The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-03-19

ed; Dut he came every DAY, Win al
excuse or without one and studied he
with the eye of an artist. A faint lit
tie flush sometimes rose to her cheel
when she met his gaze. He was witt
US one day when my sister Anne sud
denly laid hands on Eleanor's hair
: and with dexterous turn or two laiC
it in loose waves about her head. L
was always "Madonna-wise" before
"You have no idea," said Anne
show lovely you look when your hail
is loosened up this way-more ''fiuf
fy," you know. Isn't It so, Havi
"Excuse me,D said Eleanor, draw.
ing herself gently bat completely
away from Anne SIT is q weakness.
of mine that / cannot endure to bt
handled in that way, except"
Except what 90 said Anne, bewil.
dered.
Except by those whom I love very
much"
"Would you not also make excep-
ton in favor of those who love you
very much ?D asked Haviland in 9
low voice, regarding her intently. II
seemed to me that everything stood
still for an instant, even the hands OF
the clock. A burning blush spread
over Eleanor's face.
''There is only my BROTHER" she
burst out with q sort Of cry, and went
quickly out of the room.
"I declare !" said sister Anne, look
ing after with mouth open.
30 HsvilaHd, how could youl She
will never forgive you" I said.
81 don't want to be forgiven" he
said lightly; but he went away quick
ly to the station, and did not come
near Us for three whole days. Flea
nor repaired her Notifications and re-
ceived him with the same dead calm
of courtesy. He resumed his daily
sittings with us, but be threw no
more stones into the deep waters of
Eleanor's nature.
Nothing could be more desirable
than that these two should love
each other. longed to beg FL
eanor only to look into his eyes,
and see the interest written
there, but the words were never spo-
ken. 1 left them alone together
whenever / dared, and forbade any
of my tribe, on peril of Punishment,
to make the least approach to a joke
on my matchmaking. / said word
or two of my hope to Mr.. Eustace, but
he was utterly skeptical.
"Eleaaor is too cold and calm to
love any man, and too conscientious
to marry without it. / should like to
see the man who should be bold
enough to kiss her. Walking up to
the cannon's mouth would be nothing
to it."
/ wanted to see him, too; but as the
days went on and Haviland's depart
ure began to be talked of, I was forced
/ to think that he was not to be that
bold man.
Eleanor was very busy upon Hugh's
outfit; he had been at the Naval
School, and now had cOnspired with
Haviland to sail in the same ship.
The Winona was under repairs at
st. Bo's, and Mr.. Eustace and Flea
nor went there with Hugh, staying
at the hotel a week to buy the last
things and say the last words.
Eleanor came home so wan and
haggard that for many weeks there
might as well have been q ghost in
the house. 1t was very difficult to
offer consolation when none was
asked or expected, but could not al
| toghther refrain.
az had no idea you loved that boy
so much" said awkwardly.
''You are very good, but Pm afraid
1 cannot talk about it," was the dis
couraging reply.
t'If you can love a brother so much,
how you would worship a husband"
1 said, trembling In thus walking
over her boundaries.
Eleanor actually laughed.
"Do you know" 1 went on, "I
think Hayiland was just ready to fall
in love with you had you given him
theleast crumb of encouragement"
''Did he tell you SOP"
"No, but one could see it with half
an eye"
"You are very clear-sighted in such
matters, perhaps"
81 have lived longer than you, Ell
eanor, and know that q man can
not go all the way to a woman; she
ought to take the least little step to-
ward him."
81 could not do that" said Eleanor.
"Oh, know 1t, and so you have let
the best fellow on earth slip away
from you ~
"sNature made him and then broke
the mould,"p said Eleanor with a
smile.
"You did not know him as / did,"
''I dare say did not"
"But when he comes home again
II he is in the same mind, will you
try to like him ?"
fYes, 1 think I may safely promise
that"
The tears came to my eyes in my
earnestness, and all at once / found
Eleanor crying too, like any other
woman.
"My dear little stepmother," she
said, "you have my fathers worries
and your own to bear; will not
trouble you to carry mine"
Then she left me, and could not
help think that she might love Hsvi-
land after all.
Eleanor came slowly out Of her sor-
row for Hugh's departure, and we
settled into the quiet routine which
seemed likely to last forever. The
Winona was spoken Of at sea occa-
sionally, and very thick letters came
for Eieaner. of which she would read
q page or two aloud and keep all the
rest for her own hunger. Nearly two
years went by, and we began to
speak of Hugh's return. A sweet
cheerfulness that had never seen be-
fore in Eleanor seemed to crop out of
her glad heart I was very happy
with my step-daughter. There was
not cloud as big as mans hand in
our sky when Eleanor pointed out to
me with trembling finger line in the
kIaa a haoaWTnfnf IN
| to tell her that she had read it wrong.
1t was q telegram; the Winona had
been struck in the night by an Eng
lish steamer, and sunk with all on
board.
AS she rose up and fed away with
her grief like wounded animal, the
lines of her face were drawn and set
tied like those ofa middle-aged wo-
man.
"HOw does Eleanor bear it?" was
Mr.. Eustace's first question, his own
grief fading out beside hers.
"Come and see," 1 said, leading
him into her room, where she lay,
pale and quiet, and able to speak of
her loss without tears.
1 left them together, but it was use
less to hope that they could comfort
eacn OLner.
"She bears it better than / expect
ed" said my husband, rejeining me
after very few minutes.
"If she would only rave and tear
her hair, it would be great relief to
my mind, but this calmness is unnat-
ursI," / said.
mot with her. She is not warm
hearted; she does not feel things as
we do"
1 did not contradict him. Where
would have been the use? But il
struck me all at once that the first
Mrs. Eustace, who was said to resem-
BILE her daughter, must have had 6
very lonely life of it.
The i'll news was soon verified, bul
Eleanor had believed it from the first
She went about the house at first q.
she had always done, but loss Of ap-
petite and disturbed sleep gradually
told upon her strength. She learned
to hold her hand tight on her heart a;
she mounted the stairs. One little
industry after another dropped from
her weak hands, and without com
ment on my side or hers she soon lay
every day and all day on sofa