Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-25

ofight nope of ali my life Let the pleasant
home of which dream be nine Give me the
ful'' ~ "@"u'f
Quite quietly We walked together up the
garden, but when we reached the lighted hall
ran away upstairs. After tea We had Q long
happy evening of Christmas games and music
MARC seemed 20 lead everything, and was the
widest and merriest Of rs all. Not till the bells
mad chlmed the Christmas in did we think of
separating. Then the children were sent to
bed, and Marc stood at the hall-doOr lingering
over his goodnight; the frosty breath Of the
rev born day filling the hall, and we laughing
and shiyering as we stood there. He loitered 80
long that they all left us; then / gave him nv
hand that might follow them.
al wonder whether / shall reach home
safely? he unused, holding it while he looked
round into the darkness. NINA, let me take
what light I can. Let me have another look
into the face love-"
Moving back into the light, nv cheeks burn
ing, stood and smiled my last goodbye; out
side IA tie gloom Marc raised his hat and
brightly answered me.
Der wreath, he had said-Marqs and mine!
Il thought il looked lovely even among Flea
nor $ rare and brilliant flowers. The children
and I-reac hing the church first of all the con-
gregatoE-walked up the aisle. whispering how
beautiful the glistening leaves ami berries looked
when the slanting sun-rays touched them
Then took my place in the choir, and in little
Struggling groups the people passed under the
porch, bringing in the Christmas sunshine on
t6eu faces. Old Mrs. Gotto came at last on
Mare arm, and she stood moment just with
tions. Marc looked up too, but his eyes were
very grave, and 1 fancied his thoughts were far
away.
Then-in a hush which seemed to me a
bresthless hush OF jOy-we sat among the winter
flowers in CLEANS of sunshine, which has hal
lowed this day for every age to come. And the
glad words OF the anthem filled the church as if
We too, IN joy and thanksgiving, would Join the
angels glorious hymn to-day.
We had been home only few minutes, and
were standing round the fire warming our feet,
IA he mr. ma In ,.N,rn \.
because he never came to us Christmas day
until evening, and especially wondered when
AS he shook hands with us ail-he wished us a
merry Christmas, forgetting he had done 50 in
the early morning.
81 am sorry to say my Christmas greeting
heralds my goodbye" he said, speaking rather
neryousiy. :" Mr.. Galloway, what 10 you think
has happened?''
of course papa said he could not think at all.
'.Old Mrs. Duncan has died at Torquay and
and-left me her heir"
joke too grayely, Marq.'
But it is no joke, sir; it Is "a simple fact
But she has son, Mr.. Gotto,' began Tom,
staring into Marqs face.
No; but her husband had one"
And has she left her husbands wealth away
from her husbands s0n?" 1 asked, breathing
Marc simply answered " Yes" without look
ing at me as he spoke. 90 Since that quarrel
nearly twenty years ago." he added, as papa
questioned him farther, ..slie has never heard
of this son, and has never tried to hear of him.
He is not mentioned in her will, they tell me-"
a. And the will is valid?''
Perfectly so. The property was her own, to
Then her fathers win long ago was an I'M
Just as the mothers Is now" mamma inter-
rupted.
wife, believe" Marc answered, sand left her
uncontrolled possession of the whole estate"
But he never could have imagined that she
would will it away from his only son." NV
- hx-f he ans and tot. h..,.a
gone together for two hundred years."
Was Mrs. Duncan quite clear i'm her mind
when the viii was made, do you think?'' in
quired.
"Quite so. az far as medical Judgment goes"
"There Is no difficulty in deciding what was
wrong in her mind,' said my father, graveiy.
:" How inveterate must have been her hatred!''
what a rich man you will be, Marq." said
Tom. delightedly, ''and You'll live at the PriOry
and be greater than the M'Laris.''
- are YOU really very rich and great, Mara"
face and trying-as think we were all trying
to read Marq's,
He stopped upon the rug beside her, and /
fancied that he did IT to avoid eyes, as he
answered, "Yes. am very rich man, Elsie
darling, but not great yet. That L must try to
be, now that the riches are mine"
The words were spoken very slowly and very
thoughtfully; and they fell upon my heart as a
heavy shadow sometimes falls upon sunny
spot.
He had to start for Devonshire so early in the
morning, he said, that he must bid us good
bye then. His grandmother wOuld not hear of
his leaving her again that day. We all shook
hands with him as we stood round the fire; then
he hurried away, saying he should be late for
dinner, as he had to go round to the Priory.
g He speaks Of the place in a tone OF prOprie-
torship already" papa said, laughing a little.
. 1t will be good to have such a neighbor. /
wish had him for patron. He will go into
Parliament, Of course, AMI be great man, as
lac saws"
Poor Mr. Duncan,- mamma said as she
II whether ii
cause thought OF him, or because 1 thought of
Marc, or because thought of myself, don't
mas day were gone. had no fire in my bed
room, else think I should have sat before il all
that night, wandering and wondering. Yet I
daresay that would not have made things any
clearer to me than they seemed, as 1 stood for
those few minutes at the staireas window. 1t
was tonight that was to have told him
whether the home he said he dreamed ofshould
be his: Another home had been given him
now, which took HMM one way-far from me.
He was free. Since had not accepted his love,
he could not think himself bound to me, and
would go into different world now, and see
how much more wisely he could choose.
al know he will be great man." whispered
to myself, sand will rejoice in it as live on
quietly here. Perhaps, sometimes, when he
feels tired of his state and grandeur, he will
like to rest few minutes in the old garden with
Its wonderful scents and unexpected corners;''
always true to him in my heart, whether he
knows it or not. oh, am so glad that could
not tell him last night how loved him?"
Yet though said that I was glad, though
pictured the quiet friendship would feel for
him, my heart would beat 50 quickly when the
letters came, that dared not trust to look at
them; and while waited for them to be claimed
each breath drew hurt me with quick sharp
pain.
Week after week went by, and no tidinys
came OF him-no tidlngs for us, at least. SoIne-
times old Mrs. GottO told MS where he was, but
not often, and never what he was doing. Spring
came The roses and jasmine ON the white
walls of my home blossOmed i'm their first fresh
beauty: looking in at my window, and remind
ing me of many happy spring To come. But
still he never came.
Dreamily, in its full and perfect beauty, the
summer followed; but through these long bright
days he did not come.
listened TO the reapers singing at their work.
i listened 10 the lark echoing their song among
the sort white clouds; but through all the joyous
music OF the autumn DAYS there rang for me a
sad sad strain. because he did not come.
Slowly and steadily there crept to nv feet the
frightening shadows OF that long winter, whose
coming scre!y dreaded.
IL was Christmas eve once more, and had
just brought into the church my last armful of
giisteniDg holly-bOugffs from the porch. Tn
der the pulpit stairs sat Eleanor, sewing letters
OF bONleayes on white muslin.
FEAR Nor" The words grew under her
fingers, and read them over and over as
stood resting moment near her. She was
talking to papa quietly and rapidly as she
worked. but 1 did not follow her. Now and
then heard sfchasubles - Gtunicles - 9aths. -