The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-20

so innocent, and yet so wise, so confding,

so innocent, and yet so wise, so confdiug,
so graceful!
think she was beginning to transfer rn
me the affection she had felt for Frank
Appleby. For me the eye grew luminous,
now; for me the little silvery langfi OF
welcome sounded.
Meanwhile Frank was woling the real
ly e egant Charlotte Houston. She was a
worthy girl, and loved her blind sister al
most idolatrously. | wondered she had
not noticed poor little Enily's intatuatiOn,
but she was SO accustomed to seeing her
loved and petted that it seemed as mat
ter OF course She was q belle, and a
number of suffers contended for her hand;
so that Frank, who enjoyed monopoly
of her smiles and good graces was esteem
ed fortunate fellow.
One evening l came home and found
my little rosebud, as called her, unusu-
ally oppressed. thought she had been
weeping. In vain exerted all my pow
ers to please he--she smiled but the smile
was followed by sigh Finding an OPP
portunity. inquired of Charlotte what
could &c the matter with her sister.
"Really cannot tell," was her reply !;
"she seemed 10 be very happy when she
came home this afternoon
"Came home this afternoon - I eiacu
lated "Pray where did she go?"
For drive with Frank was her re-
ply.
There was pang at my heart. l saw
through the sadness, the tears. Old irn-
pressions had been revived, and tenderness
renewed. The sound of his voice, even ii
he had not spoken lovingly (and knew
the man too well to know that he had not),
had awakened the slumbering emotious of
the past. My fairy temple was dashed to
the earth, feared, hopelessly. / deter
mined at once, SO soon as an opportunity
occurred to tell her of his then existing
relations with her sister. had wish to
spare her the knowledge until I was sure,
she had forgotten him; but now it seem
ed thing inevitable.
That night we all went to the Opera.
Emily was passionately fond of music, and
she enjoyed it the more perhaps from the
sense of her isolation in the midst Of
crowds. We tried to get box together,
but could not, and l did not know exactly
where Frank and Charlotte Houston sat,
though l had the impression that they
hind US, who in the pauses of the music
talked almost necessarily. Emily heard,
with preternatural quickness, sounds
which could not distinguish, and notic-
ing suddenly her singular psllor, l found
that she appeared to be listening to the
speakers in our rear. caught the words,
go, yes, engaged to be married. He has
been paying his addresses to her for some
time l shouldn't be surprised if they
were married in the autumn"
l knew Immediately that they referred
to Frank Appleby and Charlotte Houston.
Looking around / saw them, nearly oppo-
site. Frank never looked more brilliant.
There was an exultant smile on his face, a
vivid light in his eye as it caught mine.
Poor Emily! By, accident her hand came
in contact with my OWL. Death could
not have been colder. Over her beautiful
eyes mist seemed drawn. She shuddered,
and no longer listened with rapt attention
or gentle serenity to the music on the
contrary, her movements were hurried and
agitated. Wholly unaccustomed to con-
ceal her feelings, she knew not what to
do. Her cheeks were white, and her lips
had a blanched appearance. [ trembled
as watched her. At last l whispered,
EMILY, shall we 60 home?"
"Oh, if you please, SIR" she said, rising
hastily and turning, thereby drawing the
! eyes Of many upon Us, for ours was con-
spicuOus seat.
"Sit still moment, dear" Il said, gen.
tly, for l saw that her strange gestures at
tracted attention. "In moment, when
l touch your arm, I will take you out"
At the first favorable opportunity we
withdrew as quickly as possible, and were
soon seated in the carriage. knew that
poor Emily was weeping, and tried to COM
fort her. At last ventured to say, "Did
you never suspect it before? Has no one
told you, not even Lofty?
"Oh, no, no." she sobbed. 81 could
not think it. He was so kind, so gentle to
me. Oh, how could he tell me what he
did. 1t was cruel. Is it wrong in me to
tell you this? Is it wicked, is it foolish in
me7"
"No, darling, 1 sail, softly, though an
arrow had gone to my heart ''tell me all
you will-let me be to you brother,
since I can be nothing more. If it had
been my lot to be favored with your love,
believe me, your path would have been
strewn with flowers"
She was silent after this till we arrived
home; them she instantly retired. The
next morning she was not at the broadcast
table at her usual time.
"What made Emily act so strangely
last night9" asked Charlotte. "The chile
must have been ILL.,"
eyes, / was half angry at her for stand
, ing up in that conspicuous place." sait
, Frank. eff she were my sister ! shoult
talk to her."
I flashed an indignant look at him ant
} he WINGED under it.