The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-05-09
~COUsIN BELL"
TcoNcLUDED.7.

did not know whether Smith was
throwing out feeler, but determined
to ignore my identity, and promised
to effect the necessary introduction,
and for the rest of the voyage had to
take care of Mrs. Vigne.
After a week In London L went
down to Lynmouth, the wholesome
English July air giving new zest to
my life, and somehow or other
awakening a strong desire to be with
Bell, and fierce resentment against
the curate. which was neither molli-
fed nor explained by the sight OF the
sweet green hills of Devon, the fair
woodlands and deep lanes through
which the groom BOWED me IN the
tax cart when he drove over to meet
me at Barnstaple. any more than by
the old servants conversation; for,
after telling me of my dear fathers
last days, he launched off into family
and county gossip; and, as thought,
purposely avoided speaking of Bell, a
reticence against which | secretly
fretted, rs considering that thereby
hung a tale.s OF Milly, her goodness,
beauty, and, above all, her riding, he
seemed never tired of talking, and
when reached home the same might
be remarked of the housekeeper, un-
til, determined to bring out some
thing $50 / said, so the old
Rector has gone, too, Mrs. Clarke?"
& cay, sir, and more's the pity, for
the new one don't like this place, and
lives In London or elsewhere, but he
keeps a curate who works like six or
binary parsons, up and out, early and
late, riding and walking, till you
wonder he has bit of flesh on his
bones. He knows every man, woman,
and child in the parish, what they
want, and when it 8 the right time to
give. He and Miss Bell are thick;
and if it wasn't that [ knowed the
truth, sir, of her and you, I'd believe
what the country says; but then /
knows better, and more-they do say
he's just the same as Roman priest.
and could not marry %
All this did not tend to increase
my satisfaction, although it did awaken
a terrible, and to me an unaccounta-
Bile tumult in my mind. The more I
tried to analyze this, the more hope
lessly perplexed / became, until it.
suddenly began to dawn upon me that
perhaps, after all, i was in love with
Bell. Then came the remembrance
of her GOODNESS; the six years COL
lapsed-I read her letters over again,
and, taking my stick, went off to the
cottage. M Bell was in the drawing
room; it was too dark to see her face,
but her hand lay passive and cold as
lead In mine as we stood together,
waiting my aunt's coming.
. 1t is a sad return, Bell" I said,
and then her hand shook, but gave no
sympathetic pressure. "One expects
changes, in. six years 1 went on.
thinking of the curate, but there
are some harder to bear than. death. "
She drew her hand away and turn
ed partly round; but, before she
spoke, the door opened and Aunt
Mary came in. Dark as it was. [
could see how broken down the six:
years had left her. solosI
= My dear boy she cried, falling
on my neck, - :. began to think too
would be gone before you came home.
Why did you stay away SO long, Har-
ry?"
1 looked at Bell, she was standing
in the window, only the faint outline
Of her figure visible. She moved to-
wards us, and touched her mothers
forehead with caressing hand, say
ing - e.d,
. Don't reproach Harry tonight.
mother; let us be content that he has
come. Tell her of the war, Harry.
and how you were wounded; the
friend you got to write was not ex-
plicit, and you never explained mat
ters.' 49, aasis sss.,fF fsia n
2 She stood by the fire, leaning against
the chimney piece, and looking down
at me as sat upon low ottoman by
my aunt's chair. 5se
-. :" 1t is rather long story, aunt"
said; but the cleaning is good for
storytelling, and you won't see my
bushes. So beginning with my land
ing, l went faithfully through my ex-
periences. When l reached that part
relating to my wound, and as spoke
of Bells letter having obtained the
credit of saving my life, she walked
back to the window; and when, hav-
ing, concluded my STORY, / turned to
look tor. her. the window was open,
and Bell had disappeared.
- Even the story she might in COM
mon politeness have stayed / to
listen. to, had. it not interested her:
but before l had time to think much
OF the circumstance the door few
open and an eager voice asked
s,si'ss.W here is he, auntie? They told
me he was here 5sf.a8 &sf
1t was Milly; and as she came feel
ing her way among the chairs and ta-
bles in the dim light, +
met her, and had her in my arms be-
fore either. of us we'll knew, aud NV
arm was still round her when what
little light there had been vanished.
and Rail nnn,o. IN nv. thu windo.u'