The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-04
WASHINGTON, D, C., THURSDAY NOVEMBER a. 1888

"Talking at present will not be good fos
you, sir; and / have consented, understanding
from her that you are an honorable man. who will
make no effort to turn her mind from her duty.
when her vows call her away to the service of
others who need her more. That will hardly
be, of course, till you are better, provided you
are patient and docile, 40 that it is in our power
to do you good. :"
Herman bowed his pillowed head, looking
very grateful. They understood one another
She felt for The young lovers, and would gladly
do for them ali that she could, consistently
with fidelity to the obligations which bound
her; and more he must not and would not ask.
She would suffer them to pass what might be
his last earthly hours together, under the sane
ton of her presence; but it must be upon her
own terms and that was all that she could do
tor them. She had them in her power and
they must and ought TO submit A young sis
ter In her charge might tend sick man blame
lessiy; but she must not listen to a lover.
SO the slow hours crept on. The Dobbses
masculine came audlbiy home in their tramp
ing cow hide shoes, tramped up stairs, and
anon breathed stertorotsly. Me- Dobbs, last
of all, knocked at the door, brought in q plate
OF cold baked pork and beans and pumpkin
pie for supper, stared at Herman, requested
1850 Ssoh w JCoe piOaoc nfuu IuS ihup
didn't drop no sparks and withdrew to be.
dormitory. Then the long, unbroken night
ranged with clicking footsteps round and round
the face of the old eght-dsy clock, while the
unfortunate young people, 30 long parted, so
soon to part again, perhaps forever, sat and lay
In each others presence, under the Argus eyes
OF their Keeper, with parted hands, and sealed
lips, aud bursting hearts bursting with q
struggling chaos of love, wonder, hope, and
dread. How much had each to ask and to tell
Must they part again, and leave it all unsaid
How soon? When should they meet again
AS these questions, with chorus of similar
ones, rushed through Herman's brain, his pulse
throbbed higher. To one Of them he felt at
last AS if must have an answer, or die. Beck.
oning Sister Mary to him at midnight, be
whispered
La she bound for life?"
"Oh, no, my son
"For how long?"
GA year."
he cast towards Constance an impossible
glance of relief and delight, closed his eyes,
fell asleep, aud awoke the next morning with a
sense of such unwonted and childike lightness
OF heart, that his first idea, on seeing the bare
rafters over his head was, that he was q happy
little schoolboy again, spending vacation at
Sea Farm and when he would have raised
himself to look about him, the weakness and
stiff soreness, which checked him, did but re-
mind him that he was a happier man; and, az
he sank back upon his pillow, it was with an
ineffable sense of thankfulness and Joy, recall
ing to him the words, "Verily say unto you,
there is no man that hath left house, or breth-
rem, or sisters, or father, or mother or wife, or
children, or lands, for my sake and the gospels,
but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this
time, houses, and brethren, aud sisters, and
mothers, and children, and lands, with persecu-
tlons and In the world to come eternal life.n
lTO BE CONTINUED