The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-12-31

Listen, Maud. Listenm
Ernest Brinsley stood with one hand
upon the shoulder of his beautiful sis
ter, while the other was raised in an at.
titude of expectation.
Floating on the still night air-their
clangor softened by the .distance-for
the old church steeple was more than a
mile away-came the sweet jangling of
the bells that were ringing out fare
well to the old year that clay dying"
It twas on broad veranda, overlook
ing a spacious garden, that Maud Brins-
ley and her brother stood that New
Years eve. The air was frosty, but not
q breath OF wind stirred the leaves of
the laurel trees below, while high up in
the sky an almost full moon poured
forth a food of silvery luster.
"Listen!' said Ernest again, in his
deep, grave voice. In few moments
now, the past year, with MI its joys and
sorrows, will be ended. Win you,
Maud, allow another year to find you
still harsh, unforgiving, and inlplacabIee
Bernard"
do not name him!' cried his sister.
vehemently, though her voice shook q
little. Ernest, you plead in vain.
can never forgive him."
"Think once again. Remember he is
my friend. Yes, although he has given
good cause for your resentment, call
him still my friend. How much he de-
plores that one rash act, and all the
consequences that have flowed from it, l
know full well. And, Maud, he loves
you-loves you still"
Maud did not attempt to speak when
her brother paused, but she noade an
impatient gesture.
repeat it, Maud, he loves you still {;
and incredulous as you may be, he has
always loved you. See him once more
let him with his own lips plead for
your forgiveness. It win be hard, /
know, for you to overlook the past-I
know that well. But the year is dying,
Maud; let your resentment die with it!
Let us in good truth welcome the advent
of q happy New Year"
"No, no." she said. slowly; it is I'M
possible! We are parted, and go we
| must remain"
| She shivered as she spoke.
Maud, dear one, you are cold. Let
| me fetch you another wrap"
g / will not be moment" she said,
| quitting his side hastily. ~ can fetch
a cloak, and be back again almost di-
rectly."
| As she spoke she fitted through the
| half glass door opening upon the We
randa, and was lost TO sight. 1t was
not the cold. however, that made her
| shiver, but the recollections of the past
that thronged upon her; and she hur-
ried off to fetch the cloak herself, in or
der that she might have an opportunity
to recover her equanimity, and steel her
heart to listen unmoved to her brothers
further pleadings.
/ No sooner had the door closed than
| Ernest took sudden step forward, and
leaned over the iron railing of the bal
cony.
Bernard ~ lie cried, in suppressed
| voice; Bernardo"
| Atthe summons dusky figure stepped
out of the shadow of o clump of laurels
where he had been standing unobserved,
and paused in the garddn-walk below.
"You have heard allpn said Ernest,
interrogatively.
"AllE
He spoke in deep detection.
If you could plead your ewn cause,
said Ernest, you might have chance;
and see. fortune favors you strangely
Come gently up the steps. and stand
here in my place-here. near this pillar.
| In the shadow she will MOI for mo-
ment notice the exchange, zen will bt
your opportunity; make tic best you
can it. Quick-quick! she comes!"
A wild hope sprung up suddenly in
! the lovers breast, and influenced by il
he hurriedly ascended the stone steps
/ Hardly had he taken up the requisite
/ position and Ernest disappeared, ere the
door opened and Maud came forth.
| Brief a had been her absence. YET