The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-06-04

apon their converse. The bright lights IN
sis dining room showed Harry that the
h,siiaal gloom on his friends face was
.hepened instead Of dispelled, as lie hoped
!. sould be By his intercourse with the
yaily. The conservation between Mr..
l.py and his guest was on the current top
n Of The day politics, European news, the
new literature, ard the state Of crops, and
Harry was surprised 10 find that bis friends
Information was up to the latest dates
The drawing-rooms were in subdued light
when they entered them after tea, and Mr..
Grey's practical suggestion that 10 leave
iiem so. would keep out the Mosquitoes,
prevented Harry from raising the wicks oi
the astral lamps, They fell into couples
Harry and his mother, Mr.. Grey and the
doctor; and Kate was alone. She went
for few moments out on the porch and
then, seeing all engrossed in conversation,
she went softly in again.
Mr. Grey had fallen asleep, and the
doctor was silent, his head leaning against
tie wall, Harry was telling his mother Of
the doctors untiring devotion TO him in his
illness, after the accident that threw them
together, and the mothers eyes were fixed
on the tail figure dimly seen in the shadowy
light.
On the silence, broken only by the low
murmur Of Harry's voice, there came low,
trembling notes of music. AT first. soft,
hardly sounding, but swelling gradually
into sweet melody, not sad, but so full
Of sweetness and power that the heart of
tie hcarer almost ached in listening
Hurry ceased talking and the music rose
higher as Kate became interested, lost in
the rayishing sounds her own fingers drew
from the grand piano. The half light and
tie silence lent a quieting influence to the
girls light gay heart, and after a sweet
symphony, she began TO sing in a clear;
rich voice, that beautiful song
BE kind to the loved ones at home"
The last line had scarcely left her lips,
when she was startled by deep, heavy
sigh almost a sob, at her side. She turned
to see Dr. Hill.
Pardon me" lie said, quietly, " if /
have startled you. Your music drew me
here with an irresistible power as mag
net attracts needle
You are fond Of music%
"Passionatcly Years ago / cultivated
the little talent ! had for it but for ten
years haveneither heardmusic, nor tried
to bring il out from my piano
How could you give it up!"
81 gave it up at a time when all pleas
urc went from my life, and ] became the
sad--well, well, we will talk Of other
things. What right have ! TO cloud so
bright heart as yours with my sorrow
ful thoughts I"
There was something in the rich tones
of Doctor Hills voice which moved Kate
strangely.
''Shal ! play for you again ?" she asked.
'Wiil you? l cannot tell how gladly
will listenl"
Two hours passed away, and the piano
gave forth sweet sounds under those white
taper fingers, while still motionless as some
tall statue the doctor listened. Then Kate
rose; and after waiting for the doctor to
speak, and finding he did not, she went to
tie sofa where her mother lay.
For few moments there was total ST.
lmce in the room and then again music
filed il; not sweet, cheerful melodies such
az Kate had brought forth from the keys
there was a strong, heavy chord, followed
b. a succession of other chords which
p,aled forth strongly, as if some gust Of
passion prompted the player; then came
Willing passages, stirring the heart with
al aching sadness. The doctor seemed
p,uring out some hidden agony in his
wondrous music. 1t was an impromptu
Niserere, TO listen to which it was almost
mddening, such power had the strong
walls over the heart. Two soft, white
h,nds fell upon the doctors.
30 stop" said Kate. And her voice
betrayed that she was weeping, 81 feel,
as you play. as if some heavy grief were
hanging over me-
"Ileayen forbid 2 said the doctor, ear
ntstly. u will play no more. Il is the
first time for len years that my fingers have
toncbed the keys, and | forgot that | might
wound those around me. viii you for
give me, my child =
Nay, you take me loo seriously said
Kate, whose tears were already dried
"Come to mother She was hoping you
would join our group"
II were 10 long a tale to tell thus mi
nntely the course Of events In the month
DR.. Hill spent at Danton. As in bis own
home, be sought ont there the poor and
sick. Hardly day passed that Kate did
net hear Of some generous gift. some
weary night-wateh in poor hoyel, some
long walk to assuagc suffering, performed
by their guest She marked the tender,
gentle, plying respect he showed hsr in
valid mother; noted the high intellect his
betrayed, and she learned to
listen for bis voice and step; to feel with
keen delight the graspof his hand, and miss
him languishingly in his absences. Had
she tried to define her own feelings, she
would have failed TO give them their right
name. She only felt that be was noble,