The Portland daily press., 1869-03-20
selected story.
From an English Magazine.l
AFTER MANY DAYS"

MelllSh had said 10 MS COUSIN, anu DI IAN
remembering how very gloomy last Yule'
tide had appeared as viewed from the solitude
of his chambers, gladly accepted Biian's
exile, if it may belso called, was entirely vol
untary. If he had accepted the invitations
that poured in, be might have passed hi,
days hunting, shooting or dining; but beine
of an ambitious turn, and having from hi;
earliest boyhood heard it asserted that ht
would ''do something" and attain some posi-
ton above the Ordinary herd, Brian had lait
down a course OF hard law-reading, to which
he had hitherto stuck honestly. Perhap.
there was not much merit due him yet; the
ploW and hrrow may have been as lascinat
ing as the outer world. He had run the
guantlet, it is true, of many of those
temptations which most easily beset man.
but he had never been in love; that
trial remained, and we shall see how
he met it; of flirting he had done his share,
possibly more than his share. Law is, we
know, at best, dry work, requiring counter
excitement now and then; and Brian, be-
Ing indolent in his amusement, took
that which was at hand. But the wo-
men with whom he fitted said he had nc
heart.
1t is written that there is a tide in The
affairs of men. This particular tide had mo-
as yet set upon the even shore of Briant
lie, but the crisis was not far of, and, as Il
most generally the way, fate came conceal
ed by the most innocent OF DISCUSSES; anC
SO it was, that being in fair way 10 become
Q. O., II nothing more, Brian, running
against his cousin, John Mellish, in the
Strand, wass summoned to meet his fate at
The Cedars," where, week before Christ
mas, we find our hero, sitting by the Squire's
young wife, but looking with all his eyes at
the young face of the wife's younger sister
Kate, and trying with all his ears to
to catch the murmur of her low soft voice
''l"lf marry that girl, or none," Brian said
to himself, as he undressed the night after bis
arrival; and SO he repeated still more pas
sioantely when, on the footman rousing him
next morning, he became conscious that
Rates gray eyes had been shining upon him
in his dreams.
The hounds meet at the kennels. sirn
said the servant; land master says you'd bet
ter be down soon, as he and Miss Kerr are
going to ride to cover"
"All right" and having luckily come pro-
vded with breeches and tops, it was not long
before he descended to the breakfast room,
where he found Kate presiding, and the
squire and couple of strangers from the
other side of the country busy in fortifying
against the changes of a long day.
"pve ordered the young chestnut for you,
Brian" said John. 81 want him shown off;
and am too heavy for the country we'll
most likely cross to-day; besides, you handle
a horse better than any man know" Then
the conversation turned upon the merits OF
the horse and the prospect of having run.
For the first ten minutes after starting Bri-
an had his hands full, and not until the
chestnut quieted down had he a fair oppor-
tunity OF looking at Kate, who like all pretty
women ETho can really ride, looked better
on horseback than anywhere else; and as
Brian watched her Frightening color, and 1.-THE
figure swaying with every motion of the
horse, the remembrance of his chambers came
up like nightmare.
What had green leaves laced with dew
laden gossamers, caroling larks and full
throated robins, to do with dusty folios and
blue lined foolscap? Brian thought it over
that night, while the picture was still fresh in
his memory, and he thought it over every
night, till, as The reader will see, the odds
against the @. G. became longer and longer.
What the riding, dancing, and games had
lett undone, the dressing up of the church
and house for Christmas day completed, and
by the time the greenery was gathered and
hung, Brian knew that 1the tide'' had set in.
and that the full waves were beating down
every obstacle in their course.
And yet he had not By word or look be-
trayed himself to Kate. He was much too
deeply in earnest to risk asking too soon. He
knew it was life OF death, SO to speak: and So
though he haunted Hates steps, people did
not see what the truth was, partly because OF
the mask he wore, and partly because OF a
very special reason which l shall explain
presently.
Chritmas was over; some guests left and
others came; so that going into the drawing
room one evening, and being rather late,
Brian found every one assembled, enjoying
that pieasantest OF all times, the cleaning
hnrrr hafn 4
near the fire, and consequently liz the light
est part of the room, and by her side a stran-
ger, not young man, but old enough to be
her father; SO Brian stood aside, content to
worship his divinity at a distance. Presently
she canght his eye, and beckoned him to her,
Introducing him to General Amberly. who
held out his hand, saying
Il nave just been telling Kate that your fa-
ther and were comrades in early days, and
saw some hard times together with the Duke
OF York. You have heard of Jessy Amber
ly?" And then, turning to Kate. he went on
"Jessy was my nickname, when Joined; /
believe In those days was considered pret-
ty boy, and, coming fresh from a mothers
care, my ways and wants were different from
those OF public school men. ! This young
gentleman's father joined the same year, and
being bigger and stronger at that time, stood
by me in more than one row.
ms latner 10 ueag, General" whispered
naIe, ner soit eyes ming.
res, my dear, know; but the memory of
good man never dies. His father was one
OF the pest OF them"
30 Brlan's heart was at rest, and what was
leit OF IL went straight to the outspoken old
suiuier WHOSE oia iasnioned courtesy and
Invailous atIentlon 10 Kate seemed, in poor
~I eyes, ene greatest charm he pos
s'sssu.
al W. usy5 aa.sr .nls, 1rians WISH Terminal
haodacba. t,a In. " W. nave ~, Aate hau q
ar dinner nor nat u s , nel.ner appeared
who had naSa m bic r,;aS esenns' Drlan,
down an hour balora " SpcaA ouI, was
inc but Kate onlv sbowad ei beaso1s m1rn-
breakfast was half over So 90 tive w W. -.
ms tho honed-for intaru;on ,J tha ml-
notb;no tor T. hnt - 49, anu .ueLe was
a. aataS o,o;,,a. ~ = us' nis lale % c1e post
strain,tforr1n.d iotto,. 4oI,; ne "Io'e manly,
s,Ta.lsnllorwaId ietter, teiilng the truth, and
In f,vo days - t ils WIZ.
fate woe seaioJ r'y oa.o' anu Diiai
st az, 5eor1.'
deenlv thar oas $500 $3.50, Miute Aate, more
ontnew ,,,o uan possiD5y zen you. tnought
". John should haya to,d ~ ~ uenelal AmDer-
understand how Il No. 'o,u YOU, anu cannot
fact is so universa JH9 i Ena never nearo tne
friends. that ne ar d,nhtod - a.nonse. my
that win. / hone enable non NV an ~
nv conduct has helned to na;n Won shn nU
your letter to the General and he h;ds M q
tell you that he feels as / do. very verv sorrg
and that as your fathers friend. Won mnsf
look upon him as a true friend.s
-Ovar and over aoa;,, pr;o,, ,o,a ga, -.