The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-08

81 don't think he viii, Day he Il bent UPON it.
a. scu said, and really think Il may be better for
"Efie. this is hardly like you. What do YOU
| need for him A good brave man, to whom syerv-
thing 10 easy. whom everybody loves ho ne Tor
c% here y'h SG ZEE; b. loves Wy Es what
Perhaps, David, he viii value these things
more when be has learned what it IL to long for
hume and rest. Any way. believe he knows
best, and will be led by wiser. tenderer hands
nsn oul S arc Is You never questioned yet his
never disappointed us yet did he?"
David turned away with Sigh, and 1 bent my
eyes upon the wet work that was to go with Erie
SO, upon bright May morning. when the early
sunshine turned the tear-drops on the flowers
into dancing. elitterng gems, silently aud tear.
lessly bade goodbye to my best loved brother,
and he Get out with David-so sad and 90 uncon.
scicus-for Portsmouth,. How 1 envied winni-
tied her passionate sobs. o. held her closely in
my arms In the rooms that. had grown suddenly
cheerless and chilling. ..I,
While our grief was fresh a. ever, David came
back with last messages for rs all. and with q
mournful look upon his face which, said to nv.
self over and over-would soon give place to the
g'aoness that was natural there but which deep.
ened and deepened day BY day, until that one day
Come. Itg a'Hl-. Ft
We had had q cheerful. loving letter from Erie,
describing brightly and amusingly his bachelor
home and strange life and David had taken 1t with
him when be rode to Upton, that be might read a
part OF 1t to Mr.. st. George and Hope on his way
home. -r.. r..r 49,.
1t was cherries October afternoon. I thought.
as drew the curtains slowly. looking down the
Gardening road, and listening for the quick tread
OF Davids horse, which knew SO well, even
far OF. .HaA ~ ~ Haas 80
Winnie, startled me at last. Listen. little
mo,her, there 10 Day; but how slowly he comes! i"
u, While the groom took his horse, I stood with
The curtain still In my hand. Winnie ran out to
meet him, and when saw his head bent so low to
Ter. as they came 10, knew he hid his face from
We dined quite merrily that evening. Often
since have wondered how we did It. David told
us Of everything at Upton, of what Mr.. st. George
said Of Erles letter, and Of other things, but not
one word OF Hope; and even Winnie asked no
ocestion Of her, she was 90 full of Ere's letter,
over which we all laughed merrily and freely and
yet hearts were sorely aching.
David Was late In joining rs In the drawing.
room, and did not look up as he came in.
May have one story before go, Day."
Winnie pleaded. 10
just the same" lF
But make new one.n
What about?" He asked It YEARLY, still
avoiding my eyes az he sat down and leaned for.
ward on his seat.
Keep to our old favorite knight, only make IL
new; make him want something he cannot get"
Twill IT kill him, then -" ~.
"No, think not"
g, But, of course, you know, Day. Shall you
make him 90 on living?r
Well, yes, he wants it. Now, what else,n
"You must tell me. Is it thing quite impos.
"Most impossible
it,n ~ SUNS W w "'ou'
About it nothing
a. Yes. And presently"
Presently, perhaps. he will grow q better
knight, and be content, and not try to win any. |
thing more"
Had he many other things,r
Very many"
Now tell me how it endedr
don't quite know yet, little one. 1 will tell
you another time.n
Seeing his weary look, I sent Winnie to bed at
once; end then, when We were alone, / sat down
upon the floor at his feet and cried bitterly. / |
could not help it-chldisb as it was-I had borne
The suspense so long. and think it is harder to
bear for others than for ones self.
He stroked my hair with something of Erle's
"Efie, little mother, l could bear il better if
you did not mind"
The gentle, pitiful words only made II worse,
md my soss overpowered me.
David. David, Is IL sorrow for you?r
al think SO, Fife but will not tell you quite
yet, you look go sorry for me.' |
Perhaps IL never will be, Day."
Yes, know 1t is coming Efie know the
happiness is not for me. will try to bear it as
nan. Ellie, do not make me weak"
The strange, far-away look in his eyes almost
frightened me. and thought, perhaps, it would
'e best 10 lead him to talk of it; so 1 asked
esitatingly, and he told me, little by little, of
low he had spoken to Hope, and how she had
bat lett him, he said, no shadow Of hope.
IL would have ended forever, / Think he !
aid, but that Mr.. st. George came in SO
nddenly. | wish it had would have buried
bese wasted years and gone out to Erler
AND did she say = did she tell you why Dsy,r
I" No she heard me patiently, and seemed
sdly, snd said she had never thought that - that
loved her so-that We were too like brother
I'D sister; and that she loved me too well to
i've me In return for mine any but perfect and |
ntire love-as she could not. Then asked her If |
be would let me try to win it. and she begged
le not to. And / asked her If there was any
De-O, you know-and she said, with her clear
yes looking full into mne There il no man In Eny.
md, David, whom Hove better, except my father,
moved towards her in my passionate eagerness
I'd was beginning last appeal, when Mr. ST.
. orge came in. but-she had motioued me away,
me. must learn to see my future now without
er; but it Is so dark /
And, David, you must try again. That is due
yourself and Hope.n
did not feel at all comfortable as to the truth
wisdom OF that speech, even then, but felt
lat II must not rest there could not see my |
right boys life grow dark, and no effort be
ACE. |
That very night wrote to Erie. Perhaps felt c
at talk with him would comfort me. Perhaps
ieit 100 restlee5 10 sleep or read. PerhapsI felt
me vague hope that that was the best step to ! I
Ike. AT any rate | wrote so and though did |
y tell all. and tried that my letter should not
hin him, told him of what had passed. It
emed 80 natural among us to tell each other '
'trything!
Then the days went on. and the year was draw. b
g to close. Though David tried to be his own
ieht self among Us, even Winnifred noticed the =
ange in him. he had lost his keen sense of 4
loyment, and we seldom heard the old light \
g OF his laugh. So we waited. and it was with
sd and heavy heart that stood with David At
e open hall door-following our old, old Gus.
Nv bile the distant bells pealed in the Christ L
rs morning, and the singers below Us sang the
4, old story which has shed its deathless glory
the Christmas tide. a
There is the star, David, waiting, as II waited a
er Bethlehem. TO lead to God.n
= Yes bat Efie, if He whose birthday we are
epipg looks down upon the earth where He has
ed, be must feel saddened. even tbere.n
David. can feel the Christmas peace floating
upon us. ~
And he came to give US life, - David said, as il
hin self.
turned TO him with a yearning in my heart.
A new, abundant life, Dsvd-a new, abundant y
~ ce
lie bent and kissed me tendery, but his face e,
so sad that a few words oanuo futo my heart :
lost reb1ke. And when thew "a ~ the -