The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-10-22

emphasis, the very queen Of them all
Come here, Danton-do come here and
Sc this attitude. Did ever sculptor seize
a happier, momenti What do you di.
vine she Is doing' IL she praying, think
your
at was instantly at his side. ] recog.
nired a new face. II was upturned, and
the splendor Of the setting sun, subdued
by soft, rosy clouds hanging In the sultry
air, flushed beautifully that pale, meek
brow. Her whole bearing was devotion
al. Her hands were clasped above the
heavy garment In her lap; her head
leaned against the window frame, and the
glossy curls shaken all over the white sill
were tinted by the splendor Of the western
sky.
"She Is either in prayer or serious con-
temptation thought ! to myself In a
moment the delicate creature started,
looked shyly from the window-she could
not see us where we stood-and putting
up one hand seemed brushing tears from
her lashes. Then she bent low over her
work, her long trcsses entirely concealing
her features.
"Let's cast lots, exclaimed my friend,
in pretended entb usiasm, while was in
dulging in the deepest sympathy. Twas
silent.
"'Some distressed damsel, forced by
hard fate to work for her living, ] sup
pose,' he said lightly.
"Ireproved him for his thoughtlessness.
She may have a dying friend at home /;
how do you known remarked-'o
she may have lost near relative. She
Is in black, you perceive
AFTER that I found myself looking
across the street every leisure opportu-
nifty, and could not but grow interested
in this sweet creature. Iperceived she
smiled but little, and was rarely engaged
in conversation. I saw also that some
times the other girls laughed immoder-
ately-it seemed at her expense, for she
would look sadly annoyed, and more than
once her cheeks have crimsoned at some
light word or vulgar raillery. I pitied
her. / imagined her as delicate as beau
tiful, and l knew her sensitive nature
must receive many rude shock from the
thoughtless beings around her. Many a
time have found myself growing angry,
when those blue eyes looked 80 appeal
ingly upward, as if yearning for rest In
heaven. She grew pale; Isaw her change
day after day, week after week, and knew
the only reason she remained when the
others were gone, was because the task
was too much for her slight frame.
Zone beautiful afternoon, after busy
day, l came here as usual, and for the
twentieth time devised what plan ! might
pursue, in order to be of benefit to this
timid, graceful girl.
"The sun shone gloriously when !
came in. In ten minutes the sky had
darkened, and the atmosphere grown
lurid. A clap of thunder broke 80 sud-
denly that leaped from my chair, and
the most terrific of lightning flashed in
simultaneously over the heavens. | looked
across the street. There sat my maiden
sewing, sewing, yet casting fearful
glance now and then toward the sky.
She appeared to be talking earnestly with
some one, and was, judged, overpowered
with mental distress. Presently she made
an indignant gesture. The blood surged
up in her checks-she lifted herself with
motion 80 majestic that she looked like
some wrathful queen. She threw her
work from her and disappeared. !
judged, rightly, she was going home be-
fore the storm burA in its fury-but what
meant that gesture Of depreciation
Hardly moment elapsed before the
rain poured down in torrents. The young
girl stood in yonder dark doorway, ir-
resolute and fearful. Snatching my UNI
brells, with my usual impulsiveness ]
ran down to the street, and standing re.
spectfully before her, begged her to put
herself under my protection. She drew
back at first, but my look must have re-
assured her; l am certain her pallid
features smote my heart, for read at a
glance intense suffering in that face,
lovelier than when had seen it across
the street. She accepted the courtesy,
and ! noticed her hand trembled as il
rested on my arm. 1t was with difficulty
she walked, and just as she reached the
door of her humble home, she tainted.
"a little child answered my summons,
and shrieked with alright as he saw his
sister, apparently dead, lying at his feet ;
the poor, sick mother was rendered help
less with terror. l briefly undeceived
them, and, lifting her in my arms, laid
her carefully upon the low couch, as my
eye took in the extreme poverty of the
apartment.
"a physician, the best in the ci ty, was
instantly summoned, and before he left
had learned that the mother Of this
young girl was the widow Of once opu-
lent merchant, who for years had been
my fathers intimate friend, but who on
his death-bed was made utterly PENN.
less by the villainy of his partner Since
then. the poor creatures had lived in OBJ
scurity, until Rosalie was old enough to
learn a trade, and she had chosen the
hard vocation of tailoress, because it
was thought most profitable.
"Poor child! she had overtasked her
forced strength. As she lay pale, trem-
bling, yet most lovely, upon the low
couch, could not but reecho the ssnti-
ments of the weeping mother.
"'Oh my Heavenly Father, spare
her II she should DO taken, what earth
ly consolation is left meY' ! felt then
that the fragile girl was all in all to me
that loved her strongly, devot dly,
passionately; that she was dearer to me
than my very life-that would willingly
give nv whole fortune 10 save her from