The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-07-12

|
rooms, muttering to himself, sometimes
turning impatiently upon his heel and
walking out Of the house.
One night they sat together, Helen and
the professor, in my pleasant parlor. The
fiat which | rented was next door to a big
asylum up town, SO that the grounds 10y
which it was surrounded gave us the ad-
vantage of side windows, from which we
could look over across the river The full
moon was climbing up into the sky; Il few
timd stars were family glowing there
the air had already the delicious languor
OF early summer; and Helen was beaut-
full. Her simple white robe Of India mus
lin, with only some narrow Nalenciennes
on the tlounces, had a better effect some
how than Miss Van Coot's new corded
silk
| was putting away the china in the
middle closet, when the professors fierce
whisper reached me. His voice would
only modify to Il sort of mutfled thunder
or a piercing hiss,
''There is q mystery in your life he
said; there is something weighing upon
your heart. Tell me, then, what it is.
must-l will know"
To my surprise and alarm, | heard Il
stiled sob, a soft footstep, and in a mo-
ment Helen ran out to me.
"Tell him to 90 away" she said, put
ting her arms about me, and hiding her
head upon my shoulder. II can not stand
it any longer. Tell him to go away
She sobbed aloud, but held her head
steadily down upon my shoulder, while
her hands repulsed the professor, who
endeavored to approach her. Scolding
and soothing 10y turns, the poor professor
was beside himself
leave her for tonight y | said at last
to HIM "She will be better in the morn
| ing"
He endcaNored once more to take her
hand, WAS again repulsed, and picking up
his hat, tlingng his coat over his ARM he
rushed down the stairs two at a time, and
out of the house like Il madman.
| got Helen to bed, and when | was
about to leave her, she pulled me down
to her and kissed me.
'Nou are Il true lady, Susie" she said;
''the truest | ever saw. You have no
business, dear. which is the very sub
limest quality a human creature can pos
sess."
What was my surprise in the morning
to find Helen come out to breakfast with
her bonnet on, wearing neat travelling
dress, and having the air OF one who was
about starting upon Il journey
'Don't be startled, Susie" she said : IL
am going to the South. | am very I'M
happy and can stay here no longer; my
trunk is already packed. You will find
upon the card which | will give you my
address in New Orleans. You have earned
the right to my confidence, dear and You
shall have it. will write to YOU"
How could | help being startled?
couldn't eat IL morsel, but sat devoul.ng
with my ewes that sweet sad face which
was to vanish so soon from me, perhaps
| forever.
True to the last, Susie" she said, get
ting up from the table, and straining me
to her heart. ''Not a word do YOU say,
not a question do YOU ask. What II
treasure of a woman you are. verify
believe there is not such another on the
face OF the earth"
Then she kissed me once more, put the
card into my hand, and the carriage be
| ing at the door, her trunk was bumped
down the stairs, and she and it Whlled
away in the tWinkling Of an eye.
| sat there stunned and sIupetied don't
know how long, till heard the professors
footsteps in the corridor Even then did
not move, but called out to him to come
when he raped upon the door.
81 could not sleep" he began II have
tossed and tumblcd all the night through.
came early that might find her. Where
is she -
''She is gone | said.
.'Gone " he thundcred. no the Inst-
tute :"
'.To the South to New Orleans. 1t is
al your fault" cried. ~ GU have broken
her heart. She said she was 50 unhappy
gone You will see her no more. You
have lost her as we'll as H.
"Du lieber Gott :" cried the professor,
and sank painting into Il chain,
"Ies," | said, lit is your cruelty that
has driven her away. She loved YOU"
"Did she say so?' said the professor,
extending his hands to me piteously.
''Ot course she didn't. How could she !!
You never gave her Il chance, You were
amusing yourself with Miss Van Coot.
| ou did not care
"Allmarhtiger roared the professor,
who was only protane in his own IAN
guage; ''do not dare to say that Md
care. But there WAS Il mystery that per
picked and troubled me- Why did she
never speak OF her family and friends /?
Why did she never tell of her early life !
of the days which We're past Z"
because there was no necessity. 1t
was nobody's business but her own"
bah " cried the professor: ''it was,
1t was your business and mine. | tell
YOU there was something to be feared, to
be dreaded. Saw you her hair, how it
did curl and curl? And her skin was of
that rich warm tint, like the pulp Of Il
pomegranate. And her eyes-dos re-
member her eyes =
"The most beautiful eyes" exclaimed
Yes, yes" said the professor; "but
Opaque. | tell you, my gracious Fraulein,
there WAS Il taint i'll her blood, Il mingling
of the African there.
"Protessor Wagner" | cried, indig-
nantly.
.'And H. he shouted-''I loved her !!
Gott in Himme, Of course | loved her :.
But my blood has come down to me
through the centuries pure and undetiled.
1t is all that | have to boast Of"
'Miss Van CoOt has even more" broke
in. 'She has condescended to tell me of
her magnificent origin. Go to Miss Van
Coot, Professor Wagner. Her blood is,
if thin, of stupendous antiquity She has
already i'll your country Il cousin who
owns a principalty. Make haste to get
her, before he comes to her or she goes to
him, for they have a fashion of marrying
cousins"
(Which is bad for their spines," groan-
ed the professor. Then he turned to me,
and the tears were actually in his poor
eyes. 'Come," he said, ''you are vexed
with me, and it hurts me to the heart.
| cannot afford to lose your friendship,
which has been dear to me for so long.
] will do what you wish. You say that
she loves me. The good God knows that
am tired OF this suspense. Well, will
marry her, then. There, now, art thou
4 q.