The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-19
RESURGAM

the hail against the window pane, the
past, the yesterday Of life comes up be-
fore me and the present fades away; /
once more live and-love.
/ am no more the cold worldly wo- |
man; she has vanished, and in her stead
Is the happy girl, with all life's love and
possibilities blossoming about her. Alas
youth is fleeting, and alas, too, that
love should live when youth is dead.
Would that remembrance might be
swept away by some lethean flood; but
memory lives when all else Is dead, and
like love it is immortal.
1 was but sixteen when first met
Robert Dunbar, and he, ten years my
senior, had made place and name for
himself in the front ranks of his pro-
fession-that of the law. He was
darkly handsome and possessed of a
fascination of manner which few could
withstand-a favorite. In society he
was flattered and caressed by women
and respected by men. He came a
stranger to me, but brought letters
which established his claim to enter
the best society, and my father whose
political views were identical with his,
made him warmly welcome to our
house.
1t was during my vacation-for was
yet school girl-that first saw him.
l had been out for ride, unattended,
for l was fearless horsewoman, and
while yet few miles from home 1 was
startled by the sudden gathering of
thunder-heads in the west, which the
rising winds were marshalling across
the sky that had smiled so calmly upon
me an hour before, 1 thought could
rush home in advance Of the deluge
that was sure TO come, so | gave the
rein to my coal-black stud and bade him
do his best, He seemed to understand
my words as l spoke to him quickly,
and he darted forward like bird on
the wing. On came the tempest,
sweeping across the hill tops. The
deafening roar of the thunder, and the
Jagged lightnings that seemed to rend
the very heavens made sulphurlous
pandemonium of the fair landscape
which had lain so beautifully beneath
the afternoon sun.
1 seemed to have caught the very
spirit of the storm, and felt wild,
exultant thrill through every vein as
was borne on in the mad race. Fast
and faster flew my horse, his iron hoofs
beating an accompaniment to the music
of the tempest. We are on the last
mile, and yet the rain has not come,
and urge him on with voice and rein
my hat, caught by the force ofthe wind
has fallen on my shoulders, and my
brown locks, loosed from restraint
stream out like pennons on the gale
am within a hundred yards Of my
home when the glrth gives way, and
spring off, to be caught in my fathers
arms. For moment l am scarcely
conscious. hear papa saying: "Bes
sic, have been so anxious about you.
Are you hurt childP" Then all becomes
dark; and when l regained conscious
ness was lying on a lounge in the Ii
brary, with papa bending over me.
sit is nothing, papa; only L was {
goose to frlghten you so. l am well;'
and / rose rather tremulously, for my
nerves were somewhat shaken.
well, dear, let us see you at dinner
Mr.. Dunbar will dine with us, and my
girl must do the honors for papa"
kissed his dear old face, the only onI
l had known and loved-for | was al
only child and motherless-and hasten
ed away to dress. AS 1 braided my
hair, 1 wondered what is this Mr.. Dun
bar like7 Shall 1 like him2 1 suppos
he will think me only a little girl
"Well, shall not care," l mental.
l. added, as 1 placed great cluster o
pale pink roses on my creamy sash, ant
tripped down stairs to meet my fate
Papa sat in his easy chair, and facinl
him, with his elbow resting on the man
tel, stood Robert Dunbar. His eyes
q \ dark and deep, rested on me as 1 enter
ed, and papa, rising, said:
d 'This is my little girl, Robert. BeG
Is sie-Mr. Dunbar"
n 1 swept him graceful courtesy, an
IS laying my hand on his proffered arm
" followed papa to the dining-room. Al
ter the cloth was removed, and desseT
placed upon the table, was more a
lejsur e to observe our guest, ,as he spo
earnestly and forcibly on topics of mu
tual interest with papa. Once or twic
l met his eyes resting upon me wit
something in their depths could no
understand, nor did try to do so. L
me he seemed handsome, brilliant ali,
and man-like; yet unlike others ha
yet to learn his peculiar fascination
for was young and heart whole
, lovers l had never dreamed. AftC
\ dinner we returned to the parlor, an
y little while papa bade me sing.
i loved music and sang with my hea
- in my voice. and so sang well, "Aul
or Robin Gray" and "Within mile
III Edinboro'," which were followed |
or others. And at last Mr.. Dunbar aske
Re-. me to sing douglas Tender an
W True"
10 Somehow, as l felt his eyes upon M
ae 9s sang with a power and pathos u
Us, known to me before. and as l glance
70 % up at him my eyes were filled vii
is- ie tears-tears for what, for the unknoN