The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-19

any compliance with her request.
1t was the postman.
Elizabeth never remembered having
seen the postman at the house before,
and was consequently greatly alarmed
as we'll as amazed.
GA letter for Mrs. Crimme."
And he left in the hands of the
trembling and still terrified maid
small note with the postmark of the city
on it, and sealed with black.
1t was some minutes before she suffi-
GENTLY recovered to close the door.
Then she carefully wiped off the letter
on both sides with her apron, and fold
ing it up in that article of dress, went
to Miss Crimme's room.
She knocked timidly.
came in reply:
"Come in ~
Elizabeth opened the door carefully,
and squeezing herself in, shut it to
hastily, as though she were afraid the
occupant might escape.
PLEASE, ma'am, it was the postman,
and he's been and gone and left letter,
ma am |" with two quick courtesies, and
widely opened eyes fixed on Miss
Crimme, who sat near a wood fire, read
ing from journal.
"Give it to me-" said Miss Crimme,
closing her book, while slight flush
| overspread her face.
Elizabeth slowly approached and
gave the letter, without removing her
eyes from her mistress.
Miss Jane took it, broke the seal,
slowly unfolded the letter and read it.
AS che did SO, q strangely bright express
sion came over her face, and she looked
almost lovely by the red light of the
fire.
Elizabeth stood by, greatly wondering,
till her mistress, suddenly remembering,
said:
"You may go, Elizabeth and, if you
wish, 60 out for an hour, no longer, or
you may sit by the window, if you
eyes, ma'am-thank'e zee, miss I" and
she retired as she had entered, carefully
closing the door, lest Miss Jane might
escape.
In Miss Crimme's lap lay the letter,
while her eyes studied the red Goals of
the fire, and smile played over her
generally sad and stern face.
This was the letter:
"Can you forgive and forget the
past? 1 have suffered much, but my
feelings for You are unchanged. Write
me but one word. I am ill, and lonely,
and dying"
Then followed an address.
Miss Crimme was thinking-remem-
boring. She was but human, after all.
There are, in the world, a few true ma
tures-weak, they are called-which
neglect, Inconsistency or insult even, can
scarcely change or shake in their allegi-
70 oh Ial
actions viewed through the vista of long
years look wonderfully different.
Miss Jane arose after few minutes,
and, going to n small writing table,
wrote the answer. And the one word
requested was:
"Come."
One or two days after the letter came,
Miss Jane informed the astonished
Elizabeth that q gentleman was coming
to stay with them, and that the best
spare room, which had been her moth
er's. must be prepared.
The room was accordingly prepared,
and toward dusk the expected visitor ar
rived. He came in carriage. He was
evidently an invalid, or had been quite
ill.
Elizabeth let nothing escape her as
she opened the door and called Miss
Jano. The gentleman walked slowly
and with the aid of the coachman. He
was quite tall, and, but for the various
wrappings around him, might have been
erect and well shaped. His face was Pc
culiarly handsome. All the features
were regular and finely chiseled; but
there was something, to any one ia
miliar with physiognomy, painfully re-
pugnant in the face. Utter and intense
selfishness was plainly written there.
Narrow and contracted thoughts seemed
to be the necessary companions of such
face.
Miss Jane met him at the door.
Edward |" she exclaimed, in q voice
tremulous with emotion, as she grasped
his hand, and q world of affection and
pity seemed expressed in her face. She
looked young again, and pretty, with
that beauty which high thoughts and
generous impulses give to counte-
nance.
"At last, Jeannette-Jeannette p he
said, and his face caught something of
the brightness of Miss James.
A bright light burned on the hearth
of the parlor. There Miss Jane led
him, while the coachman deposited a
small, worn and well travelled box in the
hall. The visitor was seated in large
chair by the fire, and Miss Jane stood by
him. The door was closed.
"We meet again, Edward, after so
many years of separation" said Miss
Jane; "and yet it seems but yesterday
since we last met. The long years have
rolled by-oh how long and weary they
seemed in passing-and now that they
are all past, it seems so short-so
short !" she repeated, in dreamy sort
OF way, and laying her hand on his