The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-07

dare not lay it down; only ask
That, taking up my daily cross. Imay
Follow my master humbly, step by step,
Through clouds and darkness into perfect
day.
Heart, Cross and Anchor.
"One more song, Carol, darling. A
parting song that shall I'LL my heart with
music, that must endure for two years
two long, long years to be passed In In
dia, No other tones will touch an an
swering chord In my soul. and l feel al
most selfish enough to wish yours should
not fall ON other ears when am. gone.
But this you must promise. this song
you will not sing again to any one; 1t
shall be kept sacred to the memory Of
this hour"
81 will promise. Edgar. Neither this
nor the sWelcome Greeting will sing
again until to you," answered Caroline.
Then turning to the piano she began
her song. Never had she sung 80 we'll.
Her soul was in her tones; and when she
turned to her lover. he exclaimed,
"Beautifull beautiful Do you know,
my caroling darling, that you have for.
tune of surer possession in your voice
than all your fathers wealth? But,
come; bid me goodbye with smiles, not
tears. The time Of going Is very near.
l must hasten."
She put forth her hand; he caught it
and drew her to his bosom. As he re-
leased her, bracelet caught in his but
ton, and broke. The little charms
cross, heart and anchor-that were at
hanging to to the button, the others fall
;,,rv NnrNlino,o fnnt
With a frightened look, she pointed to
the broken trinket, and said, 30, Edgar.
this is An omen of coming evil, know.
Your gilt thus broken, and at such a
timeW
"Nonsensel At your feet behold my
heart and hope; and on my bosom lies
our faith. Here, put piece OF ribbon or
something in this little cross, and l will
wear it until we meet again."
"When shall that be :" asked Caroline,
in mournful voice.
"Still superstitiousW Edgar said.
Before two years had passed there
came great financial crisis, in which
many of the wealthiest fell--Caroline
Ainsworth's father among the first.
When poverty was threatening, not for
herself did she tremble, but for those
dear ones, then. aged, and i'll able to
bear either the shock or Its results.
Then Edgars words came back to her.
She had q fortune in her voice. Cheer
fully, hopefully she went to work. And
then how eagerly she watched for the
coming of Edgars letter OF sympathy,
encouragement-ay that most Of all
which should sustain her, his words of
love. The letter came. o, the cold. cruel
letter, which for a time swept faith,
hope, and almost reason, from her mind
and heart.
A little while only, and then she rose
above the sorrow man had caused, and
brayely went to work. Calmly she re.
read his letter, asking to be released
from his VOWS. Business still retaining
him with Mr. Erving in India, he should
not return to England at present, and as
of course, her plans for the future would
engross her completely, she would agree
with him il would be better, and no
doubt also agreeable to her to be free.
"You are free" were the only words
Caroline wrote in reply.
A year spent in study In Italy, and
winning encouragement from the best
masters, and then to try her power.
Success followed, and fame crowned her
with laurels. She was acknowledged
the prima donna of the age.
"Teach her to love, and then hers will
be music divine. Power, passion, pa
thos-she has all; but they had been ac-
qulred from great masters. The wanting
power must be OF herself, from her own
SOUL" said the old connoisseurs.
Seven years had winged their flight
since she had parted from Edgar Mans.
field, She had heard nothing of him
since about six months after her re.
ceipt of his letter. Then she was told he
was coming home to marry Miss Erving
But to continue. We now find her in
Paris, crowned with triumph. After a
night of even more than usual eclat, she
sat the next day, surrounded with the
tokens of her listeners appreciation
Flowers rare and beautiful, jewels cost
" and antique, all around her. She
nushed them impatiently aside, and he1
head sank into her hands.
knock at the door announced the
coming of some one, and footman pre-.
sented himself, and said, handing an
envelope, "Mademoiselle, the bearer is
waiting"
go. am tired of these baubles," she
said, as she pressed in her fingers the
envelope, which contained an offering OF
some kind, she knew.
The pressure made the impression, not
of o ring, on the paper in which it was
enclosed, but a cross. AS Caroline's
eyes detected that, she opened with an
appearance of more interest the sealed
paper, and the little golden cross
wrapped with her own hair, was in her
hand.
"Your promised Do you remembers
The messenger will direct you," was
written TREMENDOUSLY and irregularly
but she knew his hand had penned the
lines.
"Bring the bearer to me Immediately,
Jean, and order my carriage. shall be
ready in fifteen minutes. Tell me, my
good woman-the gentleman-is he illr'
The woman could understand but lit
tie English; and Caroline, repeating bel
inquiry in French, learned that the wo
man had been sent by a gentleman wht
was ill, perhaps dying. Bidding the wo
man come with her and direct tn Q driver
Caroline entered the carriage. After 8
half hours drive, the carriage stopped
before a lodging-house in the Rue dc
Rivol. The woman preceded Caroline
In, and up long fight Of stairs, unit
they reached door, opening which eau
| tiously, she stepped in an instant. Re