The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-03-18
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

80 q oNCOd WIFI III nhI
upon the shoulder of his beautiful sister.
while the other was raised in an attitude
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 a fare
well to the old year that LAY a diving"
1t was on a broad veranda, overlook
ing a spacious garden, that Maud Brins-
ley and her brother stood that New
Year SIEVE. The air was frosty, but moi
a breath Of wind stirred the leaves of
the laurel-trees below, while high up in
the sky an almostfull moon poured forth
Q flood of silvery lustre.
"Listenf' said Ernest again, in his
deep grave voice. I'm a 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,
unforgiying, and implacable9 Bernard
do not name himr' cried his sister,
vehemently, though her voice shook a
little: ERNEST, you plead in vain. 1
can never-neve forgive himr'
Think once again. Remember he
Is my friend. Yes, although he has
given you good cause for your resent
mont, l call him still my friend. How
much he deplores that one rash act, and
all the consequences hat have flowed
from it, l know full well. And, Maud,
he loves you-loves you still"
Maud / not attempt to speak when
her brother paused, but she made an i'm
patient gesture. |
81 repeat it, Maud, he loves you still;
and i~ncredulous as you may be, he has
always loved you. Sec him once moro
let him with his own lips plead for
your forgiveness. 1t will be hard, l
know, for you to overlook the past-I
know that well. But tho year is dying,
Maud lot your resentment die with III
Let us in good truth welcome the ad-
vent Of q happy New YearI"
mo. nor she said slowly; at Is i'm
possiblel We are parted and so we must
rsmainr .
She shivered as she spoke.
MAUD. dear ono, you are cold. Let
me- fetch you another wrap"
II will not be a moment" she said.
quitting his side hastily. 81 can fetch
a CLOAK, and be back again almost d.
rectly."
As she spoke she fitted through the
half-glass door opening upon the
veranda, and Was llost to- sight. II
was moi the cold, however, that made
her shiver, but the recollections of the
past that thronged upon her; and she
hurried OFF to fetch the cloak herself, in
order that she might have an opportun.
ity to recover her equanimity, and stee'
her heart to listen unmoved 10 her broth.
er's further pleadings.
No sooner had the door closed than
Ernest took a sudden step forward, and
leaned over the iron railing of the bal
cony.
Bernardo he cried, in suppressed
voice-"Bernardr'
At the a dusky figure
stepped out Of the shadow of clump Of
l~aurels, where he had been standing nm
observed, and paused in the gardcn-walh
below.
You have heard sll?" said Ernest, in
terrogatively.
"Allr'
He spoke in deep detection.
''H you could plead your W cause
said Ernest. lou might have = chance
and see, fo-tuus favors you strangely.
Come gcntiy up the steps, and stant
here in my place-here, near this pillar
In the shadow she will not for a mOmen
notice the exchange, than will Lc you
opportunity; make the best you can o
il. Quick-quickl she comes!'
A wild hope sprang up suddenly II
the lovers breast, and influenced by it
he hurricdly assembled the stone steps
Hardly had he taken up the requisite
position and Ernest disappeared. ere thu
door opened and Maud came fort.
Brief had been her absence. yet Maut
told herself il had been sufficient for he
to conquer the weakness which had as
sailed her. She was calm now-sho wa
sure she was quite calm-though tn
palms Of her hands were burning anC
her eyes ached.
But she would hear no moro upoi
the subject-about that she was determ
ined.
As she opened the door she locke,
across the yeranda where she had lei
her brother standing, and there OF cours'
she thought she saw him still.
In her hands sho carried n large whit
scarf, and fastening forward, she threw
1t round the neck Of the silent figure
while in q tone of gaiety, which onl.
served to display instead of conceal he
emotion, she exclaimed;
i.Here, Ernest, is wrap for you!
YOU will be so absurd as TO stand on
here listening to the old church bells
you must protect yourself from the col
as well as myself, and-ah-"