The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-23

uagar, and told her about her long iour.
hey from the P"cic coast, where she hut
lost her husband many years since, anG
had longed to come home to the East. but
dreaded, rs well she might, tie ireary
waste of milrs between. Hagar knitted
stolidly on, and listened-apparently she
listened, but not with that active, tender,
absorbed interest that the minister gave to
the story of the traveller.
Mrs. Delplaine was too i'll to be left long
alono, and Hagar bud her household duties
to attend to, so that the mipister WAS often
compelled to bring his book nnd make the
sick room his study. This chamber which
had been somewhat bare uud deyoltte,
suddenly became glowing and warm, and
made sharp contrast with the room on
the lower floor, lined with motll-eaten
volumes, and choking with demonstrating
dust Mrs. Delpluine had begged that q
few sticks might be lighted on the hearth,
and had plead d that quantity of light
| Wihpb uuu pIrNlo Bc tthSu lIOIll
her trunk to soften the glare ut the win
| dows, tc add to the seapty covering of her
bed, to throw over the grim lenthern back
of ler chair, and as Mrs Delplaiue's faSor-
| ite color seemed to be Of tile fnint wnrla
tint of the rose, the whole atmosphere of
the room took this soft coloring and the
hungry soul of the Rev. Paul delighted
therein without knowing why. He was
walking just now in the big gloomy room
below, the scant tails of his threa,lbure
cont Tapping i'll the chill dir of March, but
his soul was warm with the memory of tile
last hours lie had spent In that pleasant
room above.
Mrs. Delplaine-poor Mrs. Delplaine--
having nothing else to think of in this
queer, picturesque region, being some
what APPALLED, by the big sterile hills and
the gray, gloomy sky which her crimson
shaws could not altogether shut out, hav-
ing nothing else to think of but the tender
interest that this haggard but handsome
recluse of a rarson took in her misfor-
tunes, and feeling that if he had been as
hard hearted as his honsekerper she might
not now have been alive. and finding life
ever SO sweet i'll her languid convalescence,
she WAS constrained to ask of this comely,
but st III negro woman something of her
muster.
as lie alone in the world? Has he no
kindred p She inquired.
Hagar looked up from her knitting
Sc stolidly that Mrs. Delpline addict
Has lie father or mother, wife Or chill
dren ?"
Hagar deliberately turned the heel of her
stocking before she fully satisfied the
curiosity Of the convalescent. Then she
vouched to say that he wis quite alone; no
father, nor mother, nor chin, as far rs
she knowed. There used to be u wife-a
poor, sicEly ur-but she was done
gone South years ago and never come back.
"Did the poor lady die there 7" said Mrs.
Delplaine.
Hagar hesitated a moment. Then she
said:-
eyes, she died there, sure enough"
"And how many years has lie lived in
this desolate region, friendless and alone?'
said Mrs. Delplaine.
Hagar reckoned it was considerable
time, but gave it as her opinion that some
| peoples room was better than their COM
| pany; and add ng that Mrs. DeIplaine was
| talking too much, aud that she had better
| so to sleep, Hagar left the room.
No sooner had she gone out than Mr..
Hume entered. It had been customary for
MIN to relieve Hagars duties in the sick
room. Unconsciousy, perhaps, lie had
been listening for Hagars retreating foot.
steps.
Who can govern these vague yearnings
that sometime beset the strongest human
hearts?
AS lie entered the room his face bright
ened; the cav vcrnous burrows ia his brow
seemed to strnighten out into joyous be
nsnity; the very angles of his nature
sharpened by the hopeless loneliness Of
his life, bec,me smooth, and took com
Portable, rounded shapes to themselves; ht
greeted the pale, pretty woman in the
straight backed chair with a peculiar an(
charming tenderness of tone and manner
born of this new experience, that woult
have frightened himself lad LIE been (
looker-on.
But Mrs. Delplaine was neither fright
ened nor astonished. She was still 81
weak that Hagar's harsh and abrupt replie
had brought foolish tears to her eyes
which still hung upon her lashes as Silt
smiled upon Mr.. Hume. She gave her
self up to the sweet relief and comfort O
his presence. s. began to believe tha
destiny had determined this remarka bl
event in her life, and felt an irresistible de
sire to further the designs of fate. Sh