The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-31
THOMAS SPARROW,
Attorney and Counsellor.


Are they well?" she asked in tremulous
voice.
Perfectly" said Sparrow; "I left them yes.
| terdsy about to sail down the harbor to meet a
| vessel coming in from Calcutta. They must have
| returned before midnight, for the Halcyon is
| here"
SIS here ~ said the lady starting. "I beg you,
without delay, conduct me to Msjor and Miss Lor.
| ing's hotel"
Here's your carriage. ma'am." said the bag
] gage man, returning quite out Of breath.
Madam, said Sparrow, bowing most respect
fully, we lawyers are curious. May be per-
/ mitted, as friend Of Major Loring's, to ask a
single question; to ask II you arer-
His wife, SIR" replied Mrs. Lorng, $50 long
stored to him.
Sparrow, no longer in cautious doubt. fairly
danced with glee. "Why, my dear madam, | can.
not express my happiness. When left your snx.
ious husband and daughter yesterday they knew
not whether to rejoice in hope or be patient in
tribulstion. Imagine their suspense. They knew
that survivors of the ship on which you all were
wrecked, were coming by the Halcyon. They
knew nothing more, and 'twixt hope and doubt
they sailed down to meet the expected vessel.
But what must have been their agony of dissp.
pointment. You arrive by the train. Pm puzzled.
MAIDEN, I'm puzzled In the midst of my happi-
ness.n
al was transferred at sea from the Hacyon to
New York bound steamer which reached there
yesterday" said Mrs. Loring, the tears coming into
you. sir, do not detain me longer from them. The
carriage Is waiting"
Sparrow saw her to the carriage door. al would
that 1t were In my power to persuade you, madame,
to defer the reunion until shall have paved the
way by an interview with your husband and
daughter. / an spprehensve that, disappointed
as they must be by the events OF yesterday, the
sudden revulsion of feeling certain to ensue from
your entrance unsnnounced might be of serious
injury 10 both you and your neutrality-suspicious.
even to our dear old major himself-schooled as
he is to self-control."
" This had not occurred to me,n she said, " but
what do you propose, sir?"
=" That my wife, Mrs. Sparrow, who, yesterday,
by the way, met your husband. be, for a few
hours. your hostess, while / meanwhile, go and
break the news"
She looked closely into his face-trave and so.
cety, and reading, had combined to make her a
pbysiognomist-sne judged the little man Alright,
when she read in his good nstured countensnce
when he made the proposition, nothing but the
promptiDgs of kindly heart.
You are very generous and consderate, SIR"
she replied, % let IT be as you say; but you can
Imagine the struggle which the delayed reunion
costs me-"
"The down train leaves at ten O'Clock, this
morning. papa" said Kate, sitting by their hotel
paror window with the paper In her hand. We
have little time 10 lose. See, it is nine, already"
The room was Invested of that CHEEKY, home
like aspect which Kate, after unpscklng the
trunks, had given it on the previous day. Ii had
resumed the appearance it had presented when
they first entered 1t yesterday morning, and near
the doorway the trunks were strapped and ready
for the expressman.
1--WE must not mics II under any circumstances,
papa" Kate continued. Did you send the dis
patch TO Uncle Matt!
Just as you wrote it. DEAR" be answered. al
DO believe have lost my selfpossession for once,
Kate. Where is my cigar-case?"
Rat-tat tat. There came lively rap on the
door, and sparrow's face, roster than its wont,
was thrust 10. GOOD morning, good morning.
said he" why. what's the meaning of these
trunks, Loringg Are they yours, or did they
come on the HslcyonYr
Tom" said the major. 90 we are off post haste
for New York by this mornings train. This dear
girls mother, my wife, is saved-is. even now
without doubt, awaiting usthere. / have sent
dispatch that we are coming at once"
Sparrow, for once, feigned delight and surprise.
but whisiled in his sleeve at the dilemma. And
how did you learn this" he asked.
" The captain of the Halcyon told u.s." said
Kate. He has been here this morning TO tell rs
all about mamma. She was transferred al sea to
New York bound steamer"
Sparrow was nonplussed. The train goes at
ten, be said; you've got plenty of time TO stop
and say goodbye TO Mrs. Sparrow on your way to
the depot. In your suspense and anxiety, that
will be an excellent plan for killing off the inter-
vening three quarters Of an hour-what say you ?n
"Yes, papa" said Kate. Mr.. Sparrow mas been
60 kind and attentive that
mo, no-not ], said Sparrow. "Come-T
want my wife to, at least, have an opportunity of
seeing you, Miss Kate, before your unexpected
ly sudden departure"
The major, scquiescing in his daughters re-
quest, the carriage was called. When the bag
gaee'man came in, Sparrow slipped quarter in
his hand and whispered, "Don't mention thstlady
at the depot" The fellow knew his business and
kept still.
Through the shaded streets they drove rapidly
TO SparrOw's house. AS they neared il, the little
man felt that he must give his companions an ink
ling OF what was to come:
Loring," said he, " I'd be willing to wager a
basket Of Green Seal that you won't catch that
train 4"
ave haven't much time to lose, Know said
the major" wen just wish Mrs. Sparrow good
morning and be obliged to make our adieus in
the same breath. The train must not be missed"
"Pd wager another basket of Clicquot that II
the train came In an hour behind time you
wonld Mt catch it" continued Sparrow with mis-.
chieyous look In his eye and smile lurking about
bis lips, as be looked from Kate TO her father as
if TO detect suspicion of his intent
Kate, with a woman's instinct, did suspect.
g don't understand what you can foresee to de-
tain u.s." she said quickly.
" Something" he said, still mischievously, still
srchly smiling.
" Tom, you are as inveterate Joker as ever
you were, see." said the major an be bound
q pun is coming"
"No-DO pun this time, Loring; better than
"Who!" they both asked in a breath.
Cant you imagine he asked.
=, 1t can't be poss-oh! papa, papa-see
there-there at the window" cried KATE, clap.
ping her hands and pointing toward the house
before which the carriage bad stopped" oh,
dear, darling mamma! yes, we're contingencies,
driver-quick, plesse.~
glance suficed the grsy-bsred major In il
be saw the dear face he had believed he would
never look upon again in 1t be saw, full of love,
fearful eyes gszing foDdly into bis.
Coming, dear wife, coming" be said, as she |
FASTENED to meet him.
All was ended now-the hone and the fear and |
the anguish,
All the aching of heart, the restless, unsatisded
longing.
All the duI, deep pain and constant anguish Of
patience;
And in another moment their outstretched arms
we're locked about each others necks, and two
owing; trusting souls reposed upon the dear old
oloier's bosom, two fond faces looked tearfully
N 1nfa -