The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-24
which waited, the bell below rang faint

which I waited, the bell. below rang faint
aly,. but still distinctly.
The pen dropped from my fngers-all
idea of my story fed. =
z 1 sped down stairs and tapped at. Mr.
GeralPs door, and opened it. He raised
his head, white, luminous excitementon5
his face.
. ssDo not come here" he cried; ago
down and let him in !: Oh, why cannot l
move %
I needed no second bidding. I ran
down and through the dark passage,
opening the house door. and letting in a
soft, white radiance of moonlight as did
so. / walked slower toward the gate, for
my heart tbrobbed very uncomfortably
/ gained an appearances of composure be-
fore undid the bolt. A tall, heavily
cloaked figure awaited the opening of the
door. l had glimpse of dark hair and
beard. He started somewhat as he saw.
me, and drew back slightly, involuntari-
ly touching his hat as he bowed. . .
aIt is o mistake, / think, I will go on,
he said, in voice of melodious respect
II do not think it is mistake | re-
piled. s.This is the house of Mr., Gerald,
but he is ill and could not come down"
.My father ILL" he. exclaimed, step.
ping in quickly, his cloak falling as he
did SO, and revealing swarthy, straight
featured face, with eyes of intense dark
ness.
He looked at me swiftly, and, though l
could not beofended at that glance, yet |
felt faint blush sweep up and subside.
"I will conduct you to him. said,
turning toward the house.
"He has wanted to see me ?" he said,
with suppressed eagerness, as we groped
through the dark passage.
"He has been very impatient" I replied.
"He is not very ill-he can't be that 2"
His voice had tone of anxious pain that
called forth response in my own heart.
Whatever this man was feltsure he was
a good son.
. "a kind Of paralysis, believe" I said.
+. We were now at Mr. Gerald's door,
"This is your fathers room" and went
up stairs, leaving him to enter. For a
long time I lay awake, hearing the mur-
mur of voices from below, but at last l
slept and dreamed constantly of vague,
distressfnl things.
It was very early when awoke, but
felt that ] must rise and dress immedi-
ately. I had hardly done SO. before Mr..
Gerald's bell rang for me. and I entered
his room to find him propped up by pill:
lows, his face radiant, his eyes shining
and fixed on his son. whossat in an easy
chair close by the bed. The fill blaze OF
the gas was upon his figure, and, though
sustained by some excitement, / saw in
that form the languor of overwhelming
fatigue; his eyes dropped wearily, his
hands hung listlessly by his side.
"Take Randolph to the north room, will
you ?" said the old man; "and you will,
be so kind as to carry him some break
fast without Maggie's knowing anything
about him. You dosnot consider it meni-
al?" he asked. almost pleadingly
"Certainly not" l replied, with the
gaze of the son upon me, and feeling a
desire to- avert my face,., though / could
not. There was something so penetra-
ting, and yet so. full OF a soft splendor in
his gaze, that he had a nameless power
over me-; while it was marked, it did not
repel:
He rose, and drew his cloak to his arm,
saying with that gay galiantry which
sounded 80 strangely in that room:
''The queen shall serve her subject; but
he could not forget,he is still a vassal."
The words, The air, the elegant man
who uttered them. III some magical way
seemed to transform. that sick maj s room
to some olden hall, some fairy place like
that where,
A thousand lustres shimmering streams,
In palaces grand saloon. -. -
And that handsome, tropical face might
well suggest a:sgolden glitterin's tink.
ling tune.p 9d.5ss. .a.s -.
I. Itook him to the rooul-a lonesome
one in the northern corner OF the house.
AS stood in the door before going, he
suddenly caught my hand, saying, with
that peculiar, low tone which is SO en-
phatic: :
s.The son more than thanks you. Ny
father may be able to speak his gratitude;
I never can.
He held my hand for second with that
light clasp which is yet sosvi5ruting and
so expressive; u touch eone remembers
after many a zfrmer grasp is storgotten.
At least, 1 did. 49,
When an hour later softly tapped at
his door with a tray on which was spread
his breakfast / received no response, but
woman-like, hated to have the break
fast spoil, and opened his door, and trod
softly in and laid it%on the table He
was lying on the lounge, his head upturn.
ed to the light, his eyes closed, and deep
breaths parting his lips. He was sleeping
the profound sleep of exhaustion. BE was
so dark and 80 motionless that he might
almost have been a bronze statue Of wea.
riness.