The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-12-25
MIRIAM KENT,
A TOUCHING: cHR1sTMAs STORY,

r. ;wyase Christmas eve. Miriam Kent sal
,,sZ;nG intently into the fire. The room was
Elegantly, and tastefully furnished, and the
firslight shadows danced Enthusiastically upon
the wall, and flashed brilliantly from the mir.
rors and costly ornaments scattered here and
there in rich profusiou. Upon the snowy ped
Law a white silk dress, with rare point lace
adorning adj the neck and sleeves. The wintry
wind sweeping wildly around the house, and
roaring down the chimney in ftful gusts, en-
Aanced the warmth and glow reigning inside
but causinga sad and weary expression to tit
over the beautiful features of the young girl
seated there, silently watching the crimson
sparks fying upward, and seemingly uncon'
scious of ali the comfort and magui6ccncc sur
rounding her.
AS the moaning Of the wind increased she
arose, and gliding softly across the floor, parted
the heavy danasE curtains draping one Of the
windows, and gazing out upon the fast falling
snow which was rapidly covering the earth
with anantle.of spDtless purity. = ~
Wearily leaning against the easement, she
murmured: "Oh Richard, my brother, where
are, you tonight? If you were only here-my
poor, poor wanderer !" -,
" downward. seemed to send strange rest and
neace to her heart. She turned away from the
window, but as her eyes fell upon the elegant
dress shimmering in the crimson light OF the
fre-the dress which she was to wear at the
grand Christmas party to be given the next
nipht-she felt s. sickening sensation, which
nearly oyerpoweled her for the moment. Her
brother Richard had been in the habit OF at
tending these festivals with her, her chosen
companion in every joy and happiness; her
darling. idolized brother, and now he was wan
deringowhere :, 1t may be that the snow lay
in heavy drifts upon his nameless grave, and
she would look upon his loved face aud listen
to the music of his laughing voice, an, never
more. ,,...,... ..., >.
Murmuriug farvent prayer to heaven for his
protection, she left her apartment, and, descend
ing spiral stairway, entered the library, where
sat a tall, stately, elderly gentleman, bus!Iy
engaged in reading. His hair was heavily
touched by, the frosts of time, and a cold stern
" light beanled in his eyes as they proudly
rested upon his daughter, who had carelessly
thrown, herself upon stool at his feet.
LAYING one hand caressingly upon the gol-
den curls clustering around the pure, white
brow of his darling, he said: "Well. my pet,
what do YOU wish for Christmas gift?"
Raising her blue eyes for an Instant to his
face, she almost whispered, u am afraid father,
that you will not give me what most earnestly
desire"
"Whv. little one, have T ever denied you
ANYTHING that was within my power to grant
YOU ?" replied the old man, letting his fingers
wander tenderly through her sunny curls.
"No, father" she replied; "and 1t Is within
your power to give me this -,
"Out with it, then, Miriam. my girl tell
your old father, and til yours" y =,
The Young girl remained silent for few
moments. as if summoning up her courage to
make the request; which she had resolved to
do ere she left the room where she had been
so sadly:musing by the fire.
Suddenly clasping her hands across her
fathers knee, she looked up into his face with
a wistfni. anxious expression in her violet eyes,
as she said. in low, firm voice, Father, give
him back to me-my brother Richard!'
4x lE. x
Five years had elapsed since the only son
and brother had been banished from his child
hoods home, and during that time no.tIdings
had been received concerning the absent one
After two wears had crept wearily by, the
loving mother, who had idolized her frst.born
son-her only son-died, with the loved name
upon her lips
Mr. Kent centered his affections upon his sole
remaining treasure with strange, all absorb
ing passion. While to the world be was ever
cold, stern and reserved, to this daughter ne
was .neYser 1aught but good and kind, granting
her every wish, and lavishing upon her all that
money could bestow. Beneath that colo, marc
exterior. Law stream of living, burning affec-
ton and be worshipped Miriam as an idol.
Forher. .ahis proud eyes would grow, infinitely
te1derZhis firm mouth would relax into a
sinpularly grave, sweet snlile-and his rigid,
icy manner would melt into warm, rare ten
derness. beautiful to Sehold in man; but
uron this one theme--Richard Kent-he was
ever silent-he would shut both lips and heart
against the mention of the once loved name,
although his inner self would often cry out for
him who was once the pride and Joy OF his
life. :..r t...,J. ...........,.
Miriam had once or.twice ventured upon the
forbidden subject, but had been so rudely and
harshly repulsed that she had hitherto deemed
it best to remaip silent, for a time at least
But tonight she had fully determined to ask
her father to grant this one yearning desire OF
her heart She knew not what the consequent
ces might be. vet She would make one last and
earnest appeal in behalf Of her darling bro
ther.
And here we find her saying, in that low,
firm voice of her's--calm and sad yet with a
ring of resolution vibrating through the syl-
labIes--"F Father, give me back my brother
Richardw
"What! that name! Have not forbidden
any one to mention it in my presence" he
exclaimed in a cold, harsh tone, bitterly push:
ing her from him, while lis face became fixed
Miriam, yet undaunted, arose from her low
seat, and standing before him in all her sweet,
girIish beauty, said, "Father, the most costly
gift in the world would not be as precious to
me as the return Of my wandering brother
Do you not remember how full of life and
sunshine he used to make these now desolate
rooms? How you loved him then; how proud
sou were of his manly spirit and brave gener-
ous ways. And Just because he would not un-
bend to that royal spirit of yours, you banished
him from your heart and home forever! Re.
member how my angel mother loved him land
her voice grew infinitely sad and touching,)
ron cannot FORGET her last pleading words in