Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-03-07
THAT UNLUcKY NOTE.
BY HOLLY HAROLD.


warmth of the lighted hail, and stop
ping to stamp a pair OF diminutiy,
gathered feet on q soft mat.
mot quite, Miss" answered Ann
"but will be IN about ten minutes
There are some letters in the dining
room for you, Miss" she added, a
Eva gave her a package of books ano
papers to ''carry to my ROOM"
Every well;" and leaving her ha
and shawl on the rack, Miss Hammond
vino was about eighteen, and yer,
petite and girlsh-lookins for that
danced down the stairs 10 the warm
: cosy dining-room. On the low mantel
in front of the bronze clock, were
three white envelopes. Eva gathered
them up, and drew an easy chair
toward the glowing Goals in the CRATE
settling herself comfortably to reaG
them. "Addie," she said, LOOKING
over the subscriptions. before che
broke the seals, "and--California, yes
this is from Matte, and"--she stopped
looking startled and puzzled as she
held the third one up toward the light.
She seemed dissatisfied with her scru.
tiny by aid of the gas, and leaned for
ward to the redder glow of the fire.
light. Nor did she seem better pleased
then, but forgetting the other letters,
and twisting this around, unopened,
III her small fingers, she fixed her eyes
Oh the Pickering flames, with far-off,
absent air, that made her look less O
child, much more woman. Suddenly
fiery fragment fell through the bars
of the crate close to her foot. This
aroused her, and she tore open the
envelope and read these few lines,
written in graceful, delicate hand,
like mans
"Am in the city. If you desire to
meet me, I am agreeable. IF SO,
please state time and place. No. II
| w. st.
There was no date, no name, aud
| Miss Hammond looked even more puz-
zled over the note than she had been
over its envelope, yet both appeared to
recall some sad or unpleasant memory,
for some OF the pink flush faded out OF
her fair cheeks, and there was panied
| look in the far-of, truant eyes. FL
naDy she slipped the unread letters in
her pocket, crushed the mysterious
note in her hand. and arose to leave
the room. Meeting Ann on tho thres-
| hold she questioned.
! SIS the Doctor home yet ?"
| ''J1st come in, Miss" answered the
| servant
| Tell him to commence dinner with
| otit me. / vii! be down presently"
and Eva went thoughtfully up 10 her
own room, and unlocked a desk coz
tanning papers and letters. She looked
| them over very carefully, found moth
| to reward her search, and closed the
desk, leaning her arms upon it in deep
thought.
| ''Ah! / know" she said, suddenly
| crossing TIE room to a small book
| case, and drawing out small clasred
| book. 1t was a collection OF auto
graphs, and Miss Hammond turned
| the pages until she came 70 one ca
which was -wri:.sn only tvo Iires:
: Il; Aaea-. ~ .hrc.
! And 5aite So: BE shies.~
Then she compared them to The u,-
| signed note for q moment, and ended
with throwing both th2 book ard lette5
into the desk. Aeaving sigh. and fo-
ing down to dinner. At tae table sh.
was the same bright. pretty little
maiden who had danced into that room
| some twenty minutes before. It was
/ evident, as Miss Eva talked intimately
to her father about politics, questioned
! tenderly about her invalid mother, and
gaily described the newest fashions to
plain. Quakerish Cousin Mary who
| presided over tie house, tina: she was
the sunshine and Jewel Of that quiet
| home.
| Even the rarest jewels do notsparkle
in every Light, and because Eva's moods
were ever changing from the innocent,
trusting child, the gay, loving girl, to
the proud but hewitching woman, peo-
pie caressed, petted and admired her,
but said she was tickle. Dinner was
nearly over, when the rain commenced
| to pour down in torrents, and Miss
| Hammond turned to her father witE
| the question.
&" Must you go out again to night,
| Doctor?'' e:
Yes, my dear, am going to mn
TO hear lecture. Any thing I can do
| for you ?"
Miss Evn's red lips seemed forming
the word, Yes" but changed and
said, more decidedly than appeared
necessary, "No!'
The Doctor went to his lecture,
Cousin Mary went up to Mrs. Ham
mond's rooms, and Eva, after looking
out into the stormy night followed
| her But Mrs. Hammond was nervous,
and wanted to sleep, and Cousin Mary
had some letters to answer, 80 Eva said
"good night to them and went to her
own sanctum. Once more she COM
pared the lines in the book with the
mysterious note then threw herself
down on d soft rug before the heater
| and unused aloud.
1T must certainly be from Herbert. -
aud here she hit spitefully into bro
| kei. match. "Of course it's from
him !" (giving the match another
| spiteful bitel But then why should
he suppose / would care to see him, or
why in the world would he wish to see
me? I'm sure he would not me give a
chancn to recognize him when We met
last bat then the circumstance took
him so by surprise, ana really it was
so long ago, and he had not acquired
perfect control of himself Now nc
thinks he he's. How little men know
themselves !'and Miss Era's lips gave
q very contemptuous curl He thinks
he can show ne now how completely
he has conquered himself. Foolish
fellow TO tempt me ~ This time Miss
Hammond threw the bits OF match
into the corner of the room, very much
as II she would like to cast the subject
OF he. thoughts after them. II can
sse, she added after "A moments pause,
meanv bile rapping one little foot upoi
the rug in u very energetic manner
why We should seek n meeting nftel
so long a silence; and I've surely done
everything IN the world to make hin
hate me. B1t t!l.a l could not settle
down to he quiet country parson';
wife, and it was absurd of mo 10 enter
tam that dream for moment. Tn
irs L did what was for tho best. il
telling hin SO, rs soon as became con
vinced OF il myself. O. dear, wha. AT
almiess life ] lead, anyway :" and i
really seemed TO be so AZ that moment
Those long walks and talks" Bh,
went on, ''wero pleasant; and how vi
used to plan what books We would
read, and what wo would do; and how
much better and purer his life was
thsn these gentlemen / meet ever,