The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-22

be able. to make a satisfactory choice, and
them cannot trust myself. What should
resort to? Literature was not fit for-I have
not either the convictions, the enthusiasm, nor
| the vanity, requisite to make preacher. So
! was rusting in spite of myself, when you came,
Oscar. When you opened the gate out there,
and stood before me, telling me your story of
desolation and poverty-when saw your frank,
ingenious nature, making itself plainly mani
fest beneath the marks of want and the wan
ness of ill-health-when you fell at my feet, and
l took your head into my lap and sheltered
you, .Patted You, kissed you-then, Oscar, felt
The downing of new hope, Then I resolved
that If you were worthy, as would not doubt
but you were, you should never WANT would
take You as my own-educats you-make you
my brother, companion, playfellow = and so
be able to supply my own spiritual needs, while
put to the best use the means with which it
had pleased God to endow me. But no--you
are too proud-you do not respect my loneli-
ness = you despise my humble efforts you
scorn my offers-oh, Oscar, and have so set
my heart upon i'll and, hiding her face in her
hands, she burst into passion of tears This
was style of argument which did not suit Os-
car, besides surprising him very much, for Liz
zie was not given to tears. he took possession
OF one of her hands, patted it caressed it, and
said:
Lizzie-Lizzie, you must not do So indeed.
1t is wrong for you to give way SO, and it is
cruel to me. You do not guess how great tor
ture you give me, Lizzie. Iwould not make
any one shed tears, if could help it-you least
of ALL"
She looked up, shook the tears from her eyes,
and gazed into his face for a moment. Her
sparkling eyes, her flushed and dewy cheeks,
and the agitation of her manner, gave her an
unusual beauty. At last she spoke +" You are
right, Oscar" said she, calmly / ought not to
| make you suffer, and it is unlike me to resort
to these womanly weapons. Indeed, my cause
does not need it. And now let us understand
each other, once for all. By staying here, you
can be OF genuine service to me in many ways,
! not the least of which will be pecuniarily. But,
if you stay, it must be as l wish you. Decide,
then Will you go away to the city, to build
up yonr own fortunes and your own fame--or
will you stay here with me, to study with me,
to take care OF me and miAe-my adopted
brother, my care, my pride, and my hope ~
She stood facing him as she spoke, her eyes
seeking his eyes, her two hands extended to-
wards him.
| He hesitated, paused, but only during mo-
ment. His eyes met hers, his hands went out
and seized hers, clasped them, and, with slight
tremor in his voice, he said:
g | will stay, Lizzie |" "
+" Thanks, Oscar" She drew him close to
her-she put one arm about his neck, she kissed
him twice, once on the lips and again on the
forehead, and murmured, again "God bless
you, my brother!" And before she knew it he
was crying, with his head upon her bosom
She held him there q little Wilde, until the first
passion OF his tears was passed then she put
him gently from her, and said, with Joyous
tremor of voice, and an affected merriment-
so, there will be No need to burn up all
those dear books, suppose, OscarI"
Five years have gone by since Lizzie and Os-
car became brother aud sister, and the tie is
confirmed one, now. Oscar was like woman
| In love, who, yielding once, makes no more re-
| sistance, but even anticipates the expectations
Of her chosen one. He had not been made to feel
himself overwhelmed by the kind benefits of
Lizzies hands. On the conna she had ad-
| vanced him to position where his good sense
| and his fidelity were of real and important SER
vice. The old people were failing rapidly, and
| in short time the management of the property
devolved entirely upon Lizzie and himself, and
he could not help feeling that his superintend-
ence contributed materially to keep things in
good and profitable order. SO, for two years,
during which he and Lizzie assiduously pur
sued their studies-as she made it appear to
him, though the truth of the matter was that
! she was only his spur, helping him on, and en-
abllng him to progress more rapidly. After
that, he must 60 to college. He demurred at
first, half conscious of how selfish it was in him
| to leave her just then, when she had most need
of his assistance, for her parents were grown
| distressingly feeble-but she laughed at him
for thinking her so helpless, womanlike, cloak
ing her aching heart and her sense of coming
| trouble, lest 1t should prevent him from con-
! sulting exclusively his own interests and he
| yielded, manlike, permitting himself to be
blinded. We Lords of Creation" you know,
are used to look upon womans domestic
troubles mere feathers in the scale against our
| own progressive wants, and woman is always
ready to egg US on in the indulgence of such
! blind and stupid selfshness.
Since then, Lizzie had seen him but once,
when her parents came to die, now eighteen
months since. Without pain OF much warning,
one feeble taper had gone quietly out, and the
ness, from pure sympathy. Then Oscar had come
home, consoled her with his strong and loving
| sympathy, and cured her of the feeling of DESC
| late loneliness which had SO pressed down her
| soul. 1t was in accordance with his advice
that she had rented out the farm, and gone to
live In the neighboring town, where she could
have society and friends. He had made all the
arrangements, put the business in order, seen
her comfortably settled, and then had returned
| to his studies, this time without being pressed
| by her. Woman as she was, she could not help
feeling this, yet she did not blame him she
| only chung to him the closer, as she found him
becoming more independent Of her. But she
would not have had him stay, for there was his
ambition, far-reaching, judicious, promising ;
and has ambition was hers. SO she waited for
FL do ofl h.. -
entirely without reward meaBtime, fer never
had she known such delight as his letters afford
ed her. They were frequent, frank, and breathed
his very soul. He did not talk to her as he
wrote. Only on paper did he consult her, tell
of his doubts and fears, his hopes and prides,
his thoughts and imaginings, his high soaring,
broad-based ambition, that was young Her
| cules,
Sill climbing trees in the Hesperides"
Did she ever think of herself as having part
in this race of his ambition? Did she ever de-
sire, he being Atalauta, to play the part of Hip.
pomenes, and win the start, by finging down
whatever golden apples If she did, the
thought lay so deep, SO obscure in her breast,
that she knew not its import at all.
r. He had been away three years, she had not
seen him for eighteen monts, and now he was
to come again. Only yesterday he graduated,
the yateolctorlan OF his class and tonight, he
wrote, he would be with her, to bless his dear
sister, and lay his blushing laurels at her feetl
What years these five had been, in which she
had known Oscar-how full of life, and thought,
and varied hue, and many-voiced musicl Yet
she was still the same Lizzie, and he--wss he
the same Oscar? She had not grown older-she
was not thirty-no-no indeedl But be- he was
twenty-one-s man. Would hestill remain her
old friend, her brother Oscar, or must abe pre-
pare herself for new relation, not half 10 pleas