The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-20

nmgI All, Mr.. Congreve, your most obedient!
That dear Convolvulus has so occupied my at
tention tins evening, that have been kept away
hitherto. Allow me to -
"Mr. Clinquant!" said Mrs Fleming, NOV
ing her arm with slightly impatient gesture,
:" These are friends of mine about me, now, and
/ wish you to understand that do not include
you in the same category, and that, consequent
ly, this is, mildly speaking, an intrusion.
shall always pay sufficient respect to your tai
ents and position to recognise you--your bo,c,
that is-m company. But nothing further, for
know you. Spare me the trouble of being
more explicit"
These words were uttered in quiet conyer-
sational tone so as not to attract attention, but
there was such calm, cutting hauteur about
them, they were so emphasized with an icy dis
dainful assumption of superiority, that Ruth
expected TO see the man stink away like crop
cared cur. But he only bowed, retaining that
handsome smile, and remarked, pleasantly:
Il fear that Mrs. Fleming has not as fully
improved her opportunities of knowing me as
abe thinks. Perhaps she win know me better
after \ while. ! do not pretend to know her.
though do Aatter myself that | know arhat
she IS.
oval you go, sir, or - - said Gilbert Con-
greve, quietly, but in tone that announced an
ultmatum.
C9tainement!' cried Clinquant, laughing,
and moving off Then, seeing Mr. Classic
standing by Ruth, he paused moment to say {:
"Why, Doctor Cicisbeo! Comment Mr.. Con-
greve has usurped your championship; do you
permit your chere annie to be defended by
proxy?'
"What does he nean?" asked the bewildered
Plato.
Nothing" said Mrs. Fleming, laying her
hand upon Mr.. Congreves arm, and restraining
him with look
Allah, CGnquant! word with you,' called
out Mr.. Digest.
"What?" asked Clinquant without stopping.
what was the name of that young man |
was telling you about the other day?"
His name" said Clinquant, turning short
round, and cycling the ''hole group with a ma,
lgnant eye, CHS name was - Thistle "
Then, as he hurried away, he muttered
80 Hodie tibi, cras mihi!' aha-I have her
now Did / not see that glance. All I'll have
my revenge. If not the eagle, her nest at
least.r
Thistle hum, hum" said Digest, puzzled,
and approaching the group" Thistle! There's
an esOteric meaning there. Mr.. Congreve, can
you tell me why yon astute fellow should say his
name was--Thistle
I" ION astute fellow is dangerous. The motto
of the thistle, Mr.. Digest, is, Memo impune
me lacessit,' = said Mr.. Congreve, rather grave
ly; then, turning to his daughter, he said
Come, Ruth, we must go, now"
But Mrs Fleming drew Ruth'S arm within
her own.
I" She is going with me. / cannot part with
her just now, for have ever SO many things tc
tell her. You can come and see her in the
morning" added she, naively.
Ruth looked at her father with an eager blush
and yet she trembled, which made Mrs. Elem
ing remark, smilingly:
/" Is not your father tyrant Poor child, she
has no will Of her own whatever"
After putting them into Mrs Jennings car
rage Mr. Congreve drew Classic off with him
and babe them good night
1t was silent ride, that Of Mrs. Fleming and
Ruth to the hotel, and after they reached the
formers apartments, excepting a few necessary
words of courtesy, nothing was said for long
time. Ruth sat ti.sre, tinisly watching Mrs
Fleming, who, with bowed head and averted
face, seemed to be distracted far out of the
present. At last she turned, flung her head up
and looked at Ruth. The latter saw she had
been weeping, weeping silent but profuse
tears.
"They are for JOY, Ruth, as much as for
shame" she said, seeing that the girls eyes be
gan to gil syInpathetically. 'You may share
the Joy, my child, but thank God that you have
no need to feel the shame
Again her head dropped, and this time Sc
low, that the proud camelia, already withered
fell out of her hair, and lay upon the floor. Mrs
Fleming picked it up, gazed at it a moment
and then, rising, flung it down, set her foot
upon it, and crushed it without a word. The
deed itself was significant, enough. For the
flower had been her crown, the type aud sym
boil of her regal pride, and, in setting her foot
upon it, she crushed out the thing itself. This
deed, SO simple, so unconsciously done, was, in
effect, her act of abdication, and as formal and
conclusive as if it had taken place from the
throne Of Dioclesiqn or the bed chamber OF
Charles the Fifth. For d while longer, she
paced the floor in silence that was almost som
bre, and, then, standing before Ruth, she laid
her two hands upon the girls shoulders, and
said:
"Your father is the noblest man that ever
lived Oh Ruth, he has heaped Goals Of fire
upon my head. And yOlt-nly God, my God! .
Twice She kissed Ruth on the forehead passion
ately, and, then, turning away, prepared for the
night, ever and anon shivering, Ruth could see,
with suppressed anguish
Mrs. Fleming made Ruth sleep in her own
bed, saying that she wished to talk with her
When the two were under cover, and the light
turned off, and they had lain silent for some
time, each busy with her own thoughts, Mrs
Fleming whispered
Shave you heard from Jasper?"
"No," answered Ruth in scarcely audible
voice. Then she felt those rounded arms en-
circle her, and she heard that glorious voice
now all choked, and broken, and fearful, plead
in tones of entreaty
M p,tb do bota for / 1ova in,
too"
Ruth returned the embrace, nesting up to
her as an infant does to its mother, and muir
muring:
"Hate you Hate Jasper's mother l love
you
And Mrs. Fleming went on in the same
broken, paintive tones of agony:
II too love him, and do not know where
he is. / do not know but he is dead. |, his
mother do not know but he is dead
In the morning, when Gilbert Congreye came,
he found Mrs. Fleming and Ruth talking pleas
antly together, as if they had known each other
always. 1t was study to the daughter to no.
tice the intercourse between her father and JAS
per's mother. They talked but little, it is true,
but the melting eyes, the subdued tone of their
voices, the way in which they even seemed to
think together was very striking Their words
were but trifes, little matters of to-day, gossip,
new book, a piece of pleasant mnsic, but their
looks breathed thoughts of the olden time, and
fetched up fertlest memories from the ways
of the past" And which. after short visit, he
rose to go, promising soon to return, and still
leaving Ruth, they parted as if parting was
pain, even for an hour. Ruth knew what it all
meant she could guess the Joy that beamed in
Mrs. Fleming's eye, and the young life that
seemed newly awakened in her fathers veins,
and she was happy-oh, so happy! This was