The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-29
CHAPTER II.

Meantime, Julia went forth on her errand OF
love to the dying girl, and the freshness OF the
morning air, the song of the birds, and more
than ali, the elasticity of her own joyous spirit,
soon restored to her the happiness which was
for moment clouded. Lightly she went on,
scarcely brushing the dew from the bending
grass, and occasionally stopping to caress her
pet lap-dog, which was the companion OF all
her rambles.
"Why; Mary, you are more frolicksome than 1
ever, this morning" she said, as she stopped
and patted the shaggy head of her favorite; !;
but Mary bounded from her, rushed wildly over
the smooth grass of the extensive lawn. ana ID
the next moment, with her snow-white hair all
damp with the dew, she returned and sprung
painting and leaping about her young Mistress
as if beside herself with joy, and beseechlng
her to join in her frolic.
"Mary. Maryp exclaimed Julia, as she
caught at her dress and her hand, In her hiiar-
ity. "this is boisterous mirth, indeed" and as
she attempted to take her in her arms, she
sprung again from her and bounded away into
a grove Of beeches at some distance. by Inls
time she had arrived at her destination, ana as
she knocked at the door of the cottage when
was the home of poor Jennie Deane, shade
of sadness fell upon her sun-bright counte-
nance. The sick girl was lying feeble and Ian
guild upon her little bed; she had evidently
been long awake, and awaiting with anxiety
the coming of the gentle girl, whose sympathy
had helped to sustain her in her protracted
suferings.
II am sorry to learn, Jennie, that you are
worse" she said, as she advanced toward her;
"and am afraid that is too great an effort Tor
you. You have had a sleepless night see"
The sufferer turned with grateful smile to
greet her visitor. Yes she had suffered much
in body; but there was weight upon her
mind, of which she wished to relieve herself,
and she was thankful to her, that she had come
at her request. Julia seated herself beside the
low bed of the invalid, and took her thin hand
in hers.
"Your hand is wounded, Miss" said Jennie,
as she observed a stain upon it. 4ou have
scratched it, perhaps, in gathering those beau,
tiful roses; for beautiful as they are, they Will
have their thorns."
No. Julia replied, she had brought them for
her from home; but Mary this morning was in
one of her occasional frolics, and was rather
more hilarious than usual. She remembered
that her sharp tooth had touched her hand, but
had not thought of it afterward. She wiped
off the blood, said it was but slight scratch,
and then encouraged the sick girl to speak of
her troubles.
It was the last favor poor Jennie said, that
she would have to ask of her, for her hours
were waning fast; and then, as faint blush
oyerspread her wan cheek, she confessed she
had one strong tie to life, which she had prayed
for strength to sever She had friend who
was very dear to her, and whose lot she was to
have shared, had it pleased heaven to spare her
longer. He had been unfortunate, and was
now without employment; would she but use
her influence with her father to obtain tor him
situation on his estate? That would make
her happy, and she could lie down to her last
rest in peace, for all other causes had ceased.
She had learned the lesson of submission du-
ring the long and weary hours of her illness,
which were hard to bear at first, till she had
been taught where to look for strength. Now
her spirit was at peace. Robert, she was sure,
would, for her sake, watch over the last few
wears of her father and mother, and would be
as a son to them; and if Miss Julia could aid
her in the fulflment of her last wishes, she
should carry down to the grave her memory,
with a gratitude which words could not ex-
press. Her request. was received as she had
expected, and Julia promised her best endeav-
ors in her behalf.
Weak and exhausted as she was, the poor
girl drew toward her the soft white hand which
had been so often laid upon her brow in her
hours of suffering, and pressed it fervently to
her lips.
"May God reward you," she said, "for you
have been as one Of his good angels to me-
coming from your home to watch over me In
nv illness, and always bringing sunshine into
nv little room. To the last hour OF my life,
will pray God to bless you"
Julia remained some time at her bedside, and
read to her from the sacred pages which were
her ever increasing solace, until her mother
bor nU3so
she took her leave, and hastened home, won
dering all the while where Mary could have
gone in her frolicsome mood, and looking for
her as she went But Mary did not return that
day. or the next; and search was everywhere
made for her in vain. Some mschievous per-
son. it was feared, had destroyed the shaggy
favorite who was deeply lamented by its mis-
tress.
The DAYS and even the weeks passed on, and
no tidings came of Mary; meantime, Julia
obtained for poor Jennie Dean, the boon which
she so earnestly coveted, and received in return
her fearful thanks for this new proof of her
kindness toward her humble friend. The
guests at the hall were full Of mirth and hlarl-
ty and the days passed away in rambles' on
foot, and rides and drives through all the finest
scenery which that portion OF the country
afforded. Sir John Hawthorne Joined them
occasionally, and their merrment solicited
sometimes gay sally from himself; but it was
observed by all that his natural and hitherto
uniform gayety was gone, and that he kept
more than usually careful and almost aPpre-
hensive watch over the safety of his child;
ever lowering near her, as if to guard her
from some impending danger. Something
which they could not account for, and about
which they dared not imagine, seemed to weigh
hea vilv unon his spirits
The third week had passed away since Ma
rvs disappearance, and as the twilight of lovely
day was closing in, Julia stole away from the
friends who had learned to love her deeply, and
hurried to the bedside of the sick girl, who
still fingered, though still declining, and whose
face ever frightened at her approach. Her
visit was somewhat shorter than usual in con-
sequence of the lateness of the hour; but
nromisinc door Jennie to see her again as early