The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-29


voice to let her sing solfsggio SO young Br
she sings to herself as children sing asA
/ Begin to teach her to morrow. Let he
practice soteggio some hours daily; do it reg
Iularly.' s 1i 'ass e ss.d gis
INV Lord 1aa5 tsEeS
Ny father waved one long white hand. wit
an air that effectually prevented the conclus-
ion OF my governess' speech. 1 .f u
Co. he said tersely; and then, as il sud-
denly recollecting that Miss Mac Nab was
free woman, and not a bond slave. .go, if yol
please. am weary and occupied
Such was my fathers reception of me aftel
six months absence. Almost my only rec
reation was TO walk in the beautiful but neg-
lected grounds. Deansdale was great place
and required four times the staff my father
maintained there; but its very rankness of lux
uriance had an attraction for me-, My pursuit,
we're SO clipped and shorn into shape, that the
sight of anything growing as it listed had a
charm. 1 envied the ivy; that wound gunre-
buked, its loving green arms about the olden
ho1se corners. making picturesque decay more
beautiful To be sure, my walks we're regu-
lated by my jailer-for such Miss Mac Nab
seemed to me. I had to 60 at her side,3 and
keep her pace. had sufficient idea Of the
stain that was once upon me to feel that the
most devoted obedience and submission 10 my
elders was the only course. which could paIli-
ate its blackness. Therefore, whils I envied
the embracing ivy and the the thousand ca
ressing rings of the spring creepers, never
presumed to throw my arms around Miss Mac
Nabs neck, for knew she would not Ike it.
Though enyied the free iik, of the birds and
coveted their wings, I walked demureIy and
resignedy at her side. My life was rigorous.
y apportioned: so many hours to- language,
to grammar. to music and to work. Langua ges
i did not like, grammar detested, work / tol
Grated because its Interval was the only time
when my vagrant chids fancy had its full play
U. not the only time ! for passionately loved
music, and would have played half the day had
not Miss Mac Nab kept me strictly to the al.
lotted time of practice A beautiful melody
seemed to let my imagination loose among all
the lglories Of the universe. My ear clung to
a hne air as bee to a honey-aower. NV
Voice.whieh echoed every sweet sound heard
las almost my only plaything sang because
could Eot help it. Every beautiful sensation
resolved itself into music. Every melancholy
feeling. and these we're more numerous. asked
a sad song to interpret it. Once Miss Mac
Nab used to forbid my singing. but L really
could not help it, and she began to tolerate it.
think she really liked it. We we're never
out of each others presence, and Isometimes
think, now,that her life must have been almost
as weary as mine. But she was severe, con.
sclentious woman, and had no idea of enjoy
ment beyond the fulfllment of duty. Week
after week passed in the same, mo notonous
style. Only now and then my father came
down upon US like hurricane, without warn.
ing or preparation. This was his policy, but
be always found Miss Mac Nab at her post,
careful and watchful 800
AS time wore on. I began to yearn more
and more for the love of some human crrature.
Ny still cold life seemed so very cruelty heart
less that l have even kissed the flowers fir
want of human cheek. Once. when the Earl
was at Deansdale and Miss Mac Nab was
from our walk by some person in
doors, Ipassed the drawing-room windows,
which. to please mother, as 1 had somehow
learned, had been opened to the lawn. NV
Fatherlay on acouch. apparently sleeping; he
ooked tired and sad;- l myself was sad that
morning. and Miss Mac Nab seemed colder
and more formal than ever, As I passed and
'epassed the folding windows, my fathers
sleeping figure had strange fascination for
ne. My promenade grew shorter in its turns,
rom ten PAGES to eight, from eight TO four,
rom four to two. At last stood before the |
open window. His books and papers--he had
always books and papers about him-bestrew
ID the table; his hat and cane lay on the floor;
MS gloves and green budding hawthorn twig
ne bad cut lay on the old-fsshioned piano
The whole aspect of his surroundings BREATH
I'd so simply of common everyday life, that
ne seemed something less awful than usual
Elooked at his sleeping face; it was worn with
1eep thought, and not with traces oftrial, re-
'olye, and cares endured. A t~itch of pain
'eemed now and then to to contract his fexi-l
bic mouth. Was it twitch of pain or a |
mile ri drew a little nearer--he stirred not |
-iacaule nearer yet Holding my breath,
put my finger in one of his gray-brown curls
and felt its siiken clasp. Still he slept. His
syelashes we're wet. o God. he too knew sor.
'ow Perhaps he too felt the want of love.
would-I must love him. Before could
what was about I had kissed his
lips, and in doing so awoke him. q He gazed
at me wildly and flung me from him. sBegone,
,hiid, with thy witch eyes Who sent thee
1erei Leave me, aud never again come
without being summoned .'lcgaT .suc -.7at
% father, father!' cried, for was ex-
,ited with scorned affection, Let me love YOU.
want some one to olove-I-L-am so uuhap.
Dy - -5 -ai t1 7aAaH aHttqe -srl /
Be silent I commanded Lord Evesham, in
! passionate voice. Be silent have heard
'uch acursed words ere now. You have poi,
ION in your veins. 7 our kiss is worse than
The sting of a foul serpent Am not endur-
ng thee and nurturing thee because-God
lelP me 1.-The trunk is old and 1 have no 9th
'r offshoot But that ia all 1 can do He
in milder tone, as he saw that
ried to repress my sobs,' Go, child, 90 to thy
governess. Why did she leave thee 10 thy
iuty, and wish for noughs beyond