Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-03-16

In years TO come he fecalleu tue
oeech, and wondered whether some
range misgiving had moved him to
tier it.
Just then Frank Neville was saying
D Evelyn, $50 You did not think me
7orth an answerP'
She was passing through the throng
owards the door, and she never falter-
q or raised her head. No one knew
hat the words fell upon her with sud
len chill, like q cold hand grasping |
Ter heart. She had seen her cousin
amongst the guests, and knew that he
vas looking miserably i'll, but she had
Deen too much occupied to think about
that.
what do you mean, Frank"
80, rot much. Valentines don't re-
1uire answers in a general way; but L
think you might have given me few
words last February. However, you'll
keep my secret. No one knows it but
you, unless it is your husband. What's
the matter, Evelyn? You look as if you
didn't understand.
ST don't"
''You must have had il. / missed
the pOSb OfSAhAShtsoAu SofS AZ W N'"A~
ham, there, as L knew he would see you
the next day."
"To--my husband?"
eyes; I'll ask him"
"Frank," she said, with heavy hand
on his arm, "forget all this. Never
speak of it-for my sake"
He looked at her with a perplexed
expression of inquiry. but he saw that
she was white and Hurried, and gave up
the point.
"Well, we have always been friends
have we not? i would ask you yet foI
your good wishes as you have mine
but the doctors say there's something
amiss here" touching his chest; ''and
1 may not live to--never mindl Goo
bless you, Evelynl"
II. ITS MARK on THE YEARS TO COME.
Sir Hugh brought his wife home; anG
his hair was not gray, neither had any
prem ture wrinkles marked his face
To his servants there appeared NJ
change in him, either for better or foi
worse. he was just the same grave, 81
lent, rather deliberate master they re
membered. They did think indeed
that he was dreadfully polite TO his lady
but perhaps that was proper-befor'
servants.
Sir Hugh, taking Evelyn to the draw
ing-rooms, which he had caused to b'
altered and frightened for her, turned
and said to her, WELCOME home"
And es he said it, the memory of hi
own dreams of that home stung him 81
bitterly that he half put out his arms t.
take into them the Evelyn he had once
known. But she never saw the move
ment; and would not have needed it i
she had seen. She passed on into the
room, the brilliant light of which seem
ed to hurt Sir Hugh's eyes, for he pm
his hand over them suddenly; and for
moment he stood at the door, irresol
ute; then closed it gently, and went tt
see after his little girl.
That was natural enough they said
those gossips down stairs who were
alw :, on the watch. But why didn'
he take his new wife with him? AnC
why lid he stay with the child, hour
after hour, till none of the evening re
manned? The first evening, too? Above
all, why, when the household had re
tired, and ali was quiet, did tall, Sigh
figure, which rustled little as it pass
ed, go into the nursery and kneel dowr
beside the sleeping child and sob?
The nurse saw, for she was not asleep
as my lady fancied; and she was mo-
likely to keep it to herself, either
These and such things were puzzling
At first they formed constant source
OF whisperings and shakings of wise
heads; but gradually the gloss of new
ness wore away from them; the dull
days swept on, and something of the
grimness of the stone heads that guard
ed the sweep of steps at the hall-dool
seemed to have crept into the house.
1t was so still and silent; so monoton.
GUS. But for the small Cecilia, it would
have been unutterably dismal. But size
was a child, and had childish ways
which remained unchecked. She was
quite young enough to take very kindly
to the new mamma, who was so beau
tiful ana so good to her.
"Not like nurse said she would be-
ugly and cross" was she to her favorite
playfellow,--'but good. / think she
could have brought the little princess
to life again, as well as the fairy did
You never saw such eyes in your life as
she has got; just like the pool under
the willows, where we are not to 60
Charlie, you know; down, as If you
couldn't see the bottom; ever so deep
And she kissed me, too"
To which the boy replied, with deci'
sion, that she couldn't be fairy in that
case, for fairies never kissed anybody
it wasn't lucky, that was unless they
were wicked fairies. And it was all
very well now, but when Cecil married
him, he shouldn't allow her to kiss any
body.
BY and by, however, as Cecil grew
older, she used to wonder in her wise
little head what made her father and
mother, when they were alone, talk to
each other, if they did talk, so like
company" That was her idea of il.
She jumped up from the piano one day,
and waltZed round to the footstool at
Lady Rainham's feet, with a sudden
thought that she would find out.
''Well, said Evelyn, looking at the
pursedup lips, which evidently had a
question upon them, whats the mat
ter? is your new mHsic-lesson too
hard?"
my new music-lesson is-isa fidget-
ly crank, ," said Cecil, hesitating for an
expression strong enough; ''but it's not
that. was just wondering why you
and papa"
Sir Hugh let his book fall with
sudden noise. and went out of the room,
passing the child, but taking no notice
of her.
"Why you and papa" went on Cecil,
rehectively, '''are so odd, like grand Wis.
itors. When there's any one here /
know / have to sit still, and not tumble