Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-21

the gathering darkness I felt that his blue
eyes were scanning and reading my face most
thoroughly. -
81 don't know that understand your
question exactly" he said at last.
+" It's plain one, Alex. have been lis
tening to your music, and 1 know you can
give me the answer. 1t is .s solemn, as
grand, as triumphant, and yet as full of pain,
as what you have just played'"
You are living it. Wait and see" was
his brief reply
" No, tell me now"
Z" To some, Clyds, life is q noble anthem
to others, merry stave-to others, still, q
wall Of sorrow and pain"
" And what will mine be, Aleck.''
he drew me a little closer to his heart,
stopped down and kissed me, and then said,
kindly
"Ths best and happiest, if have power
to make it so; Now put on your hat and
take walk with me. / musn't leave you 50
much alone, L see."
"Why, Aleck ?"
g Because you think, " was his laus hing re.
ply; and tying my hat over my curls, he ran
with me down the broad staircase and out AZ
the open door.
1t was an evening in the early part OF au.
tumn. The dead leaves rustled beneath our
feet, and whirled up arodnd US as the wind
swept by. The keen air made my cheeks
glow and my eyes fash; my soul glowed,
also, and every vein in my body was tingling
with sense Of abundant life But suddenly
the waiiing Of the breezes in the pines smote
me like a melancholy warning. stopped
short, moved little closer to Aleck, and sat
down
We sat upon the hillside Just beyond the
house. small valley lay between us and
IL; that, as well as the hill was turning
brown and sere with dying grass The house
looked large, and grand, and gloomy. A
light burned in the windows Of the music.
room, and just above, the moonbeams silvered
the panes OF my easement, till they shone like
molten sea of glass.
"Oh look, Aleck!" cried. "Look at
the star window 20 --..'
"You should see il at sunset. Then it
blazes like a watch 6re," was his answer;
and be bowed his head upon his hands and
seemed to think
We sat there a long time, silent. 1 nestled
close to him, laid my cheek upon his shoulder
and dreamed If, as he said, I thought too
much, he certainly was not taking the means
TO make me think less
watched the light below my room, aud
saw the boyish figure of Clyde passing and
re-passing there At last the lamp disap-
peared II was gone for a moment then shons
from my own window, and saw him stand
Ing there, with folded arms, and brow pressed
NV lahCo- louCUtu
and pointed to the boy.
Clyde will be lonely, Aleck. Shall we 20
back'''
Ho reused himself, looked first down in nv
face, and then towards Clyde, with q peculiar
expression, that had never seen before upon
his face. Had my grave guardian been dream
ing, also1
We went back to the house 1 was the
hrst TO gain my chamber My guardian fol-
lowed, and waited for as to say good night TO
each other, without sitting down. went up
to Clyde and put my arms around his neck to
give him my parting kiss. His face flushed
up suddenly-he held me closely in his arms
moment-kissed me three times-not as he
had been accustomed TO kiss me, and left the
room Wondering and perple eIed, 1 approached
my guardian. He was observing US with the
same peculiar glance, but when he saw my
perpleIity, he smiled, and said, Z" Go to rest,
my little pet. Tomorrow will explain this 'i
L raised my lips to his. He bent down,
touched them slightly, laid his hand a mo-
ment upon my head, and then answered my
goodnight l beard Clyde 20 back into the
room after l had left it, and the mingled
sound Of their voices haunted me till | fell
asleep.
TO BE CONTINUED.