, though | re
g ifasasa ahsyhe rose up once TO throw handful {
y crumbs to u halfta,no thrush who had built o
le the lawn--he was always SO kind to evcr
te living thing, "There, my fine bird, take som
" home to your wife and weans e said h
he pleasantly but at the words became gray,
he even sad, once more lie had his letters besd
n, him, and opened them successfully until
OF came to one--a momcntous one, l knew; Il
~ though he never moved, but read quietly o.
MS every ray Of color went outof his face. II
gs, dropped his head upon his hand, and sat SO on
IN in that attitude that we were both irightene
cd Is any thing the matter2" said gentl
Q for Iillah was dumb.
ms Ibid you speak he answered with b
ue wildered stare Forgive me I'll have hf
lk, bad news ''--and he tried to resume the duti
nc Of the meal but ii was impossible no w
OF evidently crushed, as even the strongest ai
bravest men will be, for the moment, und
eal some great and unexpected shock. Wesaid
ed hinl--l repeat ape, because, though Zillah spo
om not, her look was enough, had he seen it,,
pli- said to him those few soothing things til
as women can, and ought to say, III such a tin
gh Ay,p he answered, quite nnnlanned"a 8
ith you arc very kind. ! think-if / could spe
MI to some one--C Cassia, will you come
an rose slowly, and held out his hand to n
ow 10 me, That proof of his confidence, his tt
'oi derness, his friendship have always remc
yer bered and thought, with thankful heart, th
oke though not made 10 give him happiness, ] ha
dis sometimes done him little good when he "
me il, trouble.
Q We walked together from the room. ] hea
ack a low sob behind us but Ind no power TO sta
''is' besides, q momentary pang lnatteredtte
ern sobs would be huslied ere long. Standing
stlc hind the chair where he sat- ! heard the st.