The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-30
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Listen. Maud Listenr,

AiStSh, NAouN. LlStCh.
Ernest Brinsley stood with one hand
upon the shoulder of his beautiful sister.
while the other was raised in an attitude
of expectation.
Floating on the still night air--thcir
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 a fare
well to the old year that 'lay dying"
1t was on broad veranda, overlook
ing spacious garden, that Maud Brins-
ley and her brother stood that New
Year's-eve The air WAS frosty, but not
a breath of wind stirred the leaves of
the laurel-trees below, while high up in
the sky an almost full moon poured forth
a flood of silvery lustre.
'Listenr' said Ernest again, in his
deep grave voice. I'm few moments
now the past year, with all its joys and
sorrows will be ended. Will you, Maud,
allow another year TO find you still harsh,
unforgfving, and implacable? Bernard
''Do not name himr' cried his sister,
vehemently, though her voice shook a
little: ERNEST, you plead in vain.
can never-never forgive himr'
Think once again. Remember he
is my friend. Yes, although he has
given you good cause for your resent
ment, call him still my friend. How
much he deplores that one rash act, and
all the consequences that have flowed
from it, know full well. And, Maud,
he loves you-loves you still"
Maud did not attempt to speak when
her brother paused, but she made an i'm
patient gesture.
Il 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. 1t will be hard, I
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 ad-
vent Of a happy New Year,
mo, nor' she said slowly; sit is i'm
possible! We are parted and so we must
remainr'
She shivered as she spoke.
'Maud, dear one, YOU are cold. Let
me fetch you another wrap"
81 will not be moment" she said,
quitting his side hastily. II can fetch
a cloak, and be back again almost di-
rectly."
AS she spoke she fitted through the
half-glass door opening upon the
veranda, and Was lost TOY sight. 1t
was not the cold, however, that made
her SILVER, but the recollections of the
past that thronged upon her; and she
h,,rr;ad Of RI fatoh tlo oloaE harSalf In,
order that she might have an oppOrtun-
ity to recover her equanimity. and steel
her heart to listen unmoved to her broth
er's further pleadings.
No sooner had the door closed than
Ernest took sudden step forward, and
leaned over the iron railing of the bal
cony.
"Bernardr' he cried, fin suppressed
voice-''Bernard"
At the summons dusky figure
stepped out of the shadow of a clump of
laurels, where he had been standing I'M
observed, and paused in the garden-walk
below.
You have heard alp" said Ernest, in
terrogatively.
"Anr'
He spoke in deep detection.
"If you could plead your own 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 not for moment
notice the exchange, than will be your
opportunity; make the best you can of
it. Quick-quick! she comes!'
A wild hope sprang up suddenly in
the lovers breast, and Influenced by it,
he hurriedly assembled the stone steps.
Hardly had he taken up the requisite
position and Ernest disappeared, ere the
door opened aud Maud came forth.
Brief had been her absence, yet Maud
told herself 1t had been sufficient for her
to conquer the weakness which had as
sailed her. She was calm now--she was
sure she was quite calm-though the
palms of her hands were burning and
her eyes ached.
But she. would hear no more upon
the subject-about that she was determ-
ined.
AS she opened the door she looked
across the veranda where she had left
her brother standing, and there of course
she thought she saw him still.
In her hands she carried large white
scarf, and Fastening forward, she threw
it round the neck Of the silent figure,
while in tone of gaiety, which only
served to display instead of conceal her
emotion, she exclaimed:
"Here, Ernest, is wrap for you! II
you will be so absurd as to stand out
here listening to the old church bells,
you must protect yourself from the cold
as well as myself, and-ah-"
A cry almost q scream-burst from
her lips. She had discovered her mis-
take. She tried to fly, but she found
her hands grasped so tightly that any
effort at extrication would be futile.
"Help! helpr' she cried. .'Release
me, sir. Let go thissmoment! Ernest
Ernest! where are your Let go, l
say"
"Maud-Miss Brinsley," said Ber-
nard, in those deep, thrilling tones of
bis, II cannot-Indeed / cannot let you
60! Stay one moment-Only one mo-
mentr'
How that rich voice rang in her ears!
Despite herself, it moved her strangely.
She had never heard 1t since that night
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