Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-03-26

a glorious thought. Springing to her
feet. she ran to lock her doors, then
wheeled little writing desk into her
favorite oriel window. For a few
moments she sat leaning her face upon
her hands. The wind ratified her case
ment; the rain hurried past; the flying
cloud genii peered curiotlsly in, but
none could divine her thoughts. She
might have been asking help from Him
who is a stronghold in the day of
trouble. Her arm was weak, but His
was strong.
She commenced writing. The fret
page was blotted with tears and thrown
away. The second shared the same
fate, The third page she commenced
-tanefally, wris yiiaa a1asculines
hand. As-she wrote on, her fathers
wrongs rose up wildly before her; in
dlgnation waxed hotter; bitter sarcasms
flashed along her lines. The wild
music of the storm, too pouring in upon
her soul, was breathed on every page
that left her hand.
She was not beautiful girl; her fea
lures were irregular; her complexion
that of the French brunette. But an
artist might have chosen to paint her
as she sat there in gray light streaming
through the ancient window, her raven
curls fastened carelessly back with
knots of scarlet ribbon, her cheeks
glowing with excitement, her large,
dark eyes sparkling with soul-fre. -
There was radiance of more than
beauty in her young face. r
1t was deep twilight before she fin
ished her work and unlocked her doors.
Ringing for servant, she bid him mail
a letter with all speed. Shut, Made
moiselle, said Pierre, hesitating; 'the
night is dark and stormy. Must it co.
sit must' and Louise Germaine
Neckter stamped her little foot passion
ately. "Picrre, the house of the Neck
er family depends upon it"
Pardon me, Mademoiselle, it shall
go" replied Pierre. @
"You have been a soldier, Pierre, and
| know you are brave, so l trust you.
But listen. No one in Paris must
know that you come at Necker's bid
ding. And hush no one, not even in
your chateau, must suspect your Grand.
"You may trust me to keep secret,
said Pierre, bowling gratefully as Lou
ise placed purse in his hand. Laying
her finger warmly upon her lips, she
then dismissed him.
1t seemed to Louise as if the morn
ing never would come, but it dawaed
at last, clear and radient. A bluer
sky never bent over the purple hills
and blooming wales of France.
Louise threw open her easement and
leaned out to breathe the fresh morning
air, fragrant from kissing the s'rain-
awakened flowers" Little children
were singing as they CLEANED in the
fields; distant bells we're ginning for
mathis, and lark, soaring from his
lowly nest, thrilled her heart with his
Joyful carolings. She fancied that even
the grim monsters under the caves and
over the windows Of the old chateau,
were grinning and herring liz the sun
light.
Seeing her father in the grrden, she
ran down to him to say coed morning
and join him in his walk. He smiled
as he took her hand, and ask her if she
could sing song to match that Of the
lark, for the lark was still soaring and
carolingi in the blue heavens.
Louise looked up and listened rap
turously for a few moments to the blithe
music falling upon her with the sun.
shine; then, as if heart echoed the &C.
stacy of the heavenly minstrel, she car
oiled out this joyous little song:
81 have no wings to fly. birdie,
To soar like thee on high
So far and free,
But my song shall rise, birdie,
Above the srnny skies.
Tri-la ! Tribe, Tribe,
1--WE both will sing of love, birdie,
l on earth. and thou above,
Songs of glee.
The angels all will hear, birdie,
Our songs SO Joyous clear.
Tri-la: tri-lc tri-le!
The mail now arrived, and Louise,
although wild hope was beating mad
ly in her breast, dared not trust herself
to watch her father as he opened his
letters and papers; SO she strolled over
the lawn skirting the pask Dieamiy
she watched the golden clouds floating
lazily through the blue above her. and
commenced to build beautiful aii>cas.