The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-30

| NiS
Here, Fanny-cl ser than can come
to YOU"
''Jf could see Him! if I could feel
Hin. |" she cried, cirginsly, as il reach
ing out in the dark.
"Call Him as you call me. Ask Him
to help you rs You ask me- lie loves you
better than l, Fanny. He can go further
than |. He is right here. Cant you see
Him? can't you feel Him? ?" said the low
voic,., in tones that thrilled one with the
consciousness of an invisible presence.
TIE look of terror went from the
glastly face, and ti'e faint shadow of o
coming smile pausel on the dying lips
that only had breath to say,
"Y-e-s."
Size was gone wher. they coald do no
more for her.
Lisle Mercur lett Pet with Flynn, and
went abroad. Two years passed, and he
did not return. Then came letter say
ing that he would sail in two days more,
in the S,lita re.
Toward the close of the summer, just
at twill, lit one evening. they two sat alone
in the window-seat OF the library, louking
at the Id light house far up the Leach on
the rocky point
1T looks ugly-don't it, Flynn?""
EYES," said Flynn, thoughtful y. cit
looks lonely, and bare, and grim, in the
daylight but how was it last night? ?"
| Pet remembered how the storm ragged
and the sea roared all night, and how she
cluug to Flynn, wild with fear lest they
should all, home, s~a and winds, be wlirl-
ell :oge ther in terrible destruction. Then,
shining in through the chamber window,
cleaned that solitary light from the Old
tower, and Flynn said,
Is" k, child, what is it likep p
Like Il star of hope. isn't IL Flynn?"
Flynn said, yes, and hoped it might he
such To those at sea She Iid not whis-
per the dreadful fear size had in her heart
that a vessel h"newurd bound, mi aht 60
down that dismal night. She sootlied the
! little head that mi gIt be fatherless, and
wove t. at in her pra, ers.
| Later in the evening came a messenger
saying the Solitaire had uniereh in Tie
Storm the II ght before, and it was reliably
reported that all on board had perished
Almost within sight of llOmel Flynn had
learned to bear ciuel tidEgs. S, no one
knew how she telt The servants gath
cred, whispering, in the hall. he went
ou:, and bade them disperse, in a husky
voice. until Pet Was asleep The lamps
were n"t lighted, and they could not see
her pallid face.
she took The child to her chamber, and
sat beside her until she was asleep. Then
she moved dOHh the stairs into the pres
ence OF the covering servants, who were
! waitin. As if by instinct for her COM
mands
1--WE will have nc lights Tonight" she
said, in voice that thrilled through dark
ness. Let all retire and the house he
quiet. Tomorrow will be soon enough"
| There was no need to say for what it
would be soon enough, and they went
from her pre-. ence awe-stricken and Op.
pressed With glonm. 4 hen they were all
gone she went back to the window-seat
in the library, where she had been sitting
with Pet, and kneeling down, buried her
face in the cushions. The murmur of the
waves breaking softly on the beach came
in at the open window.
Isle Mercur had sailed week in ad-
vance of the Solitaire, contrary to his ex-
pectatiOns when lie wrote. When the
news of that vessels wreck reached his
family he was already moving patiently
tow ards home. It was still compa, atively
early in the evening when he alighted from
the coach in front of his own house. Sur
prised at finding it closed and dark, he
went around towards the back part of the
premises, intending to arouse one of the
servants. As he passed the library win
dow he observed it was open, and spring.
ing to the low balcony, he was going in
when something suddenly arrested his at
tentiOn. STOPPING over TO examine more
closely, he was started by the sight of
human face half buried in the crimson
cushions. Just then the moon came from
under cloud, and shone full upon the
object at which he stood gazing with deep
perplexty. He saw now that it was Flynn
half kneeling, half reclining, as if she had
fallen asleep in the midst Of prayer.
He called her softly by name, but she
did not move. Then he spoke in louder
voice, almost roughly, but there came no
response. He grew alarmed The strong
man shook like an aspen. He raised her
head reverently, tenderly, and laid it
against his bosom, smoothing back the
wavy, ruffled hair, and gazing fondly in
the face he had looked upon ignorantly,
unappreciatingly, times without number.
How precious it seemed to him then, as he
grcaned aloud, "Great God, have come
back for this!" He thought she was dead
that a new and deeper desolation than
he had yet known was upon lin.
As he gazed the nostrils slowly dilated,
the thin lips parted, and those dark myste-
rious eyes opened full on his. The sea-
breeze, the murmur Of the waves, were not
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