The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-11

to creep to the glass, covered them with
my hands and shrank away again, fright
ened to think how soon another change
must follow this one. and yet almost glad
to think that ] had only to lie still ana
wait for II. l heard Aunt Anna whisper
OF "a fever / had passed through, but /
knew that even she (l<ind and constant rs
she had been to mel had not understood
the beginning, and would not understand
The end-for did she not even now talk TO
me sometimes of the coming time which
l should never seer
IL was n very peaceful time. Aunt Anna
was so kind to me, everybody seemed so
good to me, and had very little pain now,
and was quite content Yet Oiten-very,
very often-I was conscious of an aching
want which-though II could not move me
to suffering u faint shadow OF that
unrest OF the early summer. There was
no eagerness in the want though now. IL
seemed part of my great weakness, aud
understood IL as little.
The trees before my windows were all
gold and crimson tinted when mt last left
my room, aud-feeling a very shadow OF
myself in one OF Aunt Annas long whlte
wrnpDers-was ensconCed beside the IRE
down stairs In Aunt Anna's own big chair.
She had closed the door upon us, and said
she was rejoiced ut having me about again.
yet every now and then sue looked into
my face so pltcously that l fancied its
whiteness startled her now as IL had
startled me before. And then she went
and set apart where | could not see her
eyes. l lay quite still, and resting; yet,
stronger upon me than ever, was that old
longing which even yet had not learned
to comprehend. What could | miss, while
was so tenderly loved and cherishedf
Aunt Anna"
We had both of us been so long silent,
thnt my low call startled myself Us well as
her. She was beside me IN a moment with
her gentle hand upon my head.
There Is one thing i have missed
through all my illness-Heinrich's music"
- Yes. dear"
"Why?'
She did not answer, and saw her eyes
were full Of tears.
Is he-gOnef'
my daring, have not told you of him
every day through these sad weeksf Has
he not always been anxious about you;
always kind and helpful to mel DO you
not remember what have told your
Yes; but the house has been so silent.
nuntie. To-day-nOw-l began to fancy
you might have said that TO soothe me,
aud that he was-gone.'
mo; he is with us still, my Child
" But has not play ed"
"No-you were 40 ILL., my darling"
She said this softly, thinking II was the
real reason. but remembered only how
my last words to him had been of angry,
passionate hatred for his music.
| Where is he nowr'
"In his own room, dear"
"Oh, Aunt Anna, will you ask HIM to
play to mel Tell hlm-no, how can you
| tell him the thoughts | do not understand
even myself Only ask him To play 10 me.
oh; auntie. 4 he VIII play may get we'll
| Her tears dropped down upon my raised.
clasped hands wnen she took them in her
own; then. without "a word, she went.
She did not come back to me- but pres
eutly HeinTlch's music stole INTO the room {;
gathered about me; nlled my heart, uud
held me there entruuced. 1t was very soft
and dreamy, lulling and soothing me. and
! bringing far, sweet dreams about me; aud
! / could not realize thai ms was the voice
! Of power and OF passion on whose wings
my soul had ever been too weak To rise.
IL could not be- for thus awoke an answer
| Iug voice within me. i, too, could Ieel my
thoughts rise and my heart expand. 1t
was beautiful-oh, so beautiful and the
! spitlt voices spoke to me. rose aud stood,
trembling in every limJ; and just at that
moment the sound ceased-qulte suddenly [;
midway IN IA dreamllke, exquisite meiody.
1 did not stop TO think. With feeble
steps aud weak hands. gropiug for support.
] entered HeIurich's room and paused
within the threshold He stll sat before
the piano. but his hands were locked upon
the desk before him, and his lace buried
| in them.
ION, Heinrich" | cried. IN my weakness
ana the earuestness Of my alpeal. why
did you stopl The silence came like tears,
aud IL was so beautiful Play once again.
IL is all beautiful and real 10 me tonight.
Oh. Heinrich, notO understand II; nOU
love IT."
Phyllis" he said-and, oh, could my
thin, white face have startled him. as his,
in its worn aud deep anxiety, startled me
then - have bl oxen down for the first
| time
"You-you have had so little practice.
You have been 30 silent for my sake. You
thought | hated it-I told you -, but II
was not true. Heinrich. My own bad pas
sions came between, aud could not reach
il. But tonight il WAS all different No
selfish, jealous thoughts make discord Tor
me now. On, Heinrich, can understand
II now. 1t was so beautiful only so sad.
why did you stop' surely you love it
stIll-just as you did.
." Yes: just as | did he answered, and
his voice trembed III some new anu deep
emotion as he turned and took my hands IN
his.
with all your heart-just as you used
To do p questioned gazing into his face
and wondering what were the changes
there.
Before he answered he put his strong
and gentle arm about me-because | wa:
50 frai and weak. Then he only sad
No. not with all my heart, sweet. have
leaI ned by sad experience that the little
friend whom nave missed 80 long Is far
far dearer to me even than my art"
| forget whether that was quite all b,
sand. But ut any rate, | soon got well.