Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-04-17


said, gravely. 81 do not like your cousin
Conrad, and am not willing to trust you
to his care. oh, my darlingp he went
on, earnestly, 4" If my music but brings
me fame and fortune can then make you
all my own, and there will be no more
good-nights, no more partings in the storm
for u.s."
They passed down the stairs and out
into the street together, unconscious of
the shadow closing upon them, nearer
and blacker. At the door of Hester's
home they parted with lingering good
by:
"My precious music" cried Robert,
buttoning his coat closer about him. "No
harm must come to that. II represents
fame and fortune and love and honor for
thee and me, my darling"
Hester lifted small wet face to peer
into the gloom.
AZ wish you could stay" she said
And oh, Robert, be careful of the cliffs
the path is so lonely and dangerous |
shall come early to rehearsal tomorrow
for the sake of knowing that you are
safe"
"Dow he answered. "I shall bring
you glad tidings. Success is too near for
me to miss it now. Good night, good
night,my sweetheartl" and so speaking he
passed from her into the shadow of his
waiting doom.
After that night of storm the day
dawned clear and cool. At st. Paul's the
choral society, just then in first flush of
enthusiasm over new oratorio, gath
cred early One-Two-Three the great
bells chimed the hours and the singers
waited impatient for their leader. Some
| thing had detained him, most likely; he
would come soonl The hour struck -Four
and he had not come, and Hester Heath
ersleigh, with aheart heavy as lead in her
bosom, fell on her knees III An agony of
prayer ooh, my God" she cried, reck-
less of who might hear her. "He is dead.
My Robert is dead! He has been lost in
the cruel storml"
Some one, plying, touched her arm. 1t
was her cousin, Conrad Charteris; he was
looking down at her with pale face-s
face paler far than that with which he
had spied upon her yesterday from behind
the gallery curtain. Her piteous cry had
touched even his stony heart
"Hushp' he whispered; here is news
| from him-from Robert; come and hear
what it is"
A note had been brought by swift
running messenger, and shudder ran
round the waiting circle oflisteners when
its contents weSe made known. 1t was
signed by leading physician of the city,
| and stated that Robert Field had been
picked up that morning at the foot of the
cliffs and taken home for dead. He was
| now, at the date of writing, lying in an
insensible condition, and it was impOssi-
BILE to tell what the extent of his injuries
were, or if there were any hope of his ul-
| innate recovery.
A horror.strieken silence followed the
reading of the note, broken at last by a
low, sobbing cry from Hester Heather
sleigh's white lips.
II must go to him-oh, l must go to
him! Who will take me? You! your
and she caught Conrad Charters by the
arm.
He shrank away from her with ges-
ture much as if she had pierced him with
knife. His black eyes dilated holri-
bly,.
81? l go with you to see him?" he
cried. "What are you thinking of ?
What do you take me for ?" Then noting
her astonished look he made a fierce
struggle for composure; but his hands
shook like withered leaves.
"Why do you wish to go TO him?" he
questioned, angrily. "He would not rec.
ognize you-and it is no place for you
Let me take you home"
She snatched up her shawl and bound
it with trembling fingers about her shoul-
ders. ~ tell you shall go to him." she
answered. 81 was to have been his wife
and, living or dead, my place is now by
his side. You can come with me if you
like" And she flew down the steps,
1t seemed an age to her, that short time
she was on the road leading to the lonely
house of Robert Fields widowed mother
and when at last, by dint of her prayers
and tears, she was suffered to approach
his bedside, she looked down on a very
different Robert Field from the one with
whom she parted in such high hope the
night before.
The bruises were chiefly about the head
the physician said gravely, and even ifhe
recovered it was doubtful if his mind
would ever be sound again. Hester heard
him, and with great sob fell on her knees
by the bedside. Where now were the
brilliant aspirations, the tender hopes, the
gay courage and stouthearted faith of one
short day gone byi Lost! lostl Success
so near to him, and yet to fail. Triumph
so nearly won, and yet to pass by on the
other side.
Robert, oh, my Robert! Look up
Speak to me, or 1, too, shall die!"
Ahl but love remained. Love un
changed and unfaltering. This then wa:
left-the blessing of love which believe;
all things, hopes all things, and endures
all things unit o the end.
The drawn white face on the pillow die
not change at Hester's cry, but under the
half-clOsed lids the dull eyes CLEANED
feebly and the slender hand outside OF
the coveret groped helplessly. Hester
took his hand in hers and then, quick a.
lightning, by some strange, subtle instinct
rather than by any demonstration of his
she felt that the poor, stricken senses
were trying to break through the dark
ness that enveloped them and make theil
unknown want understood.
"Robert, Robert what is it ?" she cried
"What is it that you want to make us un
derstandY"
The helpless movement of his lips, tn,
helpless cropping of his fingers, wer
enough to make one weep. Hester ben
her ear to his mouth.
"What is it, Robert, dear? Tell me
what is it you wantS"
The stiffened lips strove with terribl
effort to move, and this time one wort
was feebly articulated;
"Musicn
hostoI lOOh0u up WIN stoiu0u OAOlo
nation:
"Musicl He calls for his music. d
you not hearY Where is it? Who know
about itH Is it lostS" she questione
eagerly.
Again that terrible attempt at speech
The dull eyes opened wide, the feebl
fingers clenched themselves on Hester
hand, and, with a last mad effort of el
piring, desperate strength, he raised hin
| self and shrieked:
Il My musicl Find it'll Save It'll" an
/ then he fell back on his pillow like on
!, dead
l you have killed him." said sthe ply
: sician, angrily, and at the words Heste
5 with a moan, dropped down insens;ble
: Not dead But when, after months an
D weeks of painful illness, he faced tn
: world again, he looked like shadow OF
of the past But bent and aged, wit
Q SCARED forehead and whitened locks, tn