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

letter to Aunt Anna begging her TO leave
me =" for n time"
That time" seemed to be one of
real enjoyment for us both, but
know that, for me, II was miserable from
my intense, suppressed excitement. Or
course they IN ssed me at home every hour
of every day. What did Heinrich saw OF
my absenceI How strange it would seem
to him 10 look in vain for my familiar
figurel Would he tell me, when re-
turned, how long he thought these first
summer days he had spent without me1
A fter barely n weeks absence | went
home, and l chose Sunday, and the eson-
ing time. 10 go, because ] knew Heinrich
would be there. | remember Aunt Anna
was res ing in her low chair beside the
window, and opposite her stood Heinrich,
reading aloud to her the words he had
chosen for his oratorio. | stood to listen
to the tones | loved; so eager, yet so rev
etent; and no one knew | was there until
the words ceased.
Aunt Anna, | am come"
She looked up gladly, and kissed me
again and again ns IT she liked to have me
back then shook hands with Herr Wer-
kle. But found | had not courage to ask
them whether they had missed me, and
could only try to read IL in their faces,
while began ut once to tell them of my
visit. In my very first distinct pause
Heinrich slipped away. Was he so glad 60
be released from his kind effort to take my
place, and was all this the difference my
coming home had made TO himi
Yes, dearf Go on put in Aunt Anna,
wondering Mt my long pause.
III forget, nuntie." For how could
speak on glOwingy and merrily, when my
lips were twitcbing so, aud when II was so
hard to keep the tears out of sight3 He
you haven't missed me, auntieS"
81 have, my dear she answered, with n
tenderness which struck to my heart In the
consciousness of how little | had thought
Of her. But then we knew 1t was only
for few days"
IrCknew! An yes, he knew IL was only
for lew days. had not thought of that.
OF course he would say, 1t Is only for a
few days" 1t would be different If he had
thought it was for ever. suppose
Phyllis" said Aunt Anna, presently,
"go III aud ask Herr Heinrich If he Will
take supper with you and me. We dined
not very long ago, but still you must be
hungry, and IT Will be more sociablo TO be
together
/ thanked Aunt Anna in my heart. OF
my own accord | could not have vcutured
into his room just then; but armed with u
message from her, | was only too willing to
20. He was not playing, or even reading,
when | entered his room; only lying back
III his chair upon the hearth, ms hands
quite still and idle, and his eyes turned
from me.
Herr Heinrich"
He rose ut my call, and waited for
what l had TO say, though | could
see how little his thoughts followed
my words. or his eyes TOOK IN the anxious
questioning OF NINE. But when had de-
livered Aunt Annals message. he stood 80
still TINT l knew | might add those lew
words of my own which l had made up
my mind 10 say.
"weren't you glad to lose my worrying
presence for whole week, Herr Hem
richr'
GLAD. whyf"
My cheeks burned holly in my angry
pride, and my pull rs began TO throb PAIN
fully. | could see my own face in the
glass opposite-eager, anxious, wlstful.
could see his face before me. fun OF IA great
calm, deep lght shining i'll his dreamy
eyes, and IA tender look that was like u
smile upon his lips.
II mean" SAID, and folded my hand.
upon the table to hide their trembliug-the
small, useless hands which had no affinity
with the notes upon which his touch was
magic. 81 mean," aud | came IA little
nearer now and looked wistiully into his
face, did you-was missed at nllY'
Missed OF course. But then we knew
you were enjoying yourself, aud coming
back III IA few days"
Yes, It had been his thought. too.
But suppose" | said. the words sound
ing very hopeful, though they were 4
httle unsteady, suppose went away anc
| dId not come back"
Is II probabler'
do not quite think he knew he had
even asked tho question, for l saw that ht
whlcn had broken.
ut is very probable" said with EN-.
phasis.
He nad his hand on the piano. but before
he took his seat he turned and looked WI
| kindly into my face.
In your friends house then you have
met some one with whom YOU prefer t.
| live"
The truth rushed TO my lips so fiercely
that had hard work 10 keep it back.
| But did more.
lis that all you have to say to me-"
asked ION such momentous natter"
NO. | would tell you how glad am tC
hear Of IT, If II Is likely to bring you hap
| piuess."
That was all-uttercd without n change
OF tone or face. While | stood wildly
longing TO ask him If he realty thought
there could be anyone i'll all the wOrlC
with whom l would rather live than with
| Aunt Anna and himself, he began to play
"Wiil you come, Herr Helnrichy pu
in, petulantly, the soft chords jarring OF
my evil, jealous temper. But he ala not
stop, The grand ana touching melody, Il
winch his soul had sung those woudrou
words had overheard him read
was finding voice for the first time
aud what was my presence to Inn
now? Longing TO go away, longing
To deaden the sound of every note, wa'
| still powerless to stir. Held by an IRE
sIstble impulse waited beside him, Will,
the music, To my jealous fancy, surged in
between us like u mighty barrier. Aud yet
and yeti was 50 beautiful thing to par
! us
III hate it,"
So answered. passionately, TO his Quie
question when he ose, ana still in the sun
day hush around us fingered those might,
harnonies linked to the words divine.
" 1t is impossible, Phyllis he SAID, quit,
gently, and VITA that light upon his fac
which held him so Tar from me IN my PEI
~ aims aud jealousy. You mean YOU d,
not care Tor It,"
"Imean | hate it," | cried, in create
passion. " How can help hating II wheI
you care for nothing elsel Must we al
worship your idolW
Not rs | do, perhaps" he said, mos
earnestly. I" But no heart capable OF low
could hate that heavenly GIFT"
40 heart capable ~ iOrG.'
repeated the words more than once, II
n duzod sort of way, looking up into hi
face the while TO search for that lool
which | could never find. And rs | locke
the room swan round me, and the llgh
all glided away from II. l can just re
member stretching out both my burning
hands for help, ana nothing more.
II was excitement and fatigue Aun
Anna SAID, sitting beside my bed when
opened my eyes mt last; but new differ
entity. OF course hated Heinrlch's music