Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-08

A"ion iioih Oaul Hamilton Wade
forgot the difference in their stations
then. No man or woman ever played
the "Dead March" like that, who had
not suffered and struggled, perhaps
tainted in the way.
| Exclamatious of SUI prise dropped on
every side when the music had ceased,
and the skillful fingers toyed nervously
with the curtains tassels Only Ham
ilton Wade stood silent in the back.
ground. 49,
"Have you no word of praise for my
cousins music p asked Celia Endivor,
turning to the clergyman.
| Mott Gregory had not bestowed a
thought on his opinion. Nowsh turn
ed eagerly to catch his answer.
"Miss Gregory plays brilliantly, )" was
the reply "To my ears she fails in
the. execution of the Dead March. ;
however. It's spirit is all wrong She
makes it death with no hope of better
life. She makes it defeat, and it should
be victory .--.--..faa'i a@ s' s.1
Mott Gregory colored and turned
away. 81 understand your parlor- dis
tlnctlons even less than your pulpit
theories. i~i .ar. p
Hamilton Wade, seeing that sudden
color, and noting the shrinking of the
proud form, was reminded of the differ
ence between them. And yet proudly
he said, because it was the truth, and he
had a right to say it:
GA woman who renders SO truthfully
the agony of defeat should above all
other women understand the glory of
victory"
Their eyes met and wandered away.
and Mott crossed over to her cousin,
Mrs. Endivor, standing in the shadow
with the lines about her mouth rigid,
and her eyes full of pain
"Has Celia been stinging again ?"
whispered Mrs Endivor.
"No," was the answer. ri am wound.
ed this time almost to the death by her
companion. Good night. l can't al
low the enemy to see my weakness"
"Defeat! defeat!' murmured the
young girl, treading the long staircase.
Life has been little else since learned
to doubt mankind, and God, and heav-
en-. Shall [ ever know what victory is p
Mrs. Endivor crossed to Hamilton
Wade, looking over the lawn with bit
terness on his face she had never seen
before. That look checked her. All
her anger turned to pity. He was
wounded, too. ..'
"Mott has suffered keenly," said Mrs.
Endivor, gently. ''By the most bitter
experience woman ever knows she has
learned that her wealth and station can
not guard her against unfaithful friends.
She leaned upon reed once that broke
and pierced her. l hoped you would
do her good, but you misunderstood
each other and always have"
"Aud always will" answered Ham
ilton Wade, with the bitterness in his
tone that sat upon his face. To himself
he thought:
"She will know what victory is A
soul like hers will rise out of the smoke
and din of battle, and trample under
fooS the powers that vex her now; but
it will be nothing to me. She has Civ.
en- me a text for my i fe sermon to- nj ght
Parlor-distiuctions and my pulpit-sphere
will ever keep us far asunder'
Blame him not, ye who sometimes
falter in climbing heavenward heights
if in the moments of his weakness there
came regrets for consecrated life and
holy VOWS. For briel night only did
he faint beneath life's burden. On the
morrow he took it up, shouting "Vic-
tory"
1t came again, the struggle and the
victory, and that was when Mott Greg
ory's trunks were strapped and she was
going away. Hamilton Wade looked
at the closed piano, the silent library,
the porch where she had sat and he had
watched her, the walks where she had
strolled and he had waited for her, and
then he knew fully, for the first time,
brightness of the day by the darkness
of the coming night.
She had almost gone without saying
adieu to Hamilton Wade, when he
stepped forward. Il II s.g,s -
"Let me wish you happiness, he
said, taking her hand. 'a' la
Her eyes sought his with the old de-
fance. He knew she was miserable.
He had seen it as no other living eye
saw it. Why did he wish her that ?
The look she met made her eyes droop
with shame No man ever wore that
look who was quite happy. In spite of
all his cries of victory dim PRESENT.
ment stole in Mott Gregory's mind that
in something this man had suffered de-
feat. She spoke more kindly than was
her wont. a4sea r-. '.
"Thank you. I will remember the
wish though | miss the happiness s
Hamilton Wade forgot the difference
iu their stations again. oa =
-"God bless youi" he said, as fervent-
| ly as though some spirit hand hadswept
away the barriers between them.
Motifs hand swept suddenly across
her brow recalled him. The jewel that
] flashed from her finger represented the
worth of all his living. How could she
dwell among his people and comfort
them in all their griefs and poverty !?
and this was what his heart demanded
now. --.s.., ,s....s e..,s -. ,......t.
Goodbye" be said abruptly. .sas .
"Good- bye" ,l.s. :.
! And Mott Gregory was leaning back