Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-31


train. ] could not help crying for vexa-
tion and disappointment, for somehow |
had deluded myself with the hope that he
would Rt any rate strain an effort to see |
my sister or0e more, and that, penltent |
and mild, she would give him the "soft |
answer that turneth away wrath" And |
vet could not help respecting and liking |
Dick for having had the courage TO leA We, |
for the only flaw In him, In my estIma-
ton, was certain little weakness Of |
character.
l thought It best to mention to Alice |
that he was gone, although i trembled |
lest a volley OF reproaches should be |
launched on me for having interfered In |
the matter in any way but poor Alice |
under her despair was as meek as one Of
our lambs and In lieu Of firing up she |
turned her face away, and lay quite still
for a long, long while. About midday
the sound of horses feet fell upon our
oars. It was Mr.. Farquhar's groom,
and the misslve he brought was as fol-
lows:
dearest Alice; Last night on my leav:
Ing, you looked into my eyes, and when |
nay. you allowed me TO place a ring upon
your finger. with such encouragement !
cannot doubt the happy fact that yon love
met but long TO hear YOUR lips confirm my
belief One word TO bid me hasten 10 you
Yours devoted, A. F."
My sister had begun to read out the
note slowly, but tow wlrd the end her voice
grew almost metallic and disagreeable,
while her eyes flashed like sapphires, and
big round scarlet spot appeared on both
her cheeks. She tore the paper into
dozen hits, and scattering them on the
ground she bade me give her pen and
ink, and with shaking fingers che dashed
off her reply
Last night was the ruin Of my happiness.
For the miserable Qualification of a petty
vanity lost all that made existence worth
having. Il l looked into yomr eyes Il was
because, like serpent's glances, they fasci.
mated for awhile. TO be feared and loathed
forever AfterwArd. II ! allowed you TO
press my hand, would that could cut II
OF, and cast IT into oblivion; ! DO not love
you, Mr.. Farquhari nay, / hate you, for
you are the cause Of life.sorrow to
listened aghast as she poured out the
word loudly and passionstely; and asked
her if she were mad 10 write that which
could only evoke malice and revenge, but
she silenced my expostulations contempt
uously.
''Go and find the ring at once, susan,o
was her inperious command and obedl-
ent, according TO habit, l went and
seached the drawing room, and after
crawling on all fours like a cat for some
time, discovered the trlnket glisteniDg
IN dark corner.
She took IL from me with shudder,
ard adding, 81 return the ring-a sym
Dol of a hateful bondage which my nature
would never submit to" she closed and
sealed the packet and saying, "Aind.
l L. Aaaa 90 -
she flung herself back on her pillow,
and closed her eyes with a sigh of relief.
7. wondered what MIR. Farquhar would
think of his love-letter; but we never
heard of him again until three months
had elapsed, when he brought home an
Italian bride-a beautiful woman with
fierce black eyes aud dusky tints, and the
very opposite Of Alice.
We heard nothing of Dick Oswald
either,so that Alice eould not but believe
that the very memory Of her existence
had passed out If his mind. She grew
quiet and crept about the house Ike a
mouse, all through the cold spring.
Summer came with Its bright sun and
gay flowers; but her cheek did not catch
their glowing hues, and her pretty eyes
lost a good deal of their light. She be-
came more devout than had been her
wont; never missing the services, week
days and Sundays, In spite Of any inclem-
ency Of weather. And, strange 10 say,
her beauty seemed mole perfect under
the shadow that had fallen upon IL than
= in its pristine brilliRncy and freshness.
/ We were not often alone IN the evening
/ for young Mr.. Craven, the curate, had
+, fallen into the habit Of dropping in just
' like Dick used to do; aud listening TO hil
:. pleasant converse my cister Alice seemed
to forget the past aud to grow more con.
o tented with her lot, though at night
: used to fancy sometimes that sound
. like so5bing Issued from her room, bul
a In the morning she would laugh away
!; nv fears, and bid me not vex mysel
: about her. After while began to for
/, get her trouble IN one of my own. True
was plain, and knew that no one wa
I. likely to care for me, but that dlsagreea
e bic conviction did not prevent my hear
l. having feelings like my fellow mortals
?. Evening after evening, ensconeed In
d quiet corner, used to sit and listen Il
II Mr.. Crayen's low voice until II entere,
II into my soul, and thought that If thos
Il tones were all tue music that was to b
n youchsafed me, would fain be satisfied
IF never dreamed that those tones woul
.s ever warm toward me, yet when the ide
"a flashed into my brain that they woul
breathe words of affection TO anothe
d woman, felt myself the most unhapp
IT wretch on earth.
ID Did Henry Craven love my sister, Q
* not This was the question that torture
q; nv breast hourly, and could not answt
Ig il satisfactorily 10 myself. AT las
10 weary with suspense and anxiety,I bega
st 10 steal away from the room, when
ID heard his footstep on the grayel-path this
led up from the gatei and although
=. yearned to gage on the beloved face,
r. felt could not bear TO see II fulhof tel
Of derness for another than myself gre
Id like little white ghost, with thin, wa
he face, out of which my black eyes locke
er big aud wierdlikei and all that l hs
.st cared for all my life, my plrds an
flowers, even the blessed sunshif
I'D became distasteful to my sight, / WI
IL certain that Alice OWNED my suiierin
ng but in lieu of plying me or trying to sol
)st en- my grief, she was wont to smile
at me until / felt irrilated at her unkindnes
and streye to shun her presence as we
nd Ten long days passed away, and not on
I'D during that period had seen or spok'
ng 10 Mr.. Craven, studiously watching I
In his coming that might escape from al
full chance Of meeting him.
pre- One eyening-how we'll do rememb
ne 1.-THE warmth Of summer, the fragran
OF of a thousand blossoms, the light
mvriads of stars all made 1t pleasant, b
nd I was weary aRd listlees, recking nothl
sy, Of externais, only feeling what o bnrd
led life had become to me in the latter da.
knew that my father had gone into
,he ,tudy. leaving my sister and Mr.. Crav
together, and Jealous and miserable
me AT nv open window, with my hair push
II away from my temples that the soft
bis might fan away the throbbDg, and "
i've INV hands covering my eyes. Alice 81
ing M 10 me OF a sudden and drew th
sal avay, and In the half light / could
ed' the Old, old moeklng smile upon her
od- Ina that she always wore whenever Z
ur was vexed or amused.
yea Ususap, what are you doing here
49, alone. little one 70 abe asked kindly.
Id III have a headache" l aLswe
en, lauquidiy, and to prove my words ! LEI
lily my brow back on the window fTal
wn she BENT down and kissed Il.
lse. % susan, don't be such hypoorite y
)me tnoW it il not q headache, but 3 hei
cad acne that You are suffering from I"
'tn she peersd ennously into nv tell-talssfa
on q Alice, don't tease me-" ] replied !
ght tishly, aud ! ttlsd 70 rise, but she
lng, me down tight.
ond I" susan DO you remember when
bed were little children, how you used
In worry me 70 tell you pretty tale that
ring could think about and dream about
lose used TO relate wonderful stories
q about the loves OF fairies apd spHtes,t
me delighted you 7 We AIe older now,
or IhatIs no reason why shouldn't tell
hll s.,AfNala thai