Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-12-29

invitation to spend the holidays at her fathers
magnificent residence on the Hudson river.
She had but lately returned from the old world
and was anxious, 80 she wrote, to tell me, lace
to face, Of the splendors and wonders in winch
she had been luxuriating.
After considerable debate accepted the invi-
tation. would not be dscourteous to Marion
who had been 30 true to me. For the rest,
could be as reserved and self-contained there as
my own school or my own room.
v. AT ELeIS. .rf
The coachnan met me at the station on the
Hudson River Road. My trunk and were soon
arranged in our respective places and in few
minutes moro the carriage turned into a
private drive and stopped before a stately
mansion whose many windows were apiaze with
light / had not touched the ground before the
great hall door was flung wide open, and out
fhere sailed lustrous flood bearing swiftly
toward me graceful form, while a musical voice
rang on the wintry air, crying Helen Helen
my 1ove!" In q moment more was caught ana
kissed and hurried into the hall and pushed INTO
a chair when straightway Marion descended
anew on me in perfect avalanche OF silk and
beauty and smiles and Welcomes.
II was more than could bear. For three years
I had heard no loving word, received no token OF
affection. It seemed as II an air from some un-
known world was breathing about me. My cold
heart was melted in an instant. could not
| keep back my tears.
II was not long however before controlled
myself. / was ashamed Of my weakness, but
Marion behaved with such exquisitely delicate
| tact that even my pride was soothed. did not
| feel disposed to resume my customary haughti-
ness and reserve. 1t would be time enough, l
thought, to take them up again when went back
| to my dull, hard, common life. Ihat one snore
| week, to be spent in the society OF my only
| friend, should not be marred for her by any
showing of nv selfshness. II, as 1t seemed,
was truly in a new world, where generosity ana
kindness and warm-hearted courtesy were the
/ Il - ha f1,o mn anHhn
Other guests arrived through the evening, and
the hours passed PLEASANTLY and swiftly away
Elgin seemed fairy palace where all bright things
were gathered and whence all that was Disagree
able was excluded. ''f :,
The atmosphere Of the place appeared to in
fuence all who came within it. had long
cessed to suppose It possible for 80 many agree
able people to be Cleaned from the entire world
much less from any one circle Of acquaintance
however extended.
I do not need to describe in detail our amuse-
ments and occupations during that holiday week
Necessarily music employed us good deal dur
ing the evenings, and the company were kine
/ enough to like my playing. One gentleman II
particular seemed never to weary Of it, and hi
favorite post was by the piano, turning th'
leaves of my music.
He was a leutenant-colonel of the volunteer
army, and, as learned, had done gallant serslc'
I friend Of the Morays helped make up the circle
, OF their holiday guests. ',li-.-,l
suppose ali women like all soldiers, 80 conl'
, not help liking him. He talked charmingiy
not much about himself, but great deal o
!, what he had seen and known: We we're all dc
lighted to have him fight his battles over as W
gathered in the parlors in the evenings ate
!. | dinner. And in Whatever We did It seemed pei
: fectly natural for him to take prominent, part
!. | He was not obtrnsive or arrogant, but he az
1 peared to be born leader and assumed tina
9 position involuntarily.y ge., IL, A..
\ hesitate even now to write the words l tha
| somewhere in this story must be written. bn'
: not to triHe with the truth, fell in love wit
g him, 1 did not mean to do 80, assur
a YOU. 1 did not dream of such a possibilit,
:, I supposed that my heart was ., 8
habitually guarded that ma NO such o,ts, ioohI
was true that had given the sentinels a brit
holiday, but it was perfectly understood th'
they were to resume their duties with extraord
"a nary vigilance on New Years day.
vbier iii alrais aiscoaeeiyed the direction iro
did not allow sufficiently for the contingency
A. traitors within the garrison. At any rate,
made the discovery,too late, that was hopeless
is love.
a kind to me, and had shown me no more marx:
), attention than was only natural under the q
~ cumstances in which we were placed. had !
reason to suppose that he would ever think
OF me again after we parted at the conclusion
NJ our visit.
~ found it out in very painful and humiliatll u
~ manner It was late in the week, put IN
at day very attractive young lady had JON
our party. She had been expected daily, ,
=, had been detained at home in some unft
In eseen way. Colonel Mihoy was absent
n dinner-tirne and did not come in until :
GO evening. As was at the piano expect
a. him to join me there as was his custom. 8
.. him enter the parlor, and saw sudden lig
OF flash into his face, as he moved swiftly iorwa
ok but not in my direction. with quiok mo' e
rv ment I turned my head and beheld the ne ne
:, conner, Miss Farnham, standing with radia
at ewes and smiling lips and welcoming hant
in Such manifestations of delight. could never
re made except to an ayowed and accepted low
: , or that felt assured. sCgl
rs I looked back to my piano and my music.
ny did NOT see either was looking into my
ng heart, and finding out how foolish hed ne'
~, In that instant acknowledged to myself tina
loved this man--whose affections were mamie
ire ly engaged to another. was dismayed at
nit own inconceivable rashness, utterly ashau
that without solicitation and without warran
had allowed such an emotion to take possess
- OF me.
md around me- murmur like that Of the sea
in my ears Only these words heard, spoil
with painful distinctness as it seemed 70
nb- "Oh, yesl engaged before he entered the arm.
,dy AIilroy was the only soldier present. MY
in ference was correct then. He and Miss Fa
' ham were betrothed. / had mads the one u
error Of nv life. Oh, If had only never left
self solitude. never entered that circle where l
or no real right, and where my intrusion was nov
vos bitterly puni5hed .
was came back to recollection through feel
are something tuggng at my dress / looked dc
30 and saw the bright face OF little child,
:, daughter of Marion's elder and married sis
lpie Scarcely three years old, she looked anu M ae
it'll like fairy. With family and guests she wa
IN wonderful favorite, and was often indulged '
permission to spend half hour in the pa
'ns. before she was carried off to her bed. My p
had ing had always greatly attracted her, and MAJ
or had taught her to call me AUNT Helen.'
,ere s'piay nice, Aunt Helen" she said, 81
'e NICE"
able was glad of son ling to divert my cur
=. IL m me. and played for her such merry pis-.-,
ly ilnew she liked Then / quietly romped
cate her though my heart ached DULY all the
city: and my head began to sympathize with it;
- | After a time her nurse came TO take ne
nP' had. But the child resolutely refused to II
we're me-. and in that household her will was law.
npe- last, by happy inspiration i proposed to 70
a. T company her up stairs and tell her falry st'
~ ! until she went to sleep. She consented al
dren want mn to the nursery and kept my word
ct in was an inexpressible relief to me to leave
/ ma parlors. 4. ,,.,.;o,, -, ov
o Tor that had a headache-which was true.
rosi- came up to my room to comfort me and
t,ue | remedies, but insisted on quiet and sohtuc
tbe only cure. So was left alone, to rene'
nave meditations and indulge my self-scorn to tn
'kiiiB most. ,
that / sat up long after the house wa, hushed
,,;c, at last, worn out lay down and fell asleep
main. VI. DREAMING AND WAKING.
ction Most provokingly dreamed Of the arm
rect mad gone " .itI no hnsntaIs There had be
It the great BATTLE and the wounded were being I
n brought in. How pale the poor fellows
Al what g6astly looks They came in such
hers. too, that with all the activity could ex
pro- / was unable to afford any appreciable rel
,hool. that vast crowd of suffering men. They
leeful have been unusually close to the. ei
too for their uniforms had been singed wit
'neir powder, and sitting, burning smell file
aiac- whole hospital. ,,r-
left awoke and sat up in bed. Who're was ,s
MIGHT was not all a dream for the room was file
-, smoke.
genial sprang up, to see il by my carelessness
Y. At had begun in my own apartment. No. evil
ant 10 not. opened the door, and whirl OF b
that rushed in upon me showed me thi
house was certainly on fire.
honse. l did not scream. 1t was my first i'm
in nv naturally, but restrained myself. had
" shut the door again and stood one inst
think To give a sudden alarm would b.
ly, but ductiye of panic among the women, ,
nd my rate. But rresolution might result in Il
| III hai,, ufi ua1 II, THAR hada