The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-12

..A,d who are your fsvorite compo.
scrsyv Mendel.sohn and Schubert.
"Do you play muchf moi nea''! 81
| much as used"
"Why have you given up playing so
muchyv .sAh, she sighed. and shook ne,
head. 81 daresay because am getting o'o
and lazy" 80 u,,,o -.
r,yb,Sv az will play with great pleasure,
only not TOO long" ~,
she PLAYED for half an hour, ana Col-
hurst listened enchanted. lie knew no.
thing OF music himself, but ne 'oved IL
dearly. He had never before heard any
thing 40 weird, so soft. so tender, so spirit
ueIIe. It was like the signing OF iorlofn
winds In mystic groves. lie could not pay
rho sImpIest air. but he could interpret the
most intricate, or, at all events, all airs na'i
meanings for him right or wrong, he ala
pause: he did not care TO inquire.
Az the end Of half an hour the aunt
came and said ,.,
"That Ia enough for tonight, child"
CoIthuist rose to go, and in taking leave
said "You have given me only an appellte
for your music. May /, Miss Gay" turning
TO the elder lady. leone another night
:. Certainly. We shall be very glad 10 see
Won IL Won will not mind our being rude,
and turning you out early. We live by
rule. YOU know, and we must take no lib
critics."
He went ont for stroll round the square,
IL being then only 10 O'Clock. As he
walked round and round the square he
could think OF nothing but the lovely
stranger. Every movement OF hers bad
been grace, every word melody. Light
seemed to gather round her a. she sat.
One after the other he recapituated all
she had said, or done. With the intention
OF finding il anything had been out Of
harmony, il there had been any SAVIOR OF
bad taste. Time after time he had finished
the list, with the reflection, NO, 1t was as
rerfect as the most fastidiOus could dream
of-alI had been interpenetrated with the
essence OF grace and spirituality"
Then. from rehear>ing the things when
| had taken place. he rehearsed them merely
for the delight Of keeping her image before
his ewes, her voice about bis ears.
Four delicious evenings passed away IN
the same manner, and then came bad news
they we're leaving tomorrow for Torquay,
She told HIM, with q smile, the doctors had
said no time should be lost. They were 10
20. and at once. the east wind now blowing
being most injurious. He was greatly
crieyed they were going so soon. When
were they likely to be back again in Lon
don?
eve do not know. We cannot say.
Perhaps never"
"You must not say that. Surely you will
come back again"
THAT will depend in great measure on
how We get on at T0rquay.'
"But you-you will surely come back TO
see us once again? | am sure .Nrs. Brooks
would do anything she could for you. She
is the most kInd-hearted woman in the
world"
For an instant the habi'ual faint smile
left the face OF the girl, and her eyes half
filled with tears. Her lips trembled, and she
said in low, unsteady voice. 81 am sure
she would be kind to me. Every one is so
kind to me. am sorry have to 20 away"
"But you will come back, won't you!"
be pleaded
She looked up suddenly, with the bright
est smile he had ever seen on her face, say
inc, "Perhaps may; flltry. Now, good
by"
Life went back TO its old course at Man.
vile square. Some other people came and
occupied the rooms where she had been
Dav after day Edwin COithurst watched the
summer rpen and the green deepen in the
foliage OF the square. Day by day he
dreamed OF her return, and OF the delicious
evenings spent within the charm OF her
voice, the msgic OF her presence. As he
drove in and ont OF town he cOniured
with her image until all the recesses OF
his memory were filled up with pictures OF
her. He would have given ANYTHING he
possessed to write to hcr-tO get a single
line from her; but although the period Of
their acquaintance had been long enough
for bin to fall in love, it had not been long
enough TO warrant him in asking to be al-
lowed TO write. The summer waned aud
autumn was at hand. Still no word came
from the guests OF June. The rich
green OF the foliage was here and there
touched b. the first foreboding finger Of
decay. Morning found "A h1ar-fr0st on the
ground, and evening brought chilly dew
Old people avoided the enclosure after sun
down. and the delicate chose the sunny side
Of the square. The buXOm hOusemaid had
married the bakers man, and stood no
longer at the head of the area-step> with
arms akimbo. The birds were getting ready
for winter and saving up their songs to
keep the cold out.
III WAS III lUc NONtuibtl VI ld>l ltdls
when the first fine sitting OF snow fell out
of the sullen sky, that letter came to Mrs.
Brooks. II bad a black border, was not in
the same handwriting as the former one,
and ran as follows:
Dear Mrs. Brooks, AS you will gather
from the edge OF this sheet, the worst has
come. hoped against hope for days and
months. 1t is a heavy trial. but Gods
will be done. | hope to be with you on
Thursday next, when can tell you all.
"YOurs sincerely. HELEN GAY
Mrs. Brooks looked at the mortuary card,
and put the card and the letter back into
the black-bOrdered envelope, saving to her.
self, They were both Iieens. Poor thing,
we must be good to her. Poor thing >"
When COlthurst came home she told him
the news. He read the letter slowly, then
said We must do all we can do for her.
Yes, poor soul"
He took up the mortuary card, read it,
stared at it, stared at Mrs. Brooks, dropped
it,, staggered to his feet, and cried: Good
God it is the girl who is dead "
"No, no! !"
eyes. Aged eighteen. y IinSley'S Mag
0zine.
ROck.a-Bye. Baby.
TRenuhished Inv renuestl