The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-03-12

ter, we saw father and mother go out to-
gether in the sunset. They were not q very
demonstratve couple usually, though we
knew that their love was deep and true. But
now they went hand in hand clinging to
each other the more the sorer trouble press
ed them. We could see tLem going slowly
over the same round that l had taken before
lingering little in each well-known we'll
loved spot. l had been thinking it so hard
for me to part with Ingeside; but now felt
ashamed that had thought of myself at all,
when 1 realized how much more bitter it was
for them, / looked up at Marcia. Her tears
were falling fast, and she was wringng her
hands with passionate gesture.
"Oh, Theo!" she cried, 'ever since James
died have longed so to lie down in his low
grave beside him; bnt never wanted to so
much as now. How can l bear to see them
leave their homer And then she bowed her
head on the wlndow-ledge, as if she had for
gotten my presence, and walled out, "Oh,
why didn't you take me with you, my Lowell
my love!'
l had not understood my sister hitherto
had not known how intense her quiet-seeming
nature was. This trouble, so hard TO bear,
was revealing us to each other. [ tried to
comfort her, and talked to ber again of my
new plan till she grew feverish in her excite
ment about it.
''lf you could only succeed she said, "we
WOULD pay them off. | would not die till the
old home was clear"
After while father and mother came in,
and talked about it to them. Father
smiled pensively. He had face which those
who loved him less than we did might have
called week; but there was womanish
sweetness and tenderness in it-a womanish
dependency, too, just then.
81 don't think it will Go any good, Theo,'
he said; "still you may go. Its no harm to
try; only think luck's against us. >
Yet thought the plan chcered him little
it was something to speculate over, vain as
it seemed. | knew he would have just lit
tie giimmer of hope until should come back
with my sentence Of yea or nay.
| tried hard to sleep that night--loss of
rest always told on me- | wanted to look my
best next dag. WAS pretty, and confess
trusted to that as much as any thing in the
impression | hoped TO make. But my slum-
bers were troubled. ] kept dreaming about
going away from lngleside. / don't know
how many times | lived the parting scene
over that night, watched my mothers grief
my fathers pitiful dispair, Marcias self:re.
proach for what was not in the last her fault
Once dreamed that she killed herself; and
when thc time came TO 20 we found her lay
ing cold and stark, deaf to the voices which
called her. From that dream | awoke, shak-
ing with anguish terror. | stole out OF bed,
aud across the passage to her room-lor we
did not sleep together, as sisters usually do
in the country. | was afraid to go to her in
the darkness, the impression of my dream
was so strong upon me; so | stood in the
door and called her name softly -"Marcia.
"leS. Theo.'
"I ou are awake, it seems. May l come
in and stay with you? L am so lonesome, and
l dream such miserable things"
Yes, come. You won't disturb lne;' and
she made room for me. and | crppt IL close
to her, aud lay there till morning. She did
not talk to me at all; but though | drowsed
n little had Il consciousness all the time
that she was awake, alert, suffering.
At last morning came. ! looked somewhat
pale from my restless night, but dressed my
self for my journey as bccomingly as could
and tried to have faith IL myself and the sue
cess Of my mission.
1t was only an hours carridp, and then l
found my way to the Office of Hope and
Goodell. 1t was ten o'clock-I thought l
should see them before the busiest part of
their day. | knocked on the door where their
names were paIuted, and lack boy, with
light straight hair, and quill behind his
large, pale ear, opened it. 1 noticed, with
that curouay minute observation which
sometimes seems SO ludicrous in great crisis,
how large the checks Of his pantaloons were;
and wondered whether such fashion was
characteristic Of lack boys, or Of the legal
profession, asked if could see Mr.. Hope
or Mr. Goodell Mr. Goodell was out, he
SAID, but could see Mr. Hope, if / would
wait q few momeGts. Then he asked my
name, and gave him card with it written
on it-"Miss Theodore Hall of Bylands"-
and then | followed him into an antl-roOm,
and sat down to wait. A number of men
passed in and out, each one bestowing on me
an Inqusitive stare; and at last, after per-
haps half an hour, was told that Mr. Hope
was at liberty and the lank youth conducted
me into his private Office.
Mr. Hope looked at me before he spoke,
and looked at him. l saw in him a canny
Scotchman, not handsome or elegant, but
with something about him which pleased me
at the very first. He had a broad open fore
head, without overmuch idealty, but full OF
sense aud strength; straight, resolute nose;
rather high cheek bones; clear, light-blue
eyes; sandy beard aud hair; and lips that
knew how to close firmly over their own Sc
crets. | do not think most girls of eighteen
would have liked him; but did rather
Perhaps he preceived it in my face, for he
smied-a bright, heartsome smile, that for
the moment changed his whole expression
"Mr Caleb Halls daughter, l presumed"
"Yes, Sir" and then hesitated how to
begin my errand
lie preceved my embarrassment, and asked
me- very kindly, to sit down aud speak to
him at my leasure. lie had an hour to spare
before it would be necessary for him to be in
court.
So began my story-though, after all, |
had not much to tell-what we considered
the farm worth, the circumstances of my
fathers indorsing for james Harris, and how
sure we were that we could pay it all up,
with interest, in a very few years. These
were the chief points, though | said little
about what it would be TO all of US, and
most especially to father and mother, to leave
the dear old home. | don't know but my voice
tram hlad. hut | kent nv tesrs hack for the