The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-12-15

home with heavy heart
Though we most earnestly and af
fectionately urged Ethel to make our
home hers, she answered, with the un-
yielding Farleigh pride in her clear
young voice, that she could never feel
herself dependent, even on her near
est and dearest, and after some cor
respondence with an old friend of her
mothers, she told us that at midsum-
mer she should go to London, where
she had found situation as governess.
But before midsummer-it was the
year 1S57-my husbands regiment
was sent into the Indian service; and
although for us the black horrors of
Delhi and Cawnpore were not, yet |
would not, if | could, have held him
back. My husbands younger brother,
Garth, had lately been appointed to a
lieutenancy in the Majors regiment.
"There was no talk of Ethels leav-
ing me now. Apart from my hus-
bands absence, there was another
reason why, in days drawing near, /
needed some one whom / could trust,
ana one who loved me.
at was not wholly sympathy that
taught Ethel wnat my suffering was.
We had heard that Basil Ffrench
had lately asked and received a trans
fer into my husbands regiment, and
would sail with him in the early sum
mer | think if he had come to Ethel
then, the solemn shadow of the peril
into which he was going would have
hushed away her pride, and she would
have shown him all her loving heart
but he was not man to ask lightly
again what once had been so bitterly
denied him, and he went away, and
there was no sign between them.
sin the weary weeks and months
that followed the departure of Garth
and my husband, two sad.eyed women
moved about the house that was late
so gay, and sat silently under the
whispering beeches. Perhaps Ethels
burden was the harder to bear, since
mine was recognized grief, under
which | might cry out, while for very
shame she must hide hers in the depth
of her maiden heart.
at was just after word reached us
OF the regiments safe arrival in India
that there came to me letter from
Marjorie, telling me of her mothers
death, after long and wasting illness
" Come to me, Marjorie, my an
swer said, and in the early autumn she
came.
Both Ethel and l were happier for
having her with us.
But in the early November days l
noted with anxiety subtle change
IN her. Her face, always fair, had
now certain transparent look a hec-
TIC flush, which vanishing, left her
deathly pale, replaced the color which
had always been constant and health
ful; she seemed constantly languid
and exhausted, and sometimes invol.
unfairly she would pass her hand to
her forehead as if to press down a
pain.
"One November twilight we were
sitting together in the drawing room
by the long windows that open on the
terrace. We had not yet rung for
lights, preferring, as our frequent
fashion was, to watch the waving sun
set over the hills, and the stars shine
out one by one into the purple silence.
a short, sharp cry rang suddenly
through the silent room, and Mario
res hand cold as snow flake, clutch
ed and held my fingers. turred toward
her in alarm, her face was like marble
in the dim light, and her eyes looked
strained and wild.
"As turned she flung herself into
my arms, crying passionately: 'Oh,
Dora! Dora ! cannot bear it any
longer. Don't my dear don't, and
burst Into gasping sobs.
"Ihoroughly frightened, held her
in my arms, soothing and pettng her,
and hushing her with every tender
word | knew; Ethel meanwhile clos
ing the curtains to shut out the eerie
twilight, and lighting the candles till
the room vas bright with their soft
glow.
When at last Mariorie's sobs were
hushed, and she lay, weak and tremb.
ling, said;
MY love, can you tell me what
frightened you so, and what | was
doing that you should go piteously cry
out to me to stop?"
"Gou would think me mad if | !
We're to try and tell YOU she said, in
voice scarcely above a whisper. i
knew-oh, how well | knew that
you were thinking of Major Tregar.
then III ludia, and longing to be with
him, to see him, to know what he was
doing; and it grew on me of sudden
that could 90 there-go out of my
body, ana go there and seek for him
and | telt that You were bidding me
to go and | was leaving you, and
there was Il great mist and darkness
closing round me. and the horror and |
the fear of it were like death and |
tried to cry out to you to hold me
not to bid me gor
"A fine cold Shudder crept like a |
thread of ice along my veins, but | |
summoned all the cheerful common
sense that was my birth-right, and |
cried, as fonded and kissed her:
My poor child, you are nervous
and overwrought; and we and the
twilight are bu. dismal company / |
shall send you straight to your bed, |
and bring you up glass OF hot drink |
and good sleep will soon chase away |
all your uncanny fancics !!
But for all that, ! promised my
self that would send for Dr. Llewel |
len as soon as ever it was light enough
Tor groom to ride, But, tired out, |
! was only wakened next morning by
the dressing bell and when came |
down to the breakfast room Marjorie |
met me, looking so CHEEKY and like |
her old self, and so ready to laugh at
her twilight terror that l thought no |
more of urging medical advice on her
THAT morning the Indian mail
came in, and among the letters was
one for Ethel, at sight of which her
bonny face flushed Ike a sunrise sky |
and as soon as might Hbe she slipped