, 1865-12-26
CHAPTER III.
A CHANGE IN LIFE

:. IT wns the day before the fall exhibition at
the Seminary. Every day Was precious to
me, moi because Of my Studies, but because
Evelyn was gong away to boardingsehool
at the end Of the term, and ! should see her
was over; fingered in the play eroand.
waiting for Evelyn TO come ont, ~that /
might watch her st q distance, rs she
passed along. Hali-a-dozen Of the Oldest
girls, and as many of the boys, were
to take part In the grand perform
rehea1sc. lad not been invited to join in
the play, though vas one Of tlc best de-
Chalmers IN The school whereas: Willie Green
had a leading part. OF course Evelyn was to
be the queen. -Sy sopl was iull Of bitter.
eat1ntcrcd toward the gate, rs If !, loo, had
been detained. Evelyn was looking splcn-
didly. That tudescribahle air Of pride, 50 be-
coming to her, was unusually visible, for she
had been cnactinc her fayorite character !;
her checks were flushed, aud her dark-bluc
they, aud, rs they passed me, Master Green,
made Gold by Tic prescaee Of the girls, con-
triycd, os If by accident, to brush against
me, then turned Ind apologized in mock
courtesy. lie WAS little too daring
that time, My answer was q blow, wAich
:nd sud something, between his teeth. about
my mother. Then the HgAt began. The girls
screamed and wrung their hands; the master
looked out Of the window and shouted to US
to stop, but we were iu no humor for obeying,
Willis wns The oldest, largest and best trained;
but was fighting my mothers battlc, and her
cause being the right one, was triumphant.
We were both severely punished, but present.
ly had Green down and beaten half sense.
less. lie had pride enough, mean and Jealous
rs he was, not to cry for mercy. But Evelyn
intcrposed In hfs behalf; she camc up and
seized me about the neck, with tears begging
~ Il / meant meant to kill him. 1 .a,a, releasing
my hold: But If you choose TO beg for
again, sir, or I'll fnish the business yct.''
/ hurried away, smauing but triumphant.
Master Green was so detaced as to be obliged
to gisc up bis part in the exhibition, How
ever, did not krow or think Of that at the
time, 1or another eycnt occurred that
m|Eaa n'Eat which drove all Lesser things from ny
lwas triumphant, but the sting o. that re-
mark about my mother still remained. It
grew sharper and sharper as hurried home,
and when I arrived there, lup. open the door
Of our little sitting room, aud Sprung IN,
was too excited to notice what otherwise
would hare alaTmel snc at once.
Ny mother was sitting in her arm chals,
leaning buck, looking strangely thin mad
spot on either cheek. Ghc had been out Of
health ell SPINNER, indeed, for year or more,
but was too inexperienced to realize the
danger which threatened her. eaw that she
looked ~, but I did not think Of it; my heart
0Nother,'' I cried, dashlng my cap to the
floor, /" I can bear It no longer! must leave
the place! I must leave you! What is this
myefery which sou do not explain even to
me: Why do people dare to speak OF you to
your own child Us they dos"
Ehc looked at me iE mute surprise, the color
rcccdinE from her face Till It was perfectly
white she pressed her hind to her side.
Does my SOD, too, doubt nc:" she almost
aNo, no, no, mother!' / cried, ainglng
myself on my knees beside her: fou know
that I do not-that would die in your de-
fence. But, alas ! am 80 unhappy!"
Unhappy ] had dared to be unhappy
about email things, and now real misery
had come upon nc. I vas sobbing, when I
heard my mother gasp. Raising my head,
saw her features conyu1scd. In less than
| three minutes she was dead. Where was all
my boyish passion, my petty struggles then
| been wasting With E hopeless disease she
J was. doubtless, very near dc2th nt TINT ter.
! rible horr in which /, bursting in upon heI
| weakness with my excitement, snapped the
hair by which the sword was suspended.
! Now that tic WIDOW Rallart WIS dead, the
J nc;glbots cndcavorcd to atoue for past IN.
! charitablercss by an extru show OF attentions
but did not think them as ought. When
| II came bedtime and my dear mother lay
composed upon her colo couch. they wished
| to compel me to 20 to bed, while some Of
| them watched with tAe dead bnt l resisted
them so stubboruly they were obliged to NJ
| low Inc 10 remain sole watcher with her
whose sole earthly friend had been.
1t may have been eleven o'clock Of that
! strange night eaanot tcll-when heard
some one weeping softly In tho room. Hook
! cd abont In vague surprise. Just inside tue
door, on little stool sat 8 snail figure In
| white frock. The light was too dim for nc
recognize the intruder for several moments
questioned Ii il were spirit. When she
| saw that noticed he., she rose mp and ctcpt
! ti1nidly toxard me- Il was Gsacie.
E; "Don't scold me, Mau,ice,'' she Eobbea.
i heard them say that you would not let them
sit with you. and 1 could not bear to think 81
your being here, 60 lonely. Yca might think
/. you had no friends. Besides, felt go bad
when lcard she-she was dead. llotcd her
indeed did. So stole away; they think
a1u IN led at home-ior I felt as Il Anuzt
stay with you.''
!! Icould not send lcr away. She drew up
the low scat md Eat by uy side. At times !
: forgot all about her, but whenever realized
! Where was, I felt her little cold lnnd
nestled in mine. Dear child not many
! olde. ones could have kept so patient, fhth'
j ful watch.
Alter the funeral prepared to 60 away.
| There was nothing to Keep me In Nardvillc,
1or Evclyn was away In a remote boa1ding
| school. Ny mother had encouraged me to
| lellc1c that had talents as an crtist, and
there was now nothing 10 withhold me from
hc course had long desired to PURSUE. !
tola1that precious little home-so dear that
every rose-trce md bunch Of violets, The