The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-03
A SISTERS STORY.
CONCLUDED

That very night J. wrote TO Erie.
Perhaps [ felt that talk with him
would comfort me- Perhaps | felt
too restless to sleep or read. Per-
haps felt some vague hope that that
was the best step to take. At any
rate [ wrote SO; and though | did not
tell him all, and tried that my letter
should not pain him, I told him OF
wha. had passed. It seemed so natural
among us to tell each other every
thingl
Then the days went on, and
the year was drawing to a close
Though David tried to be his
own bright self among US, even
Winnifred noticed the change in
him. He had lost his keen sense of
nj)yment, and we seldom heard the
old light ring of his laugh. So we
waited, and it was with a sad and
heavy heart that l stood with David
at the oDen hall door-following our
old, old custom-While the distant
bells pealed In the Christmas morn
ing, and the singers below US sang
the old. old story, which has shed
lis deathless glory on the Christmas
tide.
"There is the star, David, waiting,
as it waited over Bethlehem, to lead
Yes; but, Efie, if He whose birth
day we are keeping looks down upon
the earth where he has lived, he must
feel saddened, even there"
David [ can feel the Christmas
peace floating 10 upon US"
And he came to give us life, !"
David said, as if to himself.
turned to him with yearning in
my heart.
"A new, abundant life, DAVID
new, abundant lite"
He bent and kissed me tenderly,
but his face was so sad. that few
words came into my heart almost as a
rebuke. And when they saw the
star, they reioiced with exceeding
great joyw We were not doing so as
we closed the door with the Christ
mas in our home.
Winnie, what a good thing the
Christmas morning service is: feel
a.perft ct longing for it to-day"
Il always makes US feel better
doesn't it, Day?" she asked, with
childish earnestness.
: Yes"
1t did. and we came home with a
new brightness round US, like glory
from the grand old Christmas mess
age.
Efie, here is the Oakley carriage. +"
David heard, and | saw his height
ened color as he moved to meet
them.
They came, they said, to fetch us
all, and to bring their Christmas
greeting; aud though they gave it
lightly and lovingly, [ noticed Hopes
face was very pale, aud her eyes rest
less and wandering.
viii leave Hope" Mr. St George
said at last, while | go on and leave
her presents with the Rectory child
rem. Winnie, will you come aud see
them?'
Winnie went gladly, and we three
were left, as we so often used to be,
as we so seldom were then. Tie
carriage had hardly driven off,
when Hope sat down on a low
scat before me, which was turned
away from David, and took a letter
from her pocket. Her voice was very
calm, very quiet.
Il had a letter from Erie this
morning, and he enclosed this for you,
Ellie"
Now this was such an odd thing for
Erie to do. that [ looked up with
quick, sudden surprise, which Hope
must have misintergreted, for the
crimson rushed to her face in a mo
ment. Chen-never glancing at David
Il laughed a little forced laugh.
Il trust yours is longer than this,
Hope;" cut L neld it as if it were very
precious to me all the same. l saw
sharp look of pain pass over her face !;
but it was hidden from David, and
her voice was unchanged.
will tell you of mine first, please
| think be writes to me because he
knows that it is to tell something that
will make you sorry; aud he thinks it
will be better told by me, because, he
says you are fond of me, and" she
made little pause, and seemed to
draw in her breath before she went on.
He has decided not to come home
any more; he loves that country bet
ter than his own. He has quite de-
cided not to return; he is very happy
there, he says, and he has-formed a
tie-so close and loving In that new
land that his life can be no more lonely.
He saws he leaves his sisters with one
who can we'll take his place. and he
trusts to NE to tell them, because
he always felt as if were his sister
and [ ought to have told you differ
ently-but [ could not. That is all. "
David had risen as she repeated
these words, and had come round
where he could see her face. He
asked one breathless, wondering
question: Did Erie write this?'
And when she nodded, and made as
If she would pass her letter to him,
he turned away. / felt as if in a
dream when [ opened mine; there
were only three lines, except the
words of love. at the end
DEAR LITTLE EFFIE :-Hope will
bring you this, and will tell you OF
my resolution. | have my own home
now, and cannot leave it. God bless
you all!'
Holding the lie tier tightly in my
hand. [ left the room. | did not
mind what Hope thought. She would
know what this was to me, and | must
be alone. [ don't know how the time
passed; Winnie disturbed me at
last, coming to tell me the car
riags was waiting. L went down,
calmly, knowing il was best
that we should go, and when Mr..
st. George spoke so easily and natu-
rally of Erle's decision-of his at
tachmeut to foreign lands, and of his
finding wife there-the dreamy un-
reality of our misery melted away,
and I began to wonder and doubt,
with q strange mixture of happiness
and pain.
The evening was pleasant, if not
very cheerful, and when, at last, we
rnnnd the snow was falling heavily