The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-02-09

!" Helen, met Meriyale again this morning,
at the FEEDER. He saws he will call for you to-
morrow, to show you the Cdrienano church,
and wishes to know if pa and mamma viii not
join the party. 1t is fine chance, for he knows
all about such things"
Helen saw her father glance quickly up, she
noticed the gathering clond about his brow and
the compression of his lips. fiEG .tofyAT
Z" am too unwell to go" said Mrs. Beale,
languidly, "and you and Helen must accom-
pany him, unless Mr.. Beale wishes to go with
you" = AZ aFeA@
"Of whom do you speak7" asked the father,
in harsh tone I" know no one of that name,
and have never been informed that Miss Helen
received visiters in my house." There was much
sarcasm in these words, and Ruperts face col
ored with anger, as he said, rapidly: s>41
(" You have kept yourself so much aloof from
us, sir, that there is small wonder if you know
nothing of what has been going on amongst us
Mr.. Merivale -
Here he paused, reluctantly, but unable to
resist Helen's imploring glance; and she quick
ly resumed where he left of. s-st- q
Mr.. Merivale, papa" said she, is travel
ling acquaintance of ours, an artist, to whom
Rupert and | are under many obligations;
here she briefly reconnted their adventures at
Como, and sketched an account of his assist
ance to them in Milan :" he came to Genoa
to study some frescoes here, and, having found
us out, of course paid US a visit. remembered
what you told us the day after our arrival,
papa" added she, little reproachfully, bat
had no intention of keeping the acquaintance
secret, since / am sure you will consent to
exempt Mr. Merivale from your prohibition
during his visit to Genoa. He has promised
to show me all the celebrities of the city, feast
l should hate to be deprived Of"
" nd he has prornisad IN u;vp mo gonna loo
sons in art" quoth Rupert; g I'm tired of doing
nothing, and, i faith, do not see why / may
not become an artist"
Humph Titan or Correggio, no doubt
said Mr.. Beale, dryly but who is this Merivale2
What do You know about him, that induces you
to think SO highly of him 2"
He is Virginian, believe" said Helen.
g He is a gentleman" struck in Rupert "a
man of education and refinement, and, withal,
not ashamed to confess that he makes his living
by his pencil" asT
That, certainly, is commendable feature
in an f. E. "" sneered Mr. Beale; adding,
after pause, Well, / have no right to con.
troll you in this matter, but do not make many
acquaintance, you value my peace of mind,
or yours either. And, Rupert, remember that
time is money to the artist so, if you culti-
waite this Mr.. Merivale to any great extent,
you had better make bargain with him. /
have seem some r. f. VS. drive quite sharp
bargain, In my time"
You seem to be in o very bad humor, sir"
said Rupert, with frown on his brow and
flush on his cheek.
His father started, and frowned full as dark.
But he caught glimpse of Helen's pale, en-
treating face, his brow cleared up, and he ex.
tended hand to his son, saying:
Nay, my son, do not be angry. When you
are as old as | anu. and have seen so much of
| the dark side of life, have gone through as
many fiery furnaces of pain, and shame, and
trial, aud disappointment, and grief, you will
know how very readily to excuse and forgive
these outbreaks of gloom. this rugged temper"
Forgive me, father said Rupert, grasping
his hand with emotion; forgive me that l
have shown so little respect to your troubles"
And | shall sing song presently that will
ontdo the snng of that blithe spirit the sky.
lark" cried Helen, her eyes full Of sparkle and
glisten-twin alpha stars they, shining down
from their blue dome, blessing all mortal lovers
who embrace and exchange VOWS in their Sc
rene light. There is no happiness equal to
the bliss we derive from seeing others happy
| whom we love, and knowing that for a portion
at least of that happiness they are indebted to
US and our influence. And this Helen
"Ah' fany pee. knew her,
He would sing of her with falls
Used in Aovely madrigals.
And Il any pos drew her,
He would p sint her. are,
With halo around her hair.
And all iearts 90 fray, God lave her!'
Aye, and ccrtes, in good soafh.
We may all be sure He doth -
| From this time there was a visible improve.
ment in her fathers condition, which amend
ment Helen continually strove to forward by
every means in her power. Indeed, she was
ever with him when he was not employed, seek
4 80 l.
| ion over him. He did not return to the on
bliette, nor did he exclude his family from keep
ing him company, but much of his time was
| given to regular and engrossing business, and
he had frequent visters, all of whom, George
remarked, sent up their cards, containing, in
| addition to their names, mystic sign, whose
purport he could not comprehend, but which
| gained them instant admission. The two who
came most often were a cadaverous, black beard.
ed chap, with Wild, hollow eyes, and corpulent
| priest, with erysipelatous nose and cheeks, both
Of whom George hated with most cordial
hatred, because he suspected them of evil de.
| signs against his master. In the rarely recur-
ring periods of his leisure, Mr.. Beale exerted
himself to please his family. Two or three
times he rode out in close carriage with Helen
and her mother. He joined often in their quiet
talk at the table, and especially seemed to
strive to render his wife as happy as possible,
| by little attentions and tendernesses Of speech
and touch, such as she had never known be-
fore. lie appeared to have an acute sense of
the wrS1g he had done her during so long
time, aud to ehdeavor thus to compensate her.
She, poor soul, was happy as child in its
mothers smile-passarely happy, that is, for
the days when she could exult had long since
fed. He also strove to participate in the hap
ply flow of life that bore Rupert and Helen
along upon its ripping bosom, taking pains to
ask them in regard to their sight seeing, joking
Helen about her glow and Joy and loneliness,
and in a sad counterfeit of humor pretending
to be jealous of this paragon of Merivale,
whose name was so constantly upon their lips.
Yet Helen did not permit herself to be de-
ceived, nor did she relax her watchful care over
him. She knew intiutively that this cheerful
ness of tone was but superficial, rather an au
curry of that better state of things, than an evil
| dence that the Best was already attained. She
! felt that this conduct was rather to spare them
pain than from natural feeling; that by him
self he very likely gave over bis efforts, while
his Jaw sunk, his brow clouded, and his lip
| quivered as Of old; again came the spectres,
/ and the dreams, and the moody thoughts.
What if, in one of those fits, he should revert
again to that quick Key; wish again to tempt
that dark corfidorl She would never forgive
herself and sd she watched him closely.
Not SO closely, however, but that there were
numerous occasions when she thought it per.
missible to delegate this supervision to her
mother and to George, while she herself, &C.
! companied BY her brother Rupert, and one
| Mr. w. Denham Merivale, wandered mp and
1 down, sightseeing, in Genoa. The exercise
was aeeded by her, she said |; Genoa was
such place Of wonders, that she would never