New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-18


yes" said Rachel, with, the flush again |
in her cheek.
Don't tel me if it pains you.
"You may as well know it. Miss Strong |
was engaged to Arthur Gordon, my father,
and while she was i'll with a fever like this,
nv mother came to take care OF her ana
won away her lover / believe, at least l
hone. she had no idea of what she was
doing, till Miss Strong saw the change IN
his feelings and released him.. My father
Thought she did not mind it and had never
really cared for him, but my mother knew
better how strong hearted women suffer.
While my father lived they were all on APP
parently good terms THAT was part OF Miss
fremperances pride), but so soon as he died
she forbade NV mother to come into her
sight, and dread her becoming conscious
AGAIN lest she will transfer the enmity tome"
..She could never do that" said Shirley
eagerly.
..tNhy not p
"Because-" stammered Shirley.
That is a Go,nan's reason.'
"Arthuri Arthur screamed Miss TEN
perance from the bedroom. Don't be
making love to Rachel in my very hearing.
Come in here, both of YOU.
They obeyed her silently.
Now, Arthur, look at me. Can you
Law your hand On that shifty heart OF
yours and say to me in truth and sonrrness
That YOU are not Ill lUNe viii
Shirley hesitated. He forgot that 1t was
not in his own name that she adjured him
He thought only of his devouring love Tor
this second Rachel.
| That's enough" said Miss Temperance.
falling back pale and trembling. before
either could speak to her the wild look
| was gone from her face
! Shirley, boy, what was saying to you
| will take the broth now II 1t IS burnt you
| did the best YOU could"
Rachel had slipped noiselessly out OF her
sight.
You have been in this bed a whole
| week." said Shirley kissing her thin cheek,
! though he felt his heart sink within nm
at the prospect of Rachel beng driven
| away 10y Miss Strong's hatred OF her
! mother.
! "Who has taken care of me l have
had an uncomfortable notion of a ghost
! lowering about me-for RacheTs death
was in the paper-I saw it with my own
eyes
! '.Rachel's daughter has been hore since
the first day. You would have died out lof
| her"
| 81 wish | had, rather than have been
| kent alive by one of that treacherous brood.
| Rachel's daughter! a thin, colorless girl,
| with ewes deep as wells, who would not do
| any harm for consciences sake, but will
take your life in her quiet way: smiling
family at everybody all the while
Rachers daughter has done nothing
worse than to keep your house ana a, nurse
you night and day for a week, said Shirley,
| severely. -.
go Shirley. my bog, son of my old age
| cried Miss Tcmperance in an agonlzed tone.
II have lost You. Arthur said those very
words of her mother. You have grown to
love her"
!sYes. have" burst ont Shirley, with the
l.
the one woman of all the world to me, and
none shall say an i'll word Of her III my
hearing
"Mr Shirley, yOu are beside yourself
said Rachel. Selling his arm. Think OF he1
weakness. Would you kill her with hard
worGsi | am going away at once, MISS
Strong, and | viii never come again until
vou send for me. l hope You will do me
the Justice to believe there has been nc
lovemakinp over YOUR sick bed. This is the
first word or sign that Mr.. Shirley has given
OF his love for me-
She went out quickly. and ,Shrleys quick
ear heard her mount the stars. lie gave
the auieting draught to his patient which
t had been LETT for her to take when she re
turned to consciousness.
: When Rachel came down Shirley met be-
: in the hall. She was again the girl IL
! gray" with her bag in her hand.
III YOU 90 away go with YOU said ShIr
t ley. desperately.
; No" said Rachel, your place is here
5 If we belong to each other We shall NEE
2 again
t IF" repeated Shirley contemptuously.
A radiant smile made RacheIs face beau
tifnl for an instant Shirley became some
how possessed of both her hands and drew
: her toward him with sort of awful wonde
| at his own bol,lness-hut the dropping o
2 the bag reused Miss Temperance.
2 Shirley, where are y0u!" she called queI
: ulously. And Shirley oheyed the call, eal
| rying Rachel's last words in his heart 10
l his only solacc
: "When Miss Temperance can endure til
a sight Of me will cali gain
What dull, homely old room that SIT
/ tirg-room was, tn bc sure, when Shirle
$ could go back to it, for he found DO Rache
! there, aud he had no ciew TO her dcstind
ton. He spent the evening IN searchln
i Tor a nurse for Miss Temperance. 1h
S busting, good-natured neighbor who fnall
G took Rachel's place in the house, was
: thorn in the flesh of both Of them. Shirle
J endured his wrctchod uncertainty until Mis-
( Strong was able to sit in her armchair an
s knit "a little under protest. He was walkin
= nervously up and down the room, as hl
. father used to walk the deck, when he me
her wistfui eyes.
: NV boy" she said, gently.
n bending his cheek down to hers. at 80
v can snare me now I'll make that visit t
LepnOX.'
; you are going to Rachel =
: Il wish | were, but have no idea wher
9 she is
e Did she give you no address y
i No"
'.She must be either more or less than
d woman to hear you say you loved her an
G yet 90 away without giving you a chanc
e to say it again.
! ..She said she would come back when 20
g were willing to receive her.
Il doubt she's more like Arthur than tha
t, wishy-washy mother OF hers. Is she prett,
Shirley ??
: IL don't know; never thought of it.
o said Shirley. beginning to walk up and dow
n again.
\ Miss Temperance raised her eyebrows ii
d they were nearly lost in her hair; but s
9 said no more of Rachel, and made no obje.
d tions to Shirley going away next day. II
II was no sooner gone, however, than she DIRE
n slip of paper from her knitting baske
4 and after studying long time, knittin
all the while, she wrote letter to Rache
u The latter had written her address an
stuck it on Miss Strong's knitting needles
!. knowing that she would soon find it in the
|. spot, while it would be safe from Shirley.
f On the third day Rachel walked quietl
"a into the familiar sitting room and otiore
! her hand to Miss Temperance, who glare
u at it over her spectacles as if it had been
kind of lizard, but took it, nevertheless.
g Il sent for you to ask a question or tvs
o Do YOU like Bombay Shirley e
Y YES"
1t ''Do you mean to marry him p
e ayes, if he asks me-
+ with Or without ny consent''
y Yes"
.'0ne thing more. Do you think yocr
., II