Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-26
A DRAMA BY THE SEA.
Hf EDWARD l.. STOWEii.
Was ever love no truc brief,
IAnu III .o., 1....1. ~. L.. ,f Il ....

| Was tNcr love SO brief and true!
"A handsome, good hearted fellow
clever, genius in fact, but unfortunate !!
AN idle, shiftlcss spcndthrift; Of no
| use to himself or others ?
Such were some Of the conflicting pro.
nunciamcntos of tho society of New.
buryport regarding Que Of it's members
whose eccentric career had brought him
into general notice.
BE it mine to reconcile these disCOr,lant
opinions, to extract the sting from the
harsh dcnuncation, content if ] can
elicit only n sigh of pity at the untimcly
end of my hero.
Among the few whose warm friendship
he still retained was Henry Gray, and il
was toward his house that John Eldoll
took his way ono beautiful day when
spring was just merging into summer,
and the earth warming into life and
fruitfulncss under the slarcof the ardent
sun. Perhaps some withcrcd blossom of
hope in Elon's heart had nnmllcd its
shrivclcd leaves, essaying to part with
its dead fragrance under tho influence Of
the warm spring breeze and the cglittering
rays of sunshine. Certain it is that his
step along the gravel was tirmcr than
his wont. While his manner bctokcnctl
q purpose contrasting strangely with his
usual careless and indifferent bearing ;
but as he reached the porch and glanced
at the far blue sea, u strange smile came
into his sad eyes, accompanied by the
exclamation
poor Harry, he will be paincd.'
Henry Gray answered the bell in person
greeting his old-timc friend heartily
Come in; old boy. Where have you
kept yourSclfior the past month Walk
right III to the library, and We will talk
old times over cigar. You remember
when we were chums at Phillips, what
trouble we gave the good old Doctor'-hc
stopped, overcome by laughter at the
remembrance of some schooIboy cs-
capadc-'what u splendid. terrific old
lion he was. In all that crowd Of three
hundred students there was not one bold
enough to look him in the eye. Dear
old l'nclc Sam what General YOU
were
Henry turned toward his companion
with eyes questioning his silence, and
was surprised to find him leaning against
the bookcase, his features pale and
contracted.
why, John, what is it You look so
pale and faint. Arc you sick Let ne
get yon glass of wine and he started
toward tho door, but was stopped by
Eldon, who exclaimed:
Wait-it is notliug-only an attack
Of faintncss. 1t will DE over soon; yes,
very soon. Let me sit down. and he
sank YEARLY into chair. "Now sit
down by me. don't need anything,
and won't take anything
But, John, said Henry, 'how i'll and
thin you look, In the pleasure of seeing
You did not notice that it was only the
shadow of your former self | was taking
by the hand. How cold and trembling
your hands are and your p'!s.c-I can
scarce feel its beat
Where did you learn medicine ;. inter
ruptcd Eldon, with hoarsc laugh Let
ne tell you my troubles. and then if you
have amy Simplcs that will restore to me
a sound mind | will cndcavor to take
sufficient interest in my miserable carcass
to keep it in decent repair. You know
how failure has attended my every
effort; everything ! undertook had upon
it q blight as ruinous as Dead Sea fruit.
My lofty purposes were sapped one after
another, and falling, buried with them
all my aspirations. Every pursuit has
failed to yield mc citllor honor or support.
scc' he cried, rising and approaching -
window that commanded u view of the
bay and port, sec yondcr ship; how
gallantly she has rounded Cape Ann,
and is making straight for port with,