The Morning herald., 1876-09-01
FHE LOST LETTER

I.
one night between twenty and thirty
.s,s AGO. a party were assembled in the
nvius.rooms ,s of house situated in the
oost I SPACIOUS square of the great metro
"1;s The brightly lighted lamps lent an
Sdtional lustre to yet brighter eyes, and
he sprightly tones Of various instruments
cr Osomrpanied the graceful evolutions Of the
sucsrs, as they threaded the mazes Of the
runry.dance, cotillon, or quadrille, for
raltn polka, and schottisch were then un.
novn in our bathrooms. Here and there
ata couple in a quiet corner, evidently
moving the pleasures ola Irritation, while
me- pair, more romantic or more serious
han the others, had strayed out upon the
balcony, to indulge more unrestrainedly in
he conversation, which, to judge by their
ov and earnest tones, and abstracted air,
semed deeply interesting to both.
1t was now long past the hour "of nights
black arch, the Keystone" and the early
dawn Of midsummer morning was al
ready bestowing its first calm sweet smile
10 the smoke-begrimed streets and the
vorld-worn thoroughfares Of mighty Lon
don, as we'll as on the dewy hay-fields,
hsdy lanes, green hedgerows, and quiet
country homes Of rural England. The
morning star, large, mild, and lustrsus,
WAS declining in the clear sky; and on the
left Of the lovely planet lay soft purple
cloud, tinged on the edge with the lucid
amber of the dawning day. A light
breeze just stirred the leaves Of the trees
in the square garden, and famed the warm
cheeks Of the two spectators, as, suddenly
silent, they stood feasting their eyes and
hearts on the surprisingly beautiful scene
before them, and marvelling at the re-
markable purity Of the atmosphere, which,
In the foggy metropolis Of Britain, seemed
almost to realize the Venetian transpar-
ency Of the pictures of Canaletti. Per-
haps it may be as we'll to take advantage of
The pause to describe the two lovers, for
that they were lovers you have of course
already guessed.
A handsomer pair, i am sure, YOU would
never wish to see! The well-knit, we'll
proportioned figure Of the gentleman be-
spoke at once activity and ease, while the
Plrlted, intelligent expression of his coun-
enance- -dark-complexioned as that of an
A!ndalusian-would have given interest to
ar palmer features. The glance of his
dark eye, as it rested fondly on his fair
companion, or was turned abroad on the
world, told alternately of loving heart
aM aproud spirit. Philip Hayforth was
one who would have scorned to commit an
ynoble action, or to stain his soul with the
shadow Of falsehood for all the treasures
and the blessings the earth has to bestow;
euE ne was quick to resent an injury, and
SLOW to forget it, and not for all the world
would he have been the first to sue for
'eeoncllIation. s Like many ether proud
people, however, he was open-hearted and
generous, and ready to forgive when for
s!a sHeness was asked; the reason of which
%lsnt BE-, that a petition for pardon is, to
ae spirit of proud man, a sort of he mage
a s, more gratifying than the most skilful
na'1er.y, since it establishes at once his own
superiority.
- But to his Emily, Philip was all con-
.:uera'!qn and tenderness; and she, poor
sml, S with the simple faith of youth and
sJ wye believed him to be perfection, and
Son'red even his pride.
avery lovely girl was Emily Sherwood
,.fa sn'ea with beauty Of a rare and in
W. @'ve1ual cast. As she now stood leaning
NIi.a. '.le arm Of her companion, her tall yet
a,n ,rs''i u and graceful figure enveloped in the
s.., ns a.faperry Of her white dress, with her
d,S.: i~ :ufned In mute admiration toward the
,Guins sls day, it would have required but
ishqia il.Sat stretch of the imagination to have
na .sn:Ia !; IN her priestess Of the sun, await
n fs In IN rsSyerent alteration the appearance
t,,tns nef hre-god. Her complexion and
N,su a'usss' too, would have helped to
iaruSsheh ,ina.S' the fantasy, for the one was
ths ssalarly eI fair, pale, and transparent, and
nsnt t'ner Ter, characterized by delicacy, refine
siasm, u,, ana a sort of earnest yet still enthu-
r'nl. b,om Her hair, of the softest and palest
ns;. .sn, was arranged in simple yet massive
e,an.s sa,s around her finely-shaped head, and
n;" nHs1ed y with wreath of "starry iessa-
niue. Se, From the absence Of colour, one
,os1a sn, have imagined that her beauty
vou waiu H. nave been cold and sta!ue-like; but
js"1,s isa nad only to glance at her soft, intel
cIs.. ,uai , mouth, or to look into her large,
Mrra'. st' nazel eyes, which seemed to have
radi.meo dioSeo their sweet, thoughtful, chastened
p0w |ace ta from the star whose beams were
learn '1,s y, F Lpallns in the Frightening sky, to
'nink INK and love. ''''N ~
)ov lear Philip" she said at last in that
of NV ~ Hne m which is the natural expression
M, m ~ ut .he finer and deeper emotions, sis it
wss Oeautlful? I feel at this moment as if
a. if'e i "a! almost oppressed with happiness
'D'' were but an intense dream Of