New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-17

written in fire. But there was too III "o,i
business doing that night to allow m9cn
time to be wasted, and so poor poor n "nno .
many other relic of better and happier days.
On leaving the shop HesteTs face grew
crimson for she noticed q man who stood,
as if waiting for her, beside the door, and
! who, as sudden gust of wind blew
aside her veil, she saw to be MT.
DYSON That momentary glance, SUI
feed to convince her that he had seen
and recognized her, but as much ashamed
as though she had been detected in the
commission of some crime, she hurried past
him without speaking to him, feeling thank
ful when her purchases were made, and she
had fairly reached her home.
AS she decorated the sitting-room with
the holly and evergreens ON which that
morning she had been unable to reslst the
temptat.on of expending a few penoe, Hes
ter tried hard to Danish, for that night. at
least, all thoughts of gloom or dependency;
and she succeeded so we'll that when halt
an hour later she entered her husband s
room, Roland inwardly blessed the bright,
loving presence that was in spirit and truth
the sunshine Of his home.
The next morning Hester was up betimes,
busting about, like the household fairy that
she was, in order to have breakfast over IN
good time. and when it was cleared away
she was so busy in her preparations tor
Roland's coming down. that a double
knock at the door had to be repeated before
she noticed it. and then, wondering who
their unexpected visitor could be, she ran
down stairs, and, opening the door, started
back as she let in a gust of cold wind and
Mr.. Dyson.
"Good morning. Mrs. Carroll" he said.
'Of course your husband is at home; can
see him ?"
Dreading that her secret should be told
before the time for its discovery had ar
! rived, Hester felt half inclined to refuse the
request but moments thought showed
her the folly of doing so, for Roland would
be sure to have noticed the knock and in
quire who had been there, so she answered
in the affirmative and then said, hesitating-
ly, You will not tell my husband that you
saw me last night, Mr. Dyson. l do not
want him to know it to-day" Then, some
what treasured by his kind nod, she con-
tinued, land if Roland should speak to you
about the music l brought you it would be
such great happiness to me if you would
in some way keep him from knowing that
you declined it. The fact is he was Just re-
covering at the time, and | was 80 afraid
that any fresh anxiety would throw him
back that told him you had bought the
pieces.
| Nenturing to look up to see in what way
her confession was recei ved, Hester was sur
prised to find herself patted on the head and
called Poor child" Just az if she
had been Nessie; and she caught
herself wondering whether the
| grave music publisher had taken leave of
bis senses. or whether Christmas generally
had such sOftening effect on him.
Roland looked surprised when he heard
hisvisitor's name; and when he entered
the sitting room he was scarcely prepared
for the warmth with which Mr.. Dyson
greeted him.
.'Ah, CARROLL he exclaimed, " am very
| glad to see you again. You've had long
| bout of it; but perhaps the lesson will be
| useful, and you'll take more care of your
self. You young men are terribly care
| less
II shall not want another lesson Ike it
| in a hurry returned Roland smiling Il
| don't believe should have got over it had
it not been for my wifes good nursing
mo, don't expect you would" was the
grave reply. But l am come here to tell
patient mood this morning! Ask your wife
TO stay" he added, as Hester. doubtful of
what was coming, was about to leave the
room: and thus detected in her attempt
size was obliged to take the chair Mr.. Dyson
placed tor her. And then Roland saying
LIE was good Tor any amount OF listening.
biz visitor commenced.
~"My parents had only two children, he
said myself and brother year or two
my junior: and whether it was because our
tastes were alike, or because we were in
great measure dependent upon each other
for amusement and companionship, know
that from our earliest childhood we We're
more united than brothers generally are:
and when we lost our parents tie tie be-
tween Us grew stronger.
You viii think all this very uninterest-
ing. but | am coming to the part that con-
Germs you almost directly. Well, IN course
o. time We grew up. and as no one ever
heard suspicion OF our falling in love, or
even thinking OF such a thing as marriage
we came to be looked upon as confirmed
Old bachelors; and so. though had no right
to entertain such feelings. was both aston
lshed and angry when my brother told me
one day that lie intended making an offer
10 a young lady he had met a few months
before. AS it turned ont. | might have
saved myself and him the pain OF such an
exhibition OF seitishness tor he was refused.
But that was his first and last love, and he
never forgot it, though until he was on his
death-bed, four wears ago to-day. he never,
even to Inc. mentioned it in any way.
80 Then lie told Inc the whole storv-how
the girl he had loved SO truly had refused.
gently. but firmly. in order to marry much
poorer man. Still he had never felt for a
moment the slightest tinge of resentment
toward her or her husband; on the con-
trary, his true heart honored her for her
love, that in its integrity was akin to his
own. And so from his dying lips learned
that from the time of her marriage he had
watched over her. eagerl : cleaning from
friends and acquaintance every particular
relating to her home-life. and feeling his
own loneliness cheered' by the knowledge
that she vas happy and safe in the keeping
OF man who knew how to prize the treas
HIS hand almost we'll
he himself could have done. Il have
watched and aited, he said almost with
his last breath, but no need OF helping
them has yet arisen, no shade has ret ap-
peared to darken the sunshine Of their |
lives. no trial to test the strength of their
love. To you. ny brother. must leave the
tultillment of the task | had imposed upon
myself: for sooner or later sorrow will come
upon them, ana somewhere in the future, |
the dangers that beSet every human life must |
lie in wait for them. So watch for this. and |
when the hour has come, help them, as I |
had meant some day to do, with kindly |
heart and open hand: and perhaps. in after
years, T 10 nearer or dearer ties are round |
you, there may be place reserved for the |
lonely childless old man in the happy home |
her presence makes bright.
This. Roland Carroll, is the first part OF |
the story l came to tell you-yOu who We're |
my brothers favored rival, hose wife was
the girl Of whom he spoke.
AS Mir. Dyson paused, Roland put his |
hand on his wife's shoulder and she turned |
to him with her Old loving smile, although |
her eyes were dim with tears, as he said: !
so YOU might have been a rich mans !
witt You never told me this, Hester then,
addressing their visitor, he added: Il am |
quite ready to hear the rest Of your story
nothing will surprise me now, Mr. Dyson"
''JlaCcp seemed to favor nv hrQthar'l