The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-26

let his glance escape from the diamond
shaped panes of the mullioned windows
( to the great mirror with its remnant of
| gliding, to the quaintly-carved chairs
with the cushions that had once been
gay, to the wide fireside with its glitter
ing dogs, behind which handful of en-
| bers glowed, and back to the bed upon
which he lay, with its high, curiously
wrought posts and its hangings of faded
luster. Had he been lured away into
some enchanted prison? And was that
woman, or some cunning piece of
sculpture, in the big arm chair?-a wom-
an fallen asleep as if after long vigils,
with her dimpled chin upon her hand
very fair woman, he thought, with a
mobile mouth, and a shadow beneath the
closed eyes, cast, perhaps, by the long
brown lashes; and maybe line too many
about the brow, but very fair woman
for all that and how unlike Miss Linda!
And then he essayed to lift himself up,
and sharp pain drew him back, and the
spell broke, and the sleeping beauty in
the antique chair came to life with a
start and a SILVER; and just at that in
slant the door opened softly and medi-
cal gentleman entered. Mr.. Erskine
must have experienced some sensations
similar to those of Sigismund, in Cal
deron's romance of "Life's a Dream"
when he Weakened in "sumptuous pal
aces" Not that there was anything but
the "reminiscences of luxury in this new
situation: the linen upon which he lay
was darned, the carpet upon the floor
was patched; everything was dim and
worn with age and use-everything ex-
cept the apparition in the arm chair, with
the great sleepy brown eyes looking
straight into his.
And how fares our patient this
morning." said the newcomer.
" He has been very quiet since you left
him. But perhaps he can't speak for
himself. think had dropped asleep"
You are not used to vigils, little girl;
you are pale yourself. Ahw-(turning
to Erskine)-" our patient looks as if he
would like to ask questions. So, 80.
But not to-day-not to day; they'll keep"
That was no tedious convalescence of
Mr.. Erskine's in the quaint old room, in
to which the sunset stole, rosy red and
gold, and touched the faded roses of the
chintz into moments youth, and lent a
magic light to the soft eyes watching be-
side him. What tender hand was this
which smoothed his pillow or bathed
his aching head. how divine, after the
needless touch of hired nurse! And
what tuneful voice was this that read
from the poet and the novelist, and filled
their pages with new revelationsl What
delicious twilights were those, when the
young moon glanced in through the case
ment moment, and they let their fan
cies wander into the future, betrayed by
its beams, and told each other fairy
tales of SCIENCE" and grew confidential
and personal, and found that they loved
the same creeds, and often anticipated
each others thoughts! When he had
first been allowed the privilege of speech,
" | should be happy to know all about
it, he said. "If it were in the days of
witchcraft, l should believe myself under
some enchantment. At least, | should
like to know who it is that works these
spells"
4" / am Laura Loring," said She smil-
ing; and you are just as wise as you
were before"
" You are an angel, whoever you are"
Nobody ever calls me one. Perhaps
you are premature; you don't know me
well enough"
Don't know you! Doesn't sick
room reveal character? Don't know you!
believe l knew you when you were a
star in the constellation of Cassiopeia
and l was nebulous point in the
heavens"
"Hush I'm afraid you are wandering
again"
Not far away from here, I trust
And 50 you are Laura Loring! Well, l
hoped to make your acquaintance sooner
or later, but hardly expected to bring it
about in this way, A gunshot wound is
an ugly affair, but everything has its
compensations. And so you are Laura
Loring" he repeated, smiling quietly.
Did you suppose was anyone else?"
" | never supposed you were Laura
Loring. l once asked Miss Linda Hard
acre about you, and her description was
quite different"
Indeed? dare say she t1attered the
portrait. l believe Miss Hardacre is i'm
lhdllNC.
"She certainly drew on her magma
ton in this instance. y" And so this is
Miss Linda's passee Miss Loring" he
thought. For accurate information
recommend me to Miss Hardacre. She
ought to cultivate the exact sciences,
with such taste for them"
The day arrived when he could walk
in the garden with the assistance of Miss
Laura. The red leaf had come, the
grapes were growing lucent and purple
against the sunny wall, the ripened APP
Piles were dropping hour by hour, and
gay autumnal glories embroidered the
garden borders, and the atmosphere pos
sessed that indefnable sweetness which
we call melancholy.
81 could almost wish to be an invalid
forever, and walk these pleasant garden
alleys alone with you," he said. "By
the way, if that lucky shot had ended my
existence, very likely they would have
called it suicide because Miss Hardacre
refused me-" They walked on together
in silence for little space; then, "Why
don't you ask me if she did?" he per-
sisted.
Because it is none of my affair"
ooh, isn't it? Do you know l must
have seen you somewhere-in some