The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-10-06
RICHMOND.
there will be no more good-nights, no

there will be no more good nights, no
more partings in the storm for us. !"
They passed down the stairs and out
into the street together, unconscious
of the shadow closing upon them,
nearer and blacker. At the door of
Hester's home they parted with lin
gering good-by.
my precious music" cried Robert,
buttoning his coat closer about him.
mo harm must come to that. 1t
represents fame and fortune and love
! and honor for thee and me, my dar-
ling"
Hester lifted small, wet face to
peer into the gloom. Il wish you
could stay" she said. And oh,
Robert, be careful of the clitfs-the
| patl, is so lonely and dangerous. L
| shall come early to rehearsal to-mor-
row for the sake Of knowing that you
are safe
''Dor' he answered. Il shall
bring you glad tidings. Success is
4 too near for me to miss it now. Good
night, good night, my sweetheart !"
| And so speaking he passed from her
into the shadow of his waiting doom.
After that night of storm the day
dawned clear and cold. At St. Paul
the Choral aSs Society, just then in the the
oratorio, gathered early. One-two-
three the great bells chimed the
hours, and the singers waited patient
ly for their leader Something had
detained him, most likely; he would
come soon The hour struck four,
and he had not come. and Hester
| Heathersleigh, with heart heavy as
| lead in her bosom, fell on her knees
in an agony of prayer. "Oh. my God !"
| she cried, reckless of who might hear
her, 'he is dead My Robert is dead |!
He has been lost in the cruel storm"
I Some one. pitying. touched her arm.
1t was her cousin, Conrad Charteris;
! he WIS looking down at her with
pale face-a face paler far than that
with which he had spied upon her
yesterday behind the gallery curtain.
Her piteous cry had touched even his
stony heart.
"Hushl' he whispered. ''here is
news from him-from Robert; come
and hear what it is. =
A note had been brought by swift
] running messenger, and a shudder
ran round the waiting circle of listen
ers when its contents were made
known. 1t was signed by the leading
physician of the city, and stated that
Robert Field had been picked up that
morning at the loot OF the cliffs and
taken home for dead. He was now,
at the date of writing, lying in an in
sensible condition, and it was impcs-
sible to tell what the extent of his in
juries were, or if there were any hope
| of his ultimate recovery.
|, A horror or-stricken silence followed
| the reading of the note, broken at
| last by low. sobbing cry from Hes
ter Heathersleigh's white lips.
II must go to him-oh, | must 60
to him! Who will take me? You!
youp' and she caught Conrad Char
teris by the arm. ~
He shrank away from her with
gesture, much as if she had pierced
him with knife; His black eyes
dilated horribly. I? l go with you
to see him?" he cried. What are
you thinking of? What do you take
me for?' Then noting her aston
ished look he made a fierce struggle
for composure; but his hand shook
like withered leaves; why do you
wish to go to him ?'' he questioned
| angrily. He would not recognize
you-and it is no place for you! Let
| ule tihC YOU lOluc.
She snatched up her shawl and
her shoulders. Il tell you [ shall go
have been his wife, and, living or
dead, my place is now by his side.
7 ou can come with me it you likep
And she flew down the steps.
1t seemed an age to her, that short
time she was on the road leading to
the lonely house of Robert Fields
widowed mother; and when at last, by
dint of her prayers and tears, she was
suffered to approach the bedside. she
| looked down on very different Rob
| ert Field from the one with whom she
had parted in such high hope the
night before.
The bruises were chiefly about the
head, the physician said gravely, and
even If be recovered it was doubtful
| if his mind would ever be sound again.
| Hester heard him, and with great
| sob fell on her knees by the bedside.
| Where now were the brilliant aspira-
tions, the tender hopes, the gay cour-
age and stout hearted faith of one
short day gone by? Lost! lost Sue
Ecess so near to him, and yet to fail.
| Triumph so nearly won, and yet to
pass by on the other side.
Robert, O my Robert! Look up
Speak to me, or, |, too, shall die u
All but love remained. Love un ]
changed and unfaltering. This, then,
was left-the blessing of a love which
believes all things, hopes all things,
and endures all things unto the end.
The drawn white face on the pillow
/! did not change at Hester's cry, but
under the half closed lids the dull
eyes cleaned feebly and the slender
hand outside on the coverlet groped
helplessly. Hester took his hand in
hers, and tlen quick as lightning. by
some strange, subtle instinct rather
than by any demonstration Of his, she
felt that the poor stricken senses were
trying to break through the darkness
that enveloped them, and make their
unk known want understood.
/ Robert, Robertl what is it ?" she
4 cried, what is it that you want TO
make us understand ?''
The helpless movement Of his lips,
the helpless cropping OF his fingers
were enough to make one weep. Hes
/ ter kept her ear to his mouth.
What is it, Robert, dear? Tell
me-what is it you want?'
| The stiffened lips strove with a
mighty effort to move, and this time
one word was feebly articulated:
"MusicF r -
Hester looked up with a startled
| exclamation
Music He calls for his music.
Do you not heal T? Where is it? Who
knows about it? Is it lost?' she
| questioned eagerly.