Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-11

In those days the mail was brought wholly by
steamboats,, and it took many days for intelli-
gence to come. But the next letter that Priscilla
had was from Henry Stevens himself. It was
hlled from first to last with praises of the Mar
guis: how he had taken Henry out of his board
fng-Place, put him In his own large room in the
st. Charles how he had nursed him With more
all; how he had sold his cargo, relieved his mind
OF care, employed the most eminent physicians,
and anticipated his every want-all this and
more, the letter told.
And the next steamboat brought Henry we'll
nigh restored, and his noble nurse. Both were
impatient to learn the decision of Priscilla; each
was sure the other was to carry off the prize.
And so they walked together, the day after
their arrival, TO the little cottage. The CONVEX
sation was begun by each OF the gentlemen ex-
pressing his conviction that her decision was
against him, and offering to retire.
Priscilla leaned her head on her hand a min
ute: Then she began: I" told you, my friends,
that thought God would decide for me. He
has. L can marry neither of you"
The two friends looked at one another in doubt
and amaZement.
-" Three sisters, four brothers, and my fathe
died of pulmonary disease. OF eight children 1
Will be childless God has decided for me. Why
decision.o
For the first time in the imperfect light, thew
noticed the flushed cheeks, and for the first
time they detected the quick breathing. 1t was
sad hour, and when they walked away the two
friends were nearer than ever, for nothing brings
souls together so much as a common sorrow.
And as day after day the two friends visited
ner In company, the public, and particularly
that part of the public which peeped out of Miss
Nancy More's windows, was not a little mys-
titled. Miss More thought girl who was draw
ing near to the solemn and awful realities of
eternal bliss should let such worldly vanities as
Markusses alOne
A singular change came over Priscilla in one
regard. As the prospect of life faded out, she
was no longer in danger of being tempted by
the title and wealth of the Marquis. She could
besure that her heart was not bribed. And
when this restraint of a conscience abnormally
sensitive was removed, 1t became every day
more and more clear to her that she loved d'En-
fremont or all whom she had ever known, he
was companion. And as he brought her
choice passages from favOrite writer's every day,
and as her mind grew with unwonted rapidity
under the influence of that strange disease
which shakes the body down while it ripens the
soul, she felt more and more that she was grow
ing out OF sympathy with all that was narrow
patty with Gods great world, and with Antoine
dEntremont who was the representative of the
world to her.
This rapidly growing gulf between his own in.
vens felt keenly. But there is one great COM
pensatiOn for soul like Henrys. Men and wo-
men Of greater gifts might outstrip. him in in
tellectuai growth. He could not add one cell to
his brain, or make the slightest change in his
temperament. But neither the Marquis nor
Priscilla could excel him in that gift of noble
ius, and which is not denied to the man of the
plainest gifts. He wrote to the Marquis
"MY DEAR FRIEND-YOu are a good and
generous friend. have read in her voice and
her eyes what the decision of Priscilla must
have been. If had not been blind, L ought to
have seen it before in the difference between us.
Now know that it will be a comfort to you to
have that noble woman die your wife. 1 doubt
not 1t will be a comfort to her. Do you think it
will be any consolation to me to have been an
obstacle in the way? l hope you do not think
M a md 10 x--il1
give me the only consolation L can have in our
common sOrrow-the feeling that have been
able to make her last days more comfortable
and your sorrow more bearable. If you refuse,
i shall always reprOach myself. HENRY"
need not tell of the discussions that ensued.
But 1t was concluded that it was best for all
three that Priscilla and the Marquis should be
married, much to the disgust of Miss Nancy
More, who thought that 'sshe'd better be sayin'
her prayers. What good would 1t do to be
March-oness and all that when she was i'm her
coffin"
wedding in prospect of death is more affect
Ing than funeral. Only Henry Stevens and
Anna Poindexter were to be present. Priscilla's
mother had completed the arrangements, blinded
by tears / think she could have dressed Pris-
ella for her coffin with less suffering The white
dress looked SO like shroud, under those sun
ken cheeks as white as the dress! Once or twice
Priscilla had drawn her mothers head to her
bosom and wept
Poor mother." she would say, $50 soon to be
alone. But Antoine will be your son."
There was one more at the wedding than was
intended. The family physician was there.
For just as the dressing of the pale bride was
completed, there came one of those sudden
break-downs to which cOnsumptive is so liza
BILE. The doctor said that there was internal
hemorrhage, and gave but a few hours of life.
When the Marquis came he was heart-broken
TO zee her lying there, so STILL SO withholding.
She took his hand. She beckoned to Anna and
Henry Stevens to stand by her, and then, with
tear-blinded eyes, the old minister married them
Tor eternity! Then the door opened, and the
ten little Sunday-sehoOl boys from abtOwn
marched in. Each of them had bouquet pro-
vided by Henry Stevens for the wedding. When
the leader of the file saw her so sick he began to
cry. She took his bouquet and kissed him.
Then the little fellow rushed out, weeping pit
eously. Each Of the others followed his exam
pie.
Feeling life ebbing. she took the hand of the
Marquis. Then, holding to the hand of d'En-
fremont, she beckoned Henry to come near. As
at the Marquis, " Henry, God bless you, my
noble-hearted friend" And as Henry turned
away, the Marquis put his arm about him, and
said gratefully, I" Henry, God 'oiH bless you"
Priscilla's nature abhOrred anything dramatic
i'm dying rather she did not thinks Of effect at
all. So she made no fine speeches. But when
she had ceased to breathe, the old preacher said,
The D. idegroom has come" And he was more
She left an envelope for Henry. What it had
in it no one bnt Henry ever knew. L have heard
him say that it was one word, which became the
key to all the happiness of his after-life Judging
from the happiness he has in his home with
Anna, his wife, it would not be hard to tell what
the word was. The last time 1 was at his house
/ noticed that their eldest child was named Pris-
ella, and that the boy who came next was An
tome. Henry told me that Priscilla left a sort
of" will'' for the Marquis. in which she asked
him to do the Christian work that she would
have liked to do. Nothing could have been wiser
il she had only sought his own happiness, for in
activity for others is the only safety for a rest
less and skeptical mind. He had made himself
the special protector of the ten little Shutdown
urchins.
Henry told me in how many ways, through
Challeau, LafOrt Il Co., the Marquis had con-
trived to contribute to his prosperity without
offending his delicacy. He found himself
possessed OF practically unlimited credit through
the guarantee which the great New Orleans
clearinghouse was always ready to give.
"What is that fine building?" L said, point
ing to picture on the wall.
30! that is the 'Hospice de Sainte Priscilla"
which Antoine has erected in Paris. People
there call it ''La Marquise.'"
'By the way" said Priscilla's mother, who
sat by, Antoine is coming to see us next month,
and is to look after his Shutdown friends when
he comes. They used to call him at first ''Pris-
cillas Frenchman'"
And to this day Miss More declares that
Markusses is a thing she can't no ways under
stand.