Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-11-23

l
Then, let rs come IN . the gallery. The
/ open shutter"
SO they went-in their pret.y dressing gowns,
With their bright hair upon their shoulders,
licking almost Ike the angels Of long ago, as
they giided along until they reached the folding
I doors OF the picture gallery.
one was half open, and faint glimmer from
I the turned down lamps showed that which
made them catch their breath as each whisp-
/ cred. cit If ehOst?' They had nearly
/ turned and fed, when their eyes. becoming
more accustomed to the dim light, behsld not a
host, but huge burglar, all in hIsck-Dayid
| Cover, in fact, with Gertrude by his side.
'E0sh!" murmured Eva. "WeH, never!r
/ We're.
There stood Gertrude in her white dress with
I both her hands in David Covers, but there " as
| 80 sound OF a word; and 60 deep was the silence
! trat, softly az dream bells upon the night
| hTet e, came tie swelling peal that rang in
| Christmas morn. At this moment Eva. moving
| her hand, which held her brush, Knocked it
| against the door; the sound went echOing down
| the gallery, and at the noise Gertrude sprsng
| from David's side, while the two girls turned
round and rushed away. but not before sti1ed
| laugh reached the ears Of the other two.
'Oh, what was it?' exclaimed Gertrude, in
dismsy.
only those miscellaneous sirls ,"replied David.
Never mind; they could not see us, ex ictly.
and you were looking for your brooch, you
"But bidding him a hurried good night d"
Gertrude ran away TO Der room.
David had lot made her su of II at all, and
their interview, so Tusely Interrupted. was in
this wise Gertrude, in her room, dresmily TAX
irg of her ornaments before undressing, sud-
Cerly missed q fsvorite heOch she had worn
during the dsy. Believing She had dropped il
on the HiIdOx-seat IN the gallery she straI ght-
way went 10 look for IL, and was in the act OF
turning Up one OF the lamps when David (whO
had beer changing his evening coat for a smOk
ing One) came across the gallery on his way
down stairs. She explained her errand, and
they were searching together when suddenly
sld sWeetiy, the nrst peal Of tho5e midn light
bells broke upon their ears.
"Hush." Gertrude had softly said: "It is
Christmas morning" And lifting her eyes TO
Eis face, had met there an expression which
sent culver Of joy through every vein. She
was turning again to her search, when, taking
her hands, he had said tenderly. "At least may
wish you happy Christmas. child"
The words had but Left his lips when that
sound Of stifed laughter told they were disc0v-
cred. GeTtrIde's cheeks were burning when she
reached her room.
'And yet, Why should careo" she argued.
"DaTld AID / will DO engaged before long"
And she Clasped her b 4nds together with alittIe
TaIturouS gesture, g. she stood dreaming in the
red fire. glow.
But tie next day passed, and the next, and
David vas still silent, while Eva and Mary We're
teased EeT Increasingly. Then came great
Jain INTO GeTIude's heart, and fear, that,
after 81. perhaps, be only cared tor her as the
''lifte Cne," and she should have 10 go away
into tie Wide, dark, des0late future, without
he I've OF David Cover.
Every fiber Of her young heart was thrilling
with The sharp paDgs OF dying nope, when one
cav Eva, ms nticEirg her going away, said more
seriously than usual:-''WeN, Gertrude, and
when IS your engagement with Mr.. Cover
coming Cut?''
SmaTting under the wound so roug touched
she turned round aud answered. Don't talk
such nonsense, Evai II you think am going
% marry a common farmer like him YOU are
wonderfully mistaken"
"th, beg your pardon, dear" replied Eva
laughing; and some Ou5 calling Lsr in the hall
sic ran out OF the room
II Was the library they were in together.
Dark was the snowy day, and heavy curtains,
draIlDg the deep bay windows; but the fire
light was pleasant, and the two girls had saun-
tered ID, attracted by its warmth. Gertrude
was great deal too restless 70 remain there by
teTstif, and was slowly crossing the room, when
she suddenly became aware Of a gentleman in
ore OF the windows. Her heart turned SEX and
cold a she saw the face Of ID vIt Cover.
sob, David, David" sue exclaimed, reck-
lCSsly, and stretching ont bsr hands towards
mean iI.'
lie made no reply; did ret even turn his face
towards her, nut in the expression OF every al
tered lire she know, without doubt, that ne did
indeed love her, and covering her fscs with her
hands, she burst IEtO passion of tears.
Presently some one spoke; bat was il David's
voice, 20 Choked ana changed? Yet it was a
tender, sOTTCwfUi one.
"DoH't cry, Gertruie-uever mind"
go, DaTiG!' she said, Hitting up her face in
81 sgOuy OF SUPVicauOn, forgive me; inleei,
CiG not mean lt.'
CLflls CtlllD. GcI CTF SOs you are t0rglyen.'
Tender as the voice was, she felt all hone vas
past. Was II likely he could believe she iii not
ear L.? Her tears ceased; and she was sln
bow from very despair. Gently he led her to
tie FIRE, making Der sit down, then taking her
ntTytless hand IN his, and telling her TO think
l.. p ore about il, lie tuned quietly aWay and
istt The room. Gertrude saw him no more.
silence ! golden when its sweet elclIeuce
TAILS beneath hearts sure OF each ether; golden
AIKEN IL tells what voTGs are weak to E4g; bat
Dc ath, When It's dark pail drops over absence
Il" rH.F- F1~- Frrnry (.
siHw- gnaWirg pain, eating away all her youth
u q fIesl MSS. She was al ECme. Her father
SIS an aTt'st, her mOtler, Mr.. L'E~traugO's
ter, az elegant, blgEbTCd EJmaD, who, in n
HCUr ct youthful CEtE usia II and romance,
mixed her fate with that OF the handsome ar
tit. children and PovertT we're the result.
suaI. Pretty villa was their tome, an easy
distance from LOrdOn, aud On the estate OF
Lord West-Teigh, whose agent was rather too
PARTICULAR about the tenants, rents to please
threatened. "In Italy, that land OF srt, the in
81 .raticn Of genius VIII never leave me-"
But fs never WeLt-ldllDg on AZ home, doing
ItCtUIe now and then, while her diff culties
yearly Increased. These, Mrs. Melville had
stTUg gled thus far to keep from her brothers.
knowledge, and prevented her husband from
writing to him for help by working herself for
tie money supposed to come from him. For
hT. L'EstTange had been strongly opposed to
Eer marriage, PrCpheSyi ing much misery as the
result. As 1T was, be very possibly guessed
httle hOT things were, for Gertrude always re-
tanned from her yearly visit laden with gifts.
Mt. Melville was in one CT his threatening
moods v hen she came home tGjs time. The
Cbrr tHlas bills were rolling il fast; and he told
htr that che had seen the last OF Eden vale, tor
tLat re was gong ID take them all to Italy.
Gertrude dlG lot much care there was nothing
hut 81 eUCe everywhere, and 50 heavily did il
lie OF Ecr own heart that her mother thought she
was i'll. Then she TOUsed herself, to help with
the little Cnes, teaching or two; 70 talk art
NiJE her father in tie evening", ard to listen to
LeT mothers forebOdings during the day.
EutlL Was Ike walking through g land or
L2rkIesz-.O- a lard of c4TED5ss and = great
guilt lay between her AMI David Cover. There
a. 10 hOFe anywhere; and only increased
crtarIugss came with cold IcHgfheni1g even
II Z Of March. Then came the sweet spring
days, when tie GirCs, seeming TO catch faint
echoes Of the
TiumI y songs Of heaven,
shock ont Cf thTOats foods OF raptur0us music.
Ard The promise Of the year fulfilled Itself in
dreamy, Gsluy summer. Then, when all was
ri. Ii and joyous, Gertrude nearly broke her
heart with tears, and deeper and closer rOUnI
her fell - AZ heavy spell OF silence that was sap.
~ her lie away. When the autumn leaves
began 10 tall, Lord WestcTl-igh died, and at the
Park, too, where he had came tor the shooting.
lie had been an unmarried man, and the esta:e
and title vent u 8 distant cousin. What the
new Lord WesteIleigh was Ike, was a subject
Of eager interest TO his tenants Mr. Melville
ny hoped he would turn OF that fellow La
ken, the agent; FOR, IL not, he should certainly
inform his lOrdship that he could not remain =
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