The Portland daily press., 1875-11-15

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| a glance at her husband, who was leaning on
the back of her chair, 'Mr. Lambert had
some books which he thought your brother
might like to see.'
"Mr. Lambert acknowledged my thanks
| with careless bow, saying, with scarcely
perceptible sheer in his voice, as he strolled
away, My wife is devoted to invalds.'
"Mrs. Lambert glanced up at me with
troubled look, as if she feared my being Of
Tended; but as endeavored by my manners
to reassure her, she was soon chatting quite
cheerfully to Paul, who seemed to have taken
| one of his violent fances to her at once.
| CATER that not a day passed that did not
find her seated on the deck. trying to amuse
and interest my poor boy, who used to lie on
| his cushions with his pale cheek resting in his
hand, and his large blue eyes fastened on her
| admiration and love. Once she apologized to
| me for usurping my place in performing some
little office for Paul which had been accus-
| toned to render, saying with a pathetic long
| ing in her voice, 1t is SO sweet to me to have
some one who will let mo love and care for
him. and my Paul, accustomed to petting all
his life, soon demanded the most exclusive
attention from Kathleen, as he used to call
her. She would often come on deck looking
| pale and troubled but few minutes beside
| Paurs couch and her face would clear,
her eyes would grow soft with womanly
| tenderness, and the smile that played upon
| her lips was all the sWeeter for the tears
that had preceded it. Her two COM
panions seemed to leave her almost entirely
| to herself and before the voyage was over
strongly suspected that in the interminable
games Of cards always going on in their cab
| in, a good deal of money belonging to some
of the other passengers passed into their
hands, and yet good company and good wines
| made their society very attractive. They
were both very gentlemanly in their manners,
and Mr.. Lambert was especially witty in con-
versation, though his wit was of the sarcas-
| tic kind that wounds oftener than it pleases.
| Many time have l seen Kathleen's cheeks
| flush and her eyes fill with tears, at some
careless sneer from this man who had sworn
| to love and cherish her, and then, Archie, l
confess had to clinch my hands to keep from
| collaring him and pitching him over the rail
| The mystery of that union I never fathomed;
he seemed utterly Indifferent to her. and that
she did not love him was certain; that she
| feared him I was almost equally sure. Her
| father seemed kinder, and for him she
evidently entertained great affection. One
| day he joined our little party, saying as he
| laid his hand upon his daughter, Trying TO
| replace the poor little Partisan. Kathleen?
| Well, that's right Then he added, half sad,
half jestingly, 4 wonder if the good deeds Of
an ange, can blot out the sins OF one of the
| Evil OueS 6 ASK Ludb pdlc UOy, AdLuIt, ue lOOkS
| as if familiar with the ways of angels
| Kathleen bent her head with vivid blush,
| but Paul reached up and took her hand,
| saying, with his own bright smile, 4 have
| been lately, SIR
4 believe you, my boy her father said,
hastily. may it do more good than it has
done me- Then he turned away, and fol-
| lowed, for I thought Kathleen would rather
be alone with Paul for time.
When T rnturpnd Paul w cauinu Gnn uo,,
know, Kathleen, with all your dear little
| motherly ways, am four years older than
you?"
I'm years, perhaps, but oh, Paul, not in
sorrow. No. she continued, in answer to
his reproachful look; how gladly would
bear, your sorrow, heavy though it is, no
| words can tell
Then withdrew as gently as had come,
| knowing that my gentle brother could COM
fort her better than could. One day Paul
| mentioned our destination, German water
| ing place. Her face lighted up. We are 60
| ing there, too, at least I think SO; I have
heard them mention it, Then she stopped
abruptly, and changed the subject before
either of us could reply.
Paul used to lie down and talk OF her for
hours after took him down stairs, and one
night when he had been telling me how 10y
ally Kathleen's lips had kept secret the mis-
cry any child might read in her face, he
looked suddenly at me with a penetrating,
startled glance. Poor PHIL Poor Kat6-
leen,' I answered, wondering at his words.
when we reached Liverpool Mr.. Lam.
bert suddenly decided to go first to Paris, so
Paul and l went on alone. We did not
| speak much of Kathleen now, but my boy
missed her sadly, and as his health began to
fail knew he longed daily for sight of
her sweet face, touch of her cool, soft
| hand. My little sister, heard him say
| once when he thought he was alone, if you
knew Paul was dying, think you would
| come to him.
"His words wrung my heart with terri.
BILE pain and fear. If I had only known
Kathleen's address l would have written to
her, but had no means of learning it. Paul
said nothing to me about his wish to see
her, but when the doctor advised change
of air he asked me to take him to Baden
Baden.
"'Wby, Paul, do you think
4 think Kathleen may be there he said,
quietly: And he. was right. Two days after
our arrival carriage passed me in the street.
CHANGING up, saw Kathleen leaning pale
! and sad-looking among the cushions. As
she caught sight of me she started violently;
then stopping her carriage she made me
sign to enter it. The street was crowded, so
l obeyed her. How is Pau?' she asked
anxiously, as I seated myself beside her.
When ! told he, how rapidly he had failed
she said eagerly, will you take me to HIM
have so longed to see him again.
"'Now?' questioned.
Yes. No one cares where go;' and
the tears rushed to her eyes.
"'You are i'll, I fear said gently. You
are much paler than you were at sea. am
physician, you know, so you must let me
prescribe for you.'
'She smiled gratefully. Il have been i'll,
hut hiatt r ;ply
selfish and lazy, and do not exert myself
enough
After time forced myself to inquire for
her husband and father. She colored quickly
saying in low, constrained voice, THANK
you, they are well. They are both here
"Then we did not speak until we reached
the quiet lodging had procured for Paul.
! had meant 10 60 first and prepare him
thinking the surprise might be too great, but
as we entered the hall bis voice greeted us.
Il hear you; come, Kathleen 1t was only
when saw them together that knew how
much he had missed her. He seemed quite
content to lie and hold her hand. gazing up
at her with such tranquil look upon his
face as it had not worn for weeks. He
only let her 60 on the promise of seeing her
every day, and that night when the good
German woman with whom we lodged came
in to ask him how he was, he told her, with
the bright smile so rare now on the wan face,
that he was Quite well. My little sister has
come to be with me. You must see her to-
morrow Then he added, more to himself
than to US, Pm getting ready
"The next day Kathleen's father brought
her. He came in and stayed few minutes;
was kind and friendly to Paul and courteous
to me; his manner seemed softened, but
whether that was only in the presence of
my poor boy could not tell. Ka,hleen's
eyes followed him wistfully as he went out,
and I heard her sigh. now knew certainly
that both he and her husband were profess |
sional gamblers.
During one of her visits she happened to |
mention having spent few weeks in this |
village. 1T was such quiet, happy time,'
she said dreamiy. 4 always associate rest |
with that little hamlet among the hills
When die l should like to be there. There |
was such a pretty grassy slope in the old |
churc hyard. l wish could think / would |
sleep there some time.' Then she looked up /
with smile. DO you know l often see that |
green slope in my dreams, and once saw |
white cross standing there, and when went |
to it my name was on it,
THAT night Paul had long fit of pain; |
he tainted several times; and the next day |
when Kathleen came he said quietly, Won't |