Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-09


he paced, for two long hours, gloomy as night,
yet Obedient to every word spoke. Where
went he followed me; what bade him do, he
dlu. L brought him home as the sun was set
ting, and went up stairs aud shut myself in
my own rOOm with a strange chill feeling of
dismay What was that this man should so
obey me doing my slightest bidding with
tins aspect OF spiritless fear?
Alter this day L made one strong effort 10
prevent my sister 8 marriage. 1 spoke both to
my father and to her Her / made intensely
miserable by what l said, and my father / in
Spired with enough anxiety and alarm to in
duee him to speak forthwith to Mr HaIlam.
1 was present at the interview between them,
and L shall not quickly forget the CHASTITY look
OF pain that came to Mr.. HalIam's face as my
father told him our fears OF trusting Caroline
to his keeping. lie was standing up by the
IRE, and, grasping tho mantel shelf with one
hand, with clutch that brought the blood 10
every vein, he listened. When my father
ceased to speak, he could only piteously cry-
lou gave mo your promise ;"
did, my father sHid "but gave il i'm
ignorance of what have since seen, and in ig-
nOrance Of what have heard from others ~
FROM what others" he demanded iiercely.
came forward and said, From Inc
From yOn, Anne ~ ..
lie looked up wildly in my face then sud
denly his head dropped. he laid il down upen
the mantcl-shelf, and burst into tears.
lhexpresslbiy shocked | came beside him
Frederick, for God's sake, be calni!''
Broken with sobs his voice rose up.
ANNE, hayo mercy on me do not take
her from me! She is all 1 have in the wiGs
world"
Inc tears were coming to my ewes NV
father silently took me aud put me from tho
room. lie was a soft hearted man. and could
not stand the sight Of Mr.. Hallam's misery
but he had 4 sense of his own dignity also, and,
ia consideration OF 1t, suppose, he turned me
out before he yielded
avoided Caroline and went to my own room
Half an hour afterwards was summoned to lev
fathers study. lie addressed me as 1 entered
at once.
Anne, he has behaved very well. lie has
promised to use every effortin his power. Things
will 20 On better now, | have no doubt"
I" Then he is to have Caroline?'
g l cannot break their hearts, Anne. They
may have something to bear together. but thew
would have more,to bear Gpart.'
saw MIR HalNm no more that day Our
next meeting was OH the following afternoon.
met him then by chance for a few moments
alone.
What his feelings towards me might be I
could not tell, but 1 went up to him Us usual
and extended my hand. AT once he took and
grasped it in both of his.
g L wanted to see you,'' he said. eagerly.
= Anne" he cried, ''do not take part against
US For God sake, be you our friendi7'
said.
His hands dropped from mine he grew even
ghastly as he asked me,
terday ?'
shock my head said-"No."
Anne.' 'N'
The warm tone panied me- I said, sadly
enough,
" You have had little cause to bless me. Fred
But, IT you are willing, let us be friends now
gave him my hand again, and it was clasped
cordially believe that, in truth, he bore me
1t wanted q fortnight to the day fixed for
their marriage. During that fortnight Mr..
Italian was all that we could wish there were
no more fits Of gloom. He was cheerful sen.
'ible, afectiOnate, and my father and Caroline
frightened daily. The marriage day came,
and she was welded to him. bade farewell
to them on bright crisp February morning,
aud saw no more Of them for nine Iaonths
II.
At the close Of that nine months / was sud.
leniy made an orphan. My father had long
suffered from disease of the heart; one evening.
As We sat alone together, l heard u half cry
hen reached him he was dead.
L sent "a telegraphic message to London to the
Italians, begging that Frederick might come
Town To me. Sometime upon the following day
hoped To see him, and trusting to him To
spare me all the arrangements for the funeral
shut my self up alone that day with my grief
But l waited for him in vain; the day passed,
and he did not come. / had to rouse myself
then, and give directions for what had to be
lone A second, and third, and a fourth day
elapsed, and | was still alone On the fifth
morning, when L was indeed Hffeyiy alone for
the house was empty now, | at length received
letter from Caroline, with the postmark of a
country place III Devonshire, whittier they had
gone, she told me, On her husbands account
Tor rest and change Of air. She had neither
received my message nor my letter, nor could
write to her how, for she gave me 10 address.
waited patiently, in my lonely house for
long fortnight. One evening, when that time
was expired, at last Frederick came lie came
into the room where was sttng--thc bithe
bridegroom, whom I had parted from nine
months ago, changed into a wan, worn, hap-
gard man.
L heard his entrance, and rose up. lie uttered
my name az approached him, then seized the
hands that extended to him, and held them
In n cOnvulsive grasp.
" You have been alone, were the only words
that burst from his lips, "alone through this
whole time
:" 1t could not be helped; knew you would
hav. Come IL you could have known"
9 ALONE he only repeated, sbivering, "with-
out 4 creature near you. How could you bear
it, | could not live one day alone"
Frederick, you have tired yourself with
your journey. You are not strong. Caroline
told Inc you had been unwell'
lie raised bis eyes, with sharp, suspicious
look, to my face; but they stayed lifted only
for a moment. Suddenly changing into the
Old, ineomprehensible expression of subjection,
they dropped. He did not speak q word
Z" Come to the FIRE; l will order supper for
you Come and take this seat. 1t is cold TO-
night" .--. -
lie came and sat down; seated myself be-
side him, and asked for news OF Caroline. He
had nothing to say but that she was well. /
tried to make him talk of other subjects hut
the effort was vain. His mind seemed entirely
filled with that strange haunting horror of INV
loneliness; again and again, rs we sat like one
who had lost all self-control, he broke out into
the same trembling exclamation, Good God
how could you bear itH'
sat at last quite silent, in deep wonder and
distress. l thought it was well that had been
alone. l could i'll have stood com mpanionship
~.