New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-14

pEuhtduly
They had taken a crcutous route on their r
turn SO as to pass by remote part Of Mr.. Nicoll
] home plantation, and in consequence crossed I'll
river at the ford where Gasten and Imogene's rid
, had terminated.
As they drew up to breathe the horses, and perm
them to shake the water from their sleek side
, Franks quick eye caught the deep indentation
horses hoof in the moist sand, and the light in
press Of mans footstep by it, and readily SUI
missed by whom they were left.
Rising the little hillock, his attention was draw
to the beautiful display of wild flowers, and wit
Imogene in bis thoughts, he sprang from the hugg
to gather bunch to present her, as a token OF hi
constant remembrance.
He had plucked but one, when long ray of til
law declining sun lit up the spot of the equestrians
votive labors. The joint nitanls, the wreath
woven by woman's hand-it was enough
told, or seemed to tell tale that made Fran
throw the flower to earth, turn slowly away, an
resume his seat by Mr.. Nicolls side, saying indii
ferently, After all, it was not worth my while tt
: pull the flowers"
Arrived at home all thought Of self or love wa
put aside in solicitude for his brother, the child o
his sainted mother, who with her dying breath ha,
prayed Gods blessing on him, il he cherished witt
filial care the fra child who had inherited he
delicacy Of constitution and poetic beauty Of mind
If Delorne was admirable in the everyday wall
Of life, if he strovs<with all the power that wa
given him, at the same time that he was firm and
independent in his intercourse with the world, Il
| be charitable and generous to all, how mucl
| gentleness of heart and earnest devotion, which
was beautiful to behold, did he evince in the amos
l womanly tenderness with which he ministered a.
| the couch Of his sick brother.
| The slowly-revolying days passed into weeks.
i MIR. and Mrs. NicoIl vaguely guessing what
might have TRANSFERRED from the incoherency of the
note which CASTOR dispatched them from town
| had forwarded money and clothes and a consent
for his travels to the place he had designated they
! should be sent.
| Willard still lived. The physician had given his
opinion that he might live months, or even few
short years, but that his doom was written for an
early grave; yet, with the unfailing characteristic
Of his disease, he grew each day more confident of
| his ultimate restoration to perfect health.
| With his beautiful, golden brown hair brushed
back in moist, clustering rings his pillow, mis-
skin preternaturally clear and thin, his lips of
burning crimson, and bis lustrous dark grey eyes,
his insdious beautifer made him fair as the haunt
ing vision OF an artists dream.
As his body faded, his mind was kindled with
fresh fires Of imagination, and his soul was up
lifted with spiritual enthusiasm, and these gilded
| and adorned and elevated his love for INNOCENCE
which neither wavered nor varied, but remained
the most potent Of his few earthly ties.
When the first month of his comparative conva-
lescenee had passed, Imogene's brother, Louis
Thorne, summoned BY her letters, came to conduct
her to their far.of city home where they lived the
sole remaining members of their family-fatherless
-motherless- hitherto all in all the one to the
other.
The flame of Wizards vitality, which seemed to
draw its daily sustenanee from Imogene's pres
ence, sank and wavered at the bare idea Of their
separation. The constant prayer Of his lips and
eyes was:
Do not leave me my life is with you.''
Prompted by this, and influenced perhaps, un-
consciously by secret desire that Imogene should
even temporarily hallow his home with her pres
ence, Frank for the first time put in the plea of
relationship, and urged the brother and sister to
make visit to his bachelor establishment.
1t was situated in a county not far distant, on
farm of moderate extent, which, by careful culture
and proper economy in the expenditure of its in
come, Frank made sufficient to provide Willard
and himself with all the requirements of their cor
rect and refined tastes.
Filled with cousinly fondness for Frank, and
touched with infinite pity for Wizards situation
1mogene's brother accepted for them the invita-
ton, and taking advantage of the strength the in
telligence seemed to impart, Willard, in the fresh
ness of the morning, ON delightful day in the
early summer, fmogene, her maid, Louis, and VIII
lard in the carriage, and Frank accompanying
them on horseback, they started on the trip which
could be accomplished in easy stages between the
rising and setting of two suns
CHAPTER
The full grown verdure of the clustering trees
hung dropping, motionless, in the overpowering
rays of the sum- and the rustic farmhouse, nesting
in their midst was sunk in the deep hush of sum
mer MONDAY repose.
In one of its rooms, raised but step from the
green sward, which tempted the outstraying foot
to press it, sat Imogene and Willard. Willard re-
cining in the cushions Of an easy chair resting in
the shade and GOODNESS from the exertion Of his
morning walk, and Imogene reading to him from
sweet, sad, satisfying Hyperion.
I" how beautiful it is to Lowell Even thou that
sneerest at this page, and laughest in cold indifer
ence or scorn if others are near thee-thou, TOO,
must acknowledge its truth, when thou art alone,
and confess that foolish world is prone to laugh
in public at what in private itreveres as one of the
highest impulses of our nature, namely, loven'
How beautiful it is to love- murmured VIII |
lard, lifting his white Ids which had been closed
in languor, and fixing his expressive eyes with ten
derness on Imogene's face; and how blest and
oh, how doubly blest to be loyed-ts have it
measured even as you have meted.'
As he spoke the accelerated heartbeat threw
the crimson tide along his veins with unaccustom.
ed force, and, momentarily strengthened, he arose
and walked to the table by which Imogene was
sitting, and drew chair to her side.
Imogene, know that beauty, realize that
blessing. can double beauty and blessing. /
love you. Love me in return, make me rich in the
treasure of your pure and nnsullied heart''
lmogene closed the book with tremulous hand |
glanced at Wizards fearful and beseeehing face,
and then said lowly, but quite distinctly
!" | love you, Willard but not as you wish''
He hung on her words and when their import I
reached him he burst forth with despairing cry
8" 0 be merciful Imogene be charitable. With.
'ut you | die; with you is life. live in my love
or you give me yours in return-if not as have T
measured, such as you ean-and take mine in and |
cherish it, it is enough for both.''
Again, pair of earnest eyes rose to Imogene, as
: were, from the profoundest depths of her