The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-17
A SECOND TRIAL.

lege. The people were pouring into The
church as 1 entered it rather tardy
Finding the choice seats in the centre o.
the audience-room already taken, I press.
ed forward, looking 10 the right and to the
left for a vacancy. On the very front
row of seats found one.
Here little girl moved along to make
room for me, looking into my face with
large gray eyes, whose brightness was
softened by very long lashes. Her face
was open and fresh as a newly blown
rose before sunrise. Again and again /
found my eyes turning to the rose.like
face, and each time the gray eyes moved,
half smiling, to meet mine. Evidently
the child was ready to make up" with
me. And when, with bright smile, she
returned my dropped handkerchief, and
I said "Thank YOU p we seemed fairly
introduced. Other persons, now coming
into the seat, crowded me quite close up
against the little girl, so that we soon
felt very well acquainted.
'There's going to be great crowd" i"
she said to me.
eyes," I replied people always like
to see how school-boys are made into
men,"
Her face beamed with pleasure and
pride as she said:
"My brothers going to graduate; he's
going to speak I've brought these flow
ers to throw to him."
They were not greenhouse favorites |;
just old-fashioned domestic flowers, such
as we associate with the dear grand
mothers; "but," I thought, "they will
seem sweet and beautiful to him for his
little sisters sake"
"That is my BROTHER" she went on
pointing with her nosegay.
"The one with the light hair" 1
asked.
"Oh, no." she said, smiling and shaking
her head in innocent reproof; mot that
homely one, with red hair; that hand
some one with brown wavy hair. His
eyes look brown, too; but they are not
they are dark-blue. There he's got his
hand up to his head now. Xou see him,
don't your"
In an eager way she looked from me
to him, and from him to me, as if some
important fate depended upon my identi-
flying her brother.
ri see him." I said. "He's a very
good-looking brother"
eyes, be is beautiful" she said, with
artless delight; "and he's so good, and
studies so hard. He has taken care of
of me ever since mamma died. Here is
his name on the programme. He is not
the valedictorian, but has all honor for
all that"
saw in the little creatures familiari-
ty with these technical college terms that
she had closely identified herself with
her brothers studies, hopes, and success
es.
"He thought, at first" she continued,
"that he would write on the Romance
of Monastic Life"
What a strange sound these long words
had, whispered from her childish lips.
Per interest in her brothers. work had
Stamped them on the child's memory,
and to her they were ordinary things.
"But, then," she went on, che decided
that he would rather write on Historical
Parallels and he's got real good ora
tioD, and he says it beautifully. BE has
said it to me a great many times. I
most know it by heart. Oh it begins
so pretty and so grand. This is the way
it begins" she added, encouraged by the
interest she must have seen in my face
"Amid the permutations and combina-
tions of the actors and the forces which
make up the great kaleidoscope of histo-
ry, we often find that turn of destiny
hand"
"Why, bless the babyW l thought,
looking down into her bright, proud face.
can't describe how very odd and selfish
it did seem to have those sonorous words
rolling out of the smiling intantilemouth,
The band striking up put an end to
the quotation and to the condolences.
AS the exercises progressed, and ap-
preached nearer and nearer, the effort on
which all her interest was concentrated,
my little friend became excited and rest.
less. Her eyes grew larger and brighter
two deep red spots glowed on her cheeks
She touched up the flowers, manifestly
making the offering ready for the shrine
"Now, it's his turn" she said, turning
to me face in which pride, and delight
and anxiety seemed about equally min
glet.. But when the overture was played
through, and his name was called, the
child seemed in her eagerness, to forget
me and all the earth beside him. Sht
rose to her feet and leaned forward for q
better view of her beloved, as he noun
ted the speakers stand. I knew by hel
deep breathing that her heart was throb
bing in her throat. knew, too, by the
way her brother came up the steps ane
to the front, that be was trembling. Tht
hands hung limp; his face was pallid
and the lips blue as cold. felt anxious
The child, too, seemed to discern tina
things were not we'll with him. Some
thing like fear showed in her face.
He made an automatic bow. Then {
bewildered, struggling look came intc
his face, then helpless look, and ther
he stood staring vacantly, like som
nambulist, at the waiting audience. Th'
moments of painful suspense went by
and still he stood as if struck dumb.
saw how it was; he had been seized will
stage-fright.
Alas little sister! She turned he
large, dismayed eyes upon me. "Ke's for
gotten il" she said. Then swift chang
came into her face; a strong, determin
ed look; and on the funerallike silenc
of the room broke the sweet, brave child
voice:
"Amid the permutations and combi
nations of the actors and the forces whicl
make up the great kaleidoscope of histo
ry, we often find that turn of destiny
hand"
Every body about Us turned and look
ed. The breathless silence; the swee
childish voice the childish face; tn
long, unchild-like words, produced
weird effect.
But the help had come too late; tn
unhappy brother was already staggering
| in humiliation from the stage. Th
band quickly struck up, and waves Q
/ Z lf