The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-04
Love strou ger than Dea,h.p


out, old wounds healed, brothers become boys
again, and the battle of life, with all its newt
able shortcomings. is forgotten. The hearth round
which we clustered at mothers knee, Is an altar
upon which every worldly mistake il sacrificed;
and if we miss some dear face from the gathering,
we feel that, even on earth we have had q fore.
taste of the eternal home to which we are hasten
& s IS yss Sy the 0a
our forefathers sleep, finds US kneeng even to
the third and fourth generation. But, though we
miss face sometimes, we also eften welcome a
new one. And at the Christmas time of which |
am going to write, brother, after twenty years
of exile, had come back to Us, bringing with him
his only child. Ina was half Spaniard, and the
prettest girl ever saw; her uncommon beauty,
for she was utt eTy unlike any of the girls and her
quaint ways took our hearts by storm at once,
and completely subdued that of Mark Amberly
Now, though Mark was not, strictly speaking, a
relation. be was sisters stepson. and admitted,
first for her sake was speedily loved for his wn.
A ldier, and the son Of soldier, Mark had won
honors which, In our out-of.the. world country es.
tsblished him hero at once, and verify believe
the dear lad was half ashamed of his Y. c., so
deep and earnest was the worship with which we
favored it. go
Mark was always at Ina's side; so we ali saw
how it would be, and the love making gave a new
charm to the gathering. Christmas-e eve came; the
church had been decorated, the guisers Ne feast.
ed, the Christmas tree dismantled, and, tired of
dancing SIR Roger" we all grouped about in the
dning-room waiting for midnight, when, accord.
ing 10 an old custom, the devils knell " was
tolled at the church, and the Squire dispensed
cakes and muled ale to all those who came to
wish him and his merry Christmas. My brother
stood upon the hearth watch in hand; presently
the time.keeper thrust into his pocket, and he
crossed the room. There was general hush.
Laughing faces grew grave. Lips quivered and
eyes filed, for in the silence memory woke up;
and the ghosts Of the past came trooping by, some
laughing. some weeping. until it was hard TO know
whether old Christmas was time for mirth or
sadness.
"Clsng clsng clangl 4" came the bells, aud
hundred voices smote the frosty air, singing the
old carroll
God merry, gentlemen, LET nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour was born Christ day."
The children crowded to the bay window, and
turning to another found 1t ALREADY occupied.
marx and Ina stood there; he was whispering in
her ear, and half hid by shawl, I saw his arm
round her.
AS sat BY my bedroom fire an hour after,
ght TAP a. Il The be- door 9%g TH sb, 5s, oss
ripples over a blue dressing gown.
May / come and warm myself, Aunty!" she
said; the fire has gone out in my room. and am
verify the assertion, though the warm face she
pressed TO mine rather contradicted her words.
Then, nesting down upon the hearth rug, she
clssped her hands round her knees. Presently
she said, wit,out turning round: " You like Mark
Amberly. Aunty:" acquiesced, and she went
on" so do |. and isn't it funny, he ssyshe likes
me. and ~
Then suddenly she was kneeng by me- and
under cloud of hair, and amidst a shower OF
kisses, i was listening to her secret, how Mark
had asked her TO be his wife, but how he had first
settled il all with his father and hers that he was
TO go to India until he got bis promotion, when be
might leave the army and marry her.
Next day the party broke up. Some to their
own homes to receive guests, some to join other
parties. Mark went to india in February; and
during the year, although heard constantly of or
L. -
Christmas came again, and saw her at the hall,
| was struck with an alteration; what could
hardly tell. She had grown handsomer. Every
one saw and said that. and yet no one limited at
up to me, and looked at me with her great, gray,
wstful eyes, my heart chilled, and chill could
not define came over me.
Nor was my anxiety lessened when, as we were
talking Of Mark, Ina began to cry passionately,
and rushed out OF the room. There was some
thing wrong, and missing her that evening from
the drs wing room, went to look for her. Open
ing the morning-room door | saw Ina. She was
sitting at the window, but not alone-a man was
beside her, bending fondly over her. There was
no ebt save that of the moon. so did not recog
Dize him, nor did tarry to make the attempt; to
tell the truth was indignant with her, and closing
the door with bang marched of to the drawing
room. People were seated here, there and every.
where, so l could not make out who it was that
was with Ina though ! tried hard that night and
the next day TO discover who had made my pet so
miserable. We were all busy that day, Ina as
hard at work as any of us but when midnight
came, with its bell ringing and carol singing,
missed her, and with feeling / could neither
Withstand nor explain, went TO the little room.
There she was This time heswindow was open,
and the man, for he was there too, was standing
by her, his arm around her. heard her murmur
something in sobbing voice. and saw her lift
her hands above her head and wiring them. Then,
traitor as she was could play the eavesdropper
no longer, but hurried away, and when got to
and cried of course It was foolish what
had |, an old maiden aunt, to do with the per-
jured faith of heartless girl, or the broken
heart of too easily duped lover? AS sat there
before the dying FIRE, with the still wet upon
my face, became conscious of a sound resemb-
ling waves breaking, listened; the waves beat
grew louder, could hear them distinctly, and so
too could ! hear the wind and storm bowling
louder and louder; it broke against the windows
of my room, nay, in the very room itself. l shud
dered as the blast passed over me; felt the cold
spray dashing in my face, and grasped the chair
as tried to shriek, to cover my ears, and hide my
eyes in the pillow, butt vain. | had no choice |
but to look upon the stormy sea where ship lay
tossing helpessly. Issw the spars washed over
board. saw men struggling in the pitiless waves +;
the faces and the streaming hair of women, and
once the white face of little child. Then the
darkness became so intense that only when the
lightning flashed could distinguish the wreck,
although the thunder of the tempest was curdling
my blood. Suddenly the winds and waters ceased
their war, and there came calm 80 deep that
heard every throb Of my heart and as sat won
derng what was coming, gentle wind rustled
past me, band touched my face: and Mark
Amberly's voice cried Comfort Ina y
After that seemed 10 faint; for when recov-
cred consciousness the fire and candles were out,
and the dull, gray morning was shining into the
room. Gradually began to collect my thoughts,
and as undressed and crept into bed, feeling Of
horror settled down upon me. / had never been
believer in the supernatural, and now tried hard
TO convince myself that had been dreaming. I
was determined to treat II as dream, and, laugh
ing at my folly, persisienuy kept down my fears,
leaving next day without saying word TO Ins.
Our parting was q cold one for my heart was full
and knew that the slightest demonstration on
my parting would overturn my sslf-control and
give my sensible resolutions to the winds, etc.
With cold kiss and muttered You'll write, Of
course" we parted.
fortnight after saw Marks promotion in the
Gazette. and the following post brought me a let
ter from Ina. MARX" she said, =" had left India,
coming home round the Cape 10 shake off the
elects Of q slight attack Of fever. az
The letter fell from my hand. l saw II all now
and the cold drops stood upon my forehead as