The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-06

moment he was listening with much attcn-
ton to his companion, whose low tones were
indistinct to my ear. Having discovered my
neighborhood was at once impelled toleavo
it, I so dislked the appearance Of caves.
dropping. and my vicinity rendered 1t almost
involuntary. Something chained my foot
steps when would have started I fingered
spell.bound to the spot, and to his friends re-
mark whatever ithad been. heard DR.. Leigh
reply, ...
"Yes, IL was Of that class ofcases wewere
speaking, quite hopeless Of course. rhc
wonder is that they contrive to keep soul and
body together rs they do, year after year.
have Just been called to one-such lovely
little crcaturc-she is about gone too, and Is
aware of it, but her friends are mott"
"a resident hero?"
"Yes, the lower part Of the city, -
Court, think they call ii"
Every word fell upon my ear with perfect
distinctness with sort of stunned quiet
ude, said to myself, at is Of Violet he is
speaking-Violet is dying!"
Then I looked around me, at the crowd
still smiling and lettering by at the water,
still trembling upwards in shadow to its
crown Of light; ut the trees, vast and SOL
cmn, defined against the deepest sky. Just
above me, pearl-white cloud cnyeloped the
full orbed moon. Slowly she passed from
beneath its folds. as parting spirit might
cast aside the clay, leaving behind it a track
of glory passing onward into realm Of star.
With that peculiar sharpness Of vision which
at such moments seem all.cmbracing, ! took
note of everything, when crushed by the
consciousness of but one giant reality. The
moist odor of dewy blossoms, the plaintiye
cadence of an Italian mir borne from some
distant music, even tho fash Of costly bril-
liant upon the white hand that was toying
with n bending twig,as DIR. Leigh had spoken,
seemed mocking me with its chill splendor.
So turned towards home. With sudden
newness Of vision | looked upon the Part as
it rose coldly and sharply in tho light of the
Present. saw in its true bearings my rcla-
ton to Violet Grey. Wc"had lived and
loved together, but how stronghold been that
love, how deeply inwoycn with my quiet life
that golden thread had been, only knew
when the tibrcs were breaking, even now,
"almost gone"
All through the watches Of that long, long
night, two faces bent ON me from out The
gloom, one flushed and radiant of the life
that might have been, but which should never
be, and the other-that was inevitable
Hour after hour rounded to completeness,
dropped. noisclcssly away. BY and by the
shadows in tho east were softly lifted, and
the morning, fair and golden, stood revealed
behind them for q moment ! was struck
with the analogy, but the sharp conscious
ness Of pain returned, tho burden was lifted.
and went back to life, duty, labor, but ]
found them not the same.
Delaying Us long as possible my usual
visit, dreading to look upon her with my
present knowledge, I entered Violet's room
when the dusk had hidden in its obscurity
the objects within. A lamp placed in an
adjoining apartment shot u bar Of yellow
light across the threshold, but that was all
"You are late, Richard" and her soft
hand for an instant claspcd mine with mute
welcome. "Mother has just stepped into u
neighbor's and have been sitting alone in
the twilight, and thinking"
"Of what, Violet?" My voice sounded
harsh and strange even to myself, but my
throat ached with its fullness.
"Of many things, you among Others"
And as seated myself beside her, her hand
once more touched me with an electric thrill,
as she laid.it upon my arm. The movement
was one of unwonted freedom, but could
not bear that touch, and the terrible memo
ries it heralded,
forgot her weakness, and my own pride
of resolution +; burying my face in my hands,
I sobbcd like child. "Oh, Violet, can
not bear it :" and leaning my forehead upon
the arm of her chair wept uncontrollably.
She did not ask me whai, neither did she
question me as to the way in which the truth
had dawned upon me. Only after little,
she said. while caressins my hair with her
light fingers,
al am glad il you know the worst that can
beiall me Richard, have been spared q
great trial; far more even than the grief
of my father and mother, dreaded thesight
Of your own; knew you would miss mc J"
and then felt the two tears falling upon
my brow, and for few moments VIC mingled
our tears. "
When we had somewhat recovered our
selves, Violet told me how the conviction
had been gradually forcing itself upon her
mind that her hours were numbered, and
through the glad, bright days Of spring and
summer the steps Of tho Destroyer had echoed
more and more nearly. as they trod upon
the blossoms Of whose fading she would be
unconscious. Then when DIR. Leigh had been
summoned to visit her, she had firmly ex.
pressed to him her own belief in the matter,
and he, lookingsinto her lace, could utter no
denial Of certainty stamped upon every
line Of its transparent beauty. Still co@-
fortins, ms it was her mission to do, as
poured out my heart to her Tor tho f.t and
last time, oil the hopes that had suddenly
fallen; the love which had famed up but to
show the surrounding gloom the utter sad