The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-01-25

III llCI tDtS IL NiSllul tApltSololl, NlllNll
touched me deeply, for it seemed to
plead for his notice and he went away
without a word, which surely would
have been the case if cordiality and af-
fcction subsistcd between them.
I turned and gazed at Isabel, who
stood watching me attentivcly, and still
holding my hand in hers precisely as
her husband had placed it.
"Why, child, how beautiful you have
grownw l said, involuntary; "and
how stately stands the queen Of this
fair demcnsne! What not word or
Il kiss for the old aunt-mother ?" In n
moment her lovely arms were round
my neck, ana she was showcring kisses
upon me. Twas affected by the convul-
sive pressure of her embrace, and the
spcechlessness of her emotion, and |
tried to release myself playlully.-
" Just as Of old, reckless of tinery !" l
said. Alas! for my new cloak and
bonnet. Take me up stairs, my dear,
and show me the children" There
upon, suddenly composed, she drew out
from behind her, with a charming gcs-
ture, a pretty snow-drop of Il child, who
had been clinging so timidly to her
dress, amid the ample folds of which
she had hitherto been cflectually con-
cealed.
Here is one of my darlings: Lilly /
call her, because she is so white. The
other is asleep. But come; l keep you
standing; we will show Aunt Sarah
her ROOM" She caught up the child in
her arms-lithc and tall, the weight
seemed of no account TO hcr-and pre-
ccdcd me up stairs with such firm yet
light step that l followed her move.
mcnts with admiration. How the prom
isc of the girl had fulfilled itself in the
woman! She had alwas been exquisite
ly pretty, but her beauty seemed to me
to have Il higher character now. She
had quite recovered her composurc
and, staying with me while l dressed
for dinner, asked me a hundred qucs.
tions concerning her old home and fam
ily. l could see she was afraid of my
taking the initiative, but l had no idea
of being 80 premature.
The reader of an old woman'S story
will readily excuse all supcriluous de
tail. | must not describe triilCS witt
the minutcncss Of Il three volume novel
Suffice it, all around me proved tha
wealth and good taste had combined
to give my Isabel a home that shoulC
have been an elysium; and that before
the first dinner-hOur was over, | wa
convinced that Mr.. Lorimer had sur
vivcd his love for his wife, and regard
ed her no longer but rs an elegant ap-
pcndagc to his house and table, | saw
too, that Isabel was miserable bcncatl
her cold and Indifferent dcmcanor lgooC
Heavens. how every trace of the i'm
pulsivc, seli-conident girl seemed van
ishedD but the cause of the husband
coldncss and the wife's disappointment
| could not guess. With whom lay th
blame? We were not alone at the table
lOllI'l llltll .ilSs ' ~ Iva illlNl
only sister, was guest as well as my
self This lady did not please me Il
all /; her manners We're at once haught,
and careless, and it almost seemed It
me that her attentive solicitudc for he
brother, to whom all her conversation
was addressed, and her measured civil
ties to Isabel, there was Il lurking insul
to the latter which must incvitabl,
make itself felt. Mr.. Lorimer himsel
was an admirable host, so kind, AM
skilful in his kindness, that even |
prcdisposCd to nervous shyncss of him
soon felt ut case. Nor must it be SUP
posed that there was any failure Of out
ward respect toward his wife; he neve
avoided addressing her, or referring
her opinion, whenever it was natura
to do so; but ii was the avcrted or chill
ling look, the tones untouched by al
accent of tenderness, from which l drcN
my conclusions. How different iron
the wedding morning thought | ny
one part Of the prophecy was fulfilled
the hot love was cold enough now.
/ was very glad when dinner wa
over, and we rose to retire to the draw
ing-rom, and still more so when Mr.
Vivian announced that she was undo
the painful necessity Of leaving Us 70
an hour or so, to make arrangement
for her departure on the morrow.
was very anxious now to qucstio
Isabel, but | found such was not he
present intention.
" Let us go TO the nursery" she sale
81 always see the babies put to bed"
However, when we reached the nul
sury, we found the children asleep, fc
dinner had been later ON my 0ccoun
and the nurse was rigorous about cN
tinguishing them mt the appointed hou
| had feared Isabel would have been
careless mother; but rs | watched ht
leaning over her babes, the tear gatl
cring in her eyes n she gazed mt then
, / felt ashamed Of my Involuntary inJu
ticc, The baby lay in her baSsinet-
, which was in that state of high toilt
common nowadays to those charmin
reccptacles-with lis cherub face ilusl
ed in healthy sleep, and one fat, ros
fist pushed against the tiny moutl
| Lilly, in.her little white bed, pale an
| motionlcss, looked like some lovel
= piece of monumental sculpture. 1 sa
= some deep passionate feeling was wei
ing up in Isabcrs heart rs she stood
, her side, and presently turning fro
e her, she dismissed the servants dow
stairs, saying to me, in forced tone