Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-08-05

bound in iron chains at the hand
some brunette's feet.
She threw up hands with a de-
precating gesture, and then her face
settled into white, uncomplaining
pallor.
| "0h, Mrs. Agnell, you are very
cruel TO me; but God is over US alb
That was all she said, as she went
slowly away towards the school
room, with the strange mechanical
motion one walking in her sleep.
How long the short December day
seemed! How slowly the tiny hands
of the school room clock moved over
their dial, Juliet could almost have
declared that they stood absolutely
still.
'.Are yon i'll, Miss Elmer?" ques-
toned little Nina Angel, looking up
as the governess stopped over the
french exercise book, '.your hands
are so hot.r
'T'll? yes; | am heart sicki' said
Juliet, almost iinvoluntarily; then
recollecting herself, she pressed her
lips TO the child's fresh cheek, mur-
muring, Dear little Nina, may this
trial never come to you"
Nina returned the kiss with warm
| 4ACCAAQEs kJllC was 4OiA0
of the pale, gentle governess, who
was so different from her brilliant
mamma.
1t was qaite dark at five, the hour
at which Miss Elmer was released
from her sehool-room bondage; and
her hand trembled with nervous ag-
itation as she hurriedly assumed
her shabby outer garments, Nor
was the weather out of doors at all
reassuming TO her state 81 mind.
The snow had turned to dull, driv
ing sleet, the pavements werc as
slippery as glass, anu the keen wind
pennrtrated her thin wrapping with
its first blast. But Juliet was in too
great haste even to think of herself
as she sped hurriedly along, shrink
ing from every passer in the street.
But she came opposite brilliant
gas light, however, the roll of music
slipped from her hand. She stoop-
ed to recover il.
ssJulietl Miss Elmerl''
She gazed, white and trembling,
at the MISUNDERSTANDING young
man who had seized both her hands
in his
"Paul Clayi can it be possible
that this is yon?s
"Wlsy shouldn't it be possible,
Juliet? My dear little faiend, who
on earth would have Thought of
meeting you in the streets this dis
NAL evening? Where did you come
from? and where are you going?v
For an instant, Juliet had been
back in the bright SCENES of two
years go; this question brought her
into the forlorn present Things
had changed, sadly changed since the
people were wont to laugh at the
pretty prosperous belle and about
Paul Clay's manifest admiration
The two years that he had spent
among the palm groves and minarets
of Asia and Arabia had changed
the rich merchants daughter into
a fatherless orphan, who earned her
daily bread by going out as s'daily
lgovernessl"
: She told Paul these thing with
fquiet dignity, as he walked by her
side, carrying the little roll of hIu-
sic as deferentially as il it had been
Queen Victoria's sceptre. How she
longed for little more light to see
in his face as she spokei
"Why did not know this? Why
did you not write to me?" he asked,
in a husky tone of voice.
"We did mot know where you
were, "she said simply; ''and besides
ssBesides what:''
81 had no right to ask yoaT aid or
sympathy"
.sJuliet, you kResc BETTER" he ex-
cliamed, passionately. "Juliet, ifI
had"
She put her hand gently ON his
arm
We live h ere. VIII you come
upsv
He followed her silently up the
dark and narrow stairway, with his
strong heart beating like
drum within his bosom. She stop
ped on the third floor.
"Juliet, have you come 10 this?'
She opened the door, and motion
| ed him in without replying.
Mother-dearest m0therl"
| There Wasno voice nor sign OF re-
stretched On the little bed.-Juliet
hurriedly lighted the candle with
fingers that trembled, she knew not
why. In the same instant, Paul
Clay sprang forward, as if TO inter-
cept her sight
"Juliet-my poor Juliet"
And she knew that the quiet re-
pose of the marble face was but the
majestic seal of Death No more
penury, no more pain or grief for
the pilgrim who had reached the
gates of the Eternal City. In the
stormy tumult of the tempestuous
December day she had died there,
all alone,
Like marble statue, Juliet stood
gazing down at her mothers serene
dead face-gazing with dilated
eyes and white, quivering lips,
while Paul Clay's protecting arm up
held her tottering figure.
s'Juliet, my dearest" he murmur-
ed, in voice half choked by emo
tiOn, 'sthis is no time to speak to
you of the dearest wish of my heart;
but you are not alone-I am with
you! Juliet, henceforward / have no
wish or care in life that cam be sepa-
rated from Your'
Juliet seemed scarcely to hear him;
indeed, she appeared quite uncon-
scious OF his presence, even thought
she could not have stood upright
without his assistance.
"Motherw she moaned feebly.
s.mother, and l was not beside you
Oh, that cruel, cruel womanl If /
live for thousand years, never,
never win forgive her for what she
has this night brought upon mel"
And Juliet Elmer tainted in the
strong arms that were as tender as
woman's touch.
1t was brilliant March day, just