The Republican journal., 1871-01-26

pathy for you and to lend some little enjoy
ment to your stay among us; and have de-
cded upon having Il quiet social gathering OF
them here, some afternoon
90 anntie for she had learned to call the
old lady thus) the bare mention of such a
purpose is perfectly shocking, and for me to
consent to it would be a sacrilege to the dear
memory of my lost treasure"
But you must have some enjoyment love"
"Enjoyment the word is dreadful to my
ear. There is no enjoyment for me in this
world. for my life is buried in the grave with
my sainted James, and l beg the world to
forget me, as all in it but me have forgotten
him. | want no consolation but his memory,
and shall find no happiness until | am laid
by his side"
$50 You think now"
$50 think 0, auntie do you know that
| shall think so all my life?'
eyes, as girls lives CO. which are spans
OF several months, when they commence a
new existence, with other feelings and pur-
poses,'
Your insinuation is awful, aunt" replied
Mabel; ''hut my own life proves its incor-
rectness. | have not changed during these
three years"
The more need you should change at
once" dryly respondeded the old lady.
"1our words terrify me. | can never for
get my lost one"
Neither should you. But while we grieve
tenderly over the departed we should remem-
ber that our lives are not urns in which their
ashes should be deposited. We have our
duties in life as well as they had, and their
removal does not absolve us from them, but
rather raises up new obligations to their full
NJ, l. ,oo1f
herself and do their duty to mankind and
heaven. Neither is it best that we should
ever force upon all who come in contact with
us the sense of our bereavement by word,
look or dress. Bethink you how long we
should submit to one who, having a wound,
should tear it open to ALL that they might see
in its hideOusness always
''But no one was ever called upon to part
with such a treasure as mine"
She did not perceive the panied, reproach-
full look that came to her from the old lady 8
eyes, and she continued:
"And l will wear deepest mourning for
him all my life, to prove that there is one
who can cling to one object through life, and
never seek another"
The subject was dropped. and the young
people We're not invited to come to "Aunt
Fleming's."
The young widow had found a quiet, sober
retreat down by a wooded stream, and here
she wondered every day, and in the solitude
indulged in her pet melancholy.
One day Mrs. Fleming was surprised and
alarmed to see her return from one Of these
visits TO her retreat, leaning heavily on the
arm of young man. 1t was evident that
had befallen her. for she was
very pale and almost speechless, and the old
lady fastened to relieve the young man OF
his burden and lead her to couch
The young man was already know to Mrs.
Fleming as Ernest M M'Clelland, the physician,
and in reply to her look of inquiry he ex-
planned the cause of Mabel's helplessness. 1t
seemed that while passing along the road he
had been attracted by her screams, and going
to her assistance, had found that the alarm
had been occasioned by a harmless snake,
which had made its appearance from some
dead leaves near which she was seated. AZ
ter dispatchng the snake, he saw that she
was rendered so powerless by her alarm that
she needed his assistance to reach tho hnlsn
Mabel had by the time this recital was
made recovered from her fright sufficiently
to make IN effort to convince Mrs. Flemin g
that DIR. MClelland had not done himself
justice for all the bravery he had displayed in
saving her from what she believed must
otherwise have terminated in a dreadful death.
Her expressions of gratitude to him were
warm and sincere, and when he ventured to
beg the privalegc OF calling the following
day. to learn if she had entirely recovered
from the unpleasant alarm, the requst was
really granted by Mabel, and acquiesced in
by Mrs Fleming, with smile which might
have meant nothing-or great deal.
During the remainder Of the day and
evening the memory of the dead was tabooed,
and Mabel favored the patient old lady with
repeated thrilling accounts of the young
doctors terrific combat with the harmless
snake.
''She felt that he was the savior of her
life"
"And," the old lady remarked, "deserved
her Warmest thanks
eyes, her eternal grattude''
''She knew him." the old lady said, "to be
q good young man."
"a noble man." Mabel thought
"Worthy to be received rs a friend" Mrs.
Fleming continued
''IIe was genuine hero" Mabel was con-
vinced.
"a highly respected gentleman" !" the old
lady knew.
$50 self-possessed so brave, 80 regardless
of personal risk"'
"a pleasant talker'
"Ilandsome, dignifed, noble in his bear
ing"
''And an agreeable companion.''
with such expressive eyes, and grand
intellectual face, and delightful waving hair,
and musical voice, and deferential air--''
Mabel was stopped in the full flow of her
enthusiasm. for want of breath to continue.
''He was considered the best catch in the
neighborhood, the old lady assured her.
Here the young widow was silent.
"And,' pursued the old lady, 'though the
snake was perfectly harmless, and any eight
year old boy would have done as much as
this doctor who was suddenly metamorphosed
into q hero of wonderful proportions, it was
due to him that he should be received as a
friendn
Mabel brideled up at this insinuation
against the great daring of her newfound
hero. She could not be convinced that this
particular snake was aught else than the most
venomous of reptiles, that would literally
have dcvoured her, but for opportune ap-
pearancc of the physician. The two women
were so greatly at variance with each other
on this point, that Mabel was permitted to
retire mistaken in her belief.
The young doctor made his appearance the
following morning, and every day thereafter
In the time consumed during these visits,
Mabel had little leisure to think of the saint
ed dead; and the notable change in her ap-
pearance, the ripcned color in her checks, the
happy light in her eyes, and the smiles
wreathing her lips, might, suppose, he also
attributed to the young doctors visits.
''Mabel, darling" said the old lady, one
day, "where are you wandering to now?"
''For a ramble over the pastures after wild