The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-01-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
IIPR OF A SPINSTBR !;
HOPES AND FEARS.


CHAPTER III.
"Thers is . reaper his name is Dessh,
And with his sickle keen
He reaps ths bearded grain ~ . bresshs
And the flowers thas grow between."
A lsttsr from Humfrey how Honor's heart
.1uttsted. Would II announce an engagement,
or would II promise a visit on which her fate
would turn, or would II be only Q business letter
on her money matters5
Ansry,. at, her own rspida.iGn' , she
Ii told her that Mr.. saville, his brother
in-law, was staying at the Holt with his second
wife, and that he begged her to take advantage
Of ths opportunity to come to visit the old place,
adding, tiat he had not been we'll, and he wished
mucn to see her, Il she could spare few DAYS to
him from her children.
Little doubt had she as to the acceptance. The
me,s words "going to Hiltonbury," had power
by fosce OF association to make her heart bound.
Shs was little Disappointed that he had not In
cluded the children, she feared IL looked ~ II be
wsss really ILL., but It might be on account Of tho
Sayillss, or may be he had that to say to her
which-oh, nonsense! We're that the case,
humfrey would not reverse the order Of things,
and make har come to him. At any rate, the
children should be her first condition. And then
abe concentrated her anxieties o, his most un-
ssual confession Of having been unwell.
Humffey's substantial person was ready to
meet her at the station, and the hrst Rlsrce dis
pelled her nervous tremors, aud ealmei the tos-
fnps Of her mind In the babituh sense Of trust
and eeliance. He thanked her for coming, hand
cd her into the carriage Loo I'd after her goods,
and seated himself beside her In so completely
his ordinary fashion Of taking care OF her, that
she forgot all her intentions Of rensering their
meeting momentous. Her first nSuiry was for
his shsalth, but he put IL asi 10 with some.
thing about feeling very we'll now, and he
looked 20 healthy, only perhaps little more
hearty and burly, that she did not think
any moro matter ofths aud only talked
in happy desultory scraps, now dwelling on
cognizing familiar objects, or commenting upon
tie slight changes that had taken place. One
<Nhing, however, SIZE otserved Humfrey did not
stop the horss at the foot Of the stesp hill whore
walking had bean q matter Of course, whom he
Siad been . lees solid weight than now. "Yes,
Honor" he said smiling, zone grows less nsr-
,ciful az one grows old and short breathed."
4'You growing old you, whom never left
OF thinking Of asa promising lad, ss poor old
Mrs. Mervyn used TO call you"
He turned his face towards hor, @ II
about to say something very seriously,
but Re apparently changed his intention
Toe woods were bursting into spring; delicate,
deeply creased leaves were joyeusly emerging
TO The light the birchss, not yet devoid of the
hszsls were auttering Their goslingi, the palms
were honey sweet with,ysl,oN tufts, tho prim.
roess psepsd out la ths banks OF moss.
"Oh Humfrsy, this Is the great desire OF
my. life fulfilled, to zee the Holt In the flush Of
:" fhsve always sid you cared for tho plscs
more than any ons,' said Humfrey, evidently
sr.tihed, but w''a an expression which she did
."Ay cid not ! But how strangely differ-
ent from my vision my wish has been full.
How strangely r. he repeated, with even
greatsr seriousness than had bssn 10 her vsiss.
Ykey had q cheerful evsAing Mr.. Savills he'd
. great deal d old fAshionsd Oxford agrse,ble-
ness; there was great deal oflivelines, In which
.DsyiHe 1oc&sd IKE what she was, her husbands
ladIpiring housskesper.
HDs you take carly walks stiil, Humfrsy :"
asked Honor, as she bade him good night. III
you do, shall be quite ready to confront the
dew :" and Herewith cams . rovukion OF tha
consciousness within. Was this ccurlins him :
and to her great picvocstion thero AroOe 81 IN
comfortable blush.
Humfrey was brisk and cheerful as ever at
breakfast, dsvising what his guests would Ike to
80 for the day, and talking Of some friends whom
bad asked 70 meet .t Mr.: S.yiils 50 that hat all the
siisipatsd, and abe took her part gaily in the
talk. There was something therefore, freshly
startling to her, when, on riting, Humfrey grave
..Honor, will you come into my study for a
Tho study had always been more Of place 70
guns and fshing. tackle, than for books. II was
Humfrey's usual living room when alone, and
was of course full bssides Of justice books, agh-
cultural reports, Acts Of Parliament piles Of
pspers littie bags Of samples Of whest an In the
orderly disorder congenial to the male kind. All
tbis was as usual, but the change that struck her
was that the large red leather lounging chair,
hithsrto Q receptacle for the overlooking Of the
Il stood Q little table with large print Bible on
it,fwbich she well remembered as his mothers.
HumfIey SGT chair for her by the fire, and scat
I'd himself In the easy one, leaning back little
She had not spoken. Something In his grave
preparation somewhat swsd hsr, and she sat up
1'It was very kind OF you to come Honor, he
began, "more kind than you know"
81 am sure 1t could be no other than treat. /.
De continued, befOrs sh. could go farther, ~
wished particularly 10 speak TO you. l thought
1t might perhaps spare you shock"
Sho looked at him with terrified eye.
Don't be frightened, my dear, 7" he said, lean
ing forward, 'there Il no occasion. Such things
must come sooner or later, and II Is only that
wished to tall you that have bean having ad-
vice for good many uncomfortable feelings that
have troubled me lately"
well 2" she asked brssthlessiy.
"And Dixon tells me that II h Aneurism."
Quick and fast came Honoras breath; her
hands were claspsd together; her eyes east about
: with pitsous, dsspairing expression, that he
started to his feet In . moment, exclaiming-
'Henorl Honor dearl don't! thsres no need-l
did not think you would feel II in this way!"
''Feel1 Tor what should feel Rnot for youi
Oh! Humfreyl don't say II! you are all that u
ieft me-you cannot be spared" and as he came
towards her, shs grasped his hand and clung tc
him, needing tho support which he gave In feal
Shsr fainting.
4 Dear Honor, do not take II thus. am very
nj now-l dare say I shall be so 10 the Last
"A L. s.rx 40, a.. s.uaa 4