Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1869-12-25

~ FFsasis uel,haW Haa'n.

Il
THEA q EaspiRs JOYFUL sigh
nan through al iha 9 urli Icy kneW il
hUW the prisoner Woula die"
Elsie Foster set In her cosy little
parlor watching and waiting for
the the coming Of some one, and
some one very dear too. Again she
Cohsults her watch, as she has q
dozen times before during the even.
ing. A lock Of disappointment
settled on her pretty young face,
and she murmured:
"Ten o'clOCkl He'll not come to-
night. What can have detained
him? Oil | wish lie would come!
l feel so dreadiully blue tonight
really oppressed-as If something
dreadful was going to happen To
me, or some Que dear to me. Hark
that is his step, surely yes, yes!'
Aud darting through the hail, she
opened the door before his hand
had touched the bell.
AT last!" she exclaimed joy
fully.
"Have you been watching for me
little one? ! am quite late. Has
Herbert been here I"
Herbert? No, indeedl Do come
In. Your hands are so cold. Why
did you nOt'COmc hours agO5p
''Come, come! you must not
question me to closely, Elsie, or l
may have to tib q little. Where can
Herbert bel |"
II should think you would not
care much where he Is, judging by
the way you parted night before
last. should say you would care
very little whether he was on earth
or in heaven. Indeed, l felt very
uneasy | was fearful that you
would not let those unkind feelings
end then. I've felt m~iserabiy ever
since. lie is 50 very high-tempered,
and YOU"
"0hl you silly little lovet Twas
rather hasty ; | was sorry directly
after. POoriHerberti Losing you
is enough to make him feel misera-
Bile. l am sorry for him ; l wrote
him a note this morning, rather
apologizing, and asking him to meet
me tonight In my counting.room.
l have been waiting his coming all
this while. ] cannot imagine where
he is. Well, perhaps l may hear
from him tomorrow. Come, Elsie,
give me some music. Here Is 9
song I've brought you ; try It."
slight the gas, then, Harry, I've
been sitting here with only the fire
, light, endeavoring somewhat t.
while away the long hours by i'm
, agining various scenes and pictures
among the burning Goals, but
grew so awfully blue, and the pic
lures were not pleasant brigh
ones. Oh, dear l feel really misera
r bic tonight |" said Elsie, with q Wis
able shudder.
"And l feel very much oppressc,
!. TOO; | think it must be the ia
" Gather that influences US. TO /
the piano and sing a merry song
love, There is lightA now" sal
Harry Osborne, as he turned o
y the gas, and turned smiling soltl
C on his loved one.
She glanced up iuto his eyes, he
own filled with love and trust,
\ moment; then her look change
&C quickly to one OF horror, and sl
uttered an exclamation of terro
., aud pointed to his shirt bosom.
, "Blood! bloodl" she sereame,
s still pointing to tho large dark spO
d. on the otherwise spotless white
the garment.
Harry raised his hand and place
l. q finger upon the spots, when agai
]. Elsie pointed TO similar dark erin
son stains OH his wristband. az
= sic! Elsie be calm, How terribl
n nervous you are tonight sal
Harry, drawing Elsie down to
! seat beside him on the sofa. Thel
" was an anxious, puzzled look OH h
o handsome face. Placing his han
l. on his brow heremained a few mt
ments in deep thought, when Elsi
exclaimed
e elbow came that blood on 20,
IN Harry? Speak, Tell mel oh
al quick, Harry, | am so frightened
>. Il am trying to think, Elsie; q
be calmI l must have cut my fl
le ger; 1 remember taking out m
10 Knife and whiting a stick. ItwI
very sharp l might have cut nj
finger sufficiently to draw 0 dro
r or so ofbloOd and not feeIit scare,
ID ~. 1t was growing very dark
lf the Office before l left so tLeI
spots escaped my eye; yet l cam,
discover any place on my iinge
IN Possibly my nose may have bled
IN little /; let me see"
10 He put his hand in his poke
drew forth his handkerchief, az
then Elsie screamed right out
terror.
Mt "Elsiel" said Harry, sternl
A. "what do you meanI | an sati
fed now. My head has felt vel
full and hot all day, and withor
r. my being aware of It, my nose &C
tainly bled q little"
The anxious look gave place
e. one Of relief on Elsie's lovers fac
of Was II real or assumed2
"Ohl Harry, where Is Herbert
said Elsie, scarce abovea whispG
ed with still q look Of fright in h
If great brown eyes.
81 wish l knew. But he'll sho
n himself tomorrow. Pm goil
lis home, SO that you can retire. 10
% arc not well, l fear. Go right {
- pow, and get Aunt Amy TO gi'
b. you some Of her hot drinks. u
rs, are shivering and tremblingi" AL
pressing a kiss on her cold bro'