Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04


And when our songs flowed free,
sang dIscOrds in an under tone,
And marred tine harmony"
II happened that in spite Of the fact Of
Fugeue being still absent when l reached
the bolse, II was my grief to be intercept
ed on my flight 20 my own room. A SER
want who was in constant attendance /
upon my mOther-inIaw met me in the /
haU with "a message from the invalid to 4
the effect that l must come directly into /
her room.
I was weary, heart-sOTe, red-eyed and /
impatieut Of restraint, and-must / confess |
If dear reader was growing ayerse to /
the company Of the little body in there. Not |
that il wearied me TO attend her. 1t |
would have been a joy TO me could Ihaye |
been useful to her. Little by little l had |
unconsciously grown into a conviction
that in that nearly translated being was
concentrated the strong Will that ruled
the whole household at Strassmere.
In shame battled against the shrinking
which was gradually making me avoid
anv unnecessary communion with her.
Ii was a sore temptation to 90 on to my
room and refresh myself for this inter-
view with her, but / repressed the wish
and followed the servant.
She was shocked at my appearance.
She fOndled me with her one sensitive
hand and tried to talk, but talking was
difficult for her and did not encourage 1t.
She soon gave me a note that was left for
me during my absence, and, while lcOuld
i'll conceal my agitation at seeing Harry's
handwriting, she scanned my face close
Nv. She asked me what my "bOnnie"
brother Harry had to say.
How miserable suspicion makes one!
l wondered why she should wish to know
what was in my note. / could not forget
even in her presence that she knew all
that was withheld from me. and IL sent
burning bushes to my face. Why is 1t
so hand to bear a wOman's scOrn! May
heaven forgive me if l wrOnged her in
feeling that l must be degraded in her es-
timatiOn.
/ insisted respectfully but firmly upon
retiring TO my own room. for l told her
hone tiy that the subject of Harry's note
was entirely unknown TO me. She
breathed a kind of weary sigh, but tried
no longer to detain me. Poor little moth
er. lett her so carelessly, so wrapt in my
own thoughts, that her mind was of little
consequence.
How often afterwards | tried in vain to
recall the expression on her face as her
gaze followed me from the room. 1t is in
mercy that the partings on earth are 50
often hidden from us by the veil which
hides the future.
When once in the solitude of my own
room the note was quickly torn open. 1t
contained this:
slAIinnie come home. If love for him
YOU once called father cannot move you,
perhaps the dread Of open shame may.
There is a plot on foot for righteous men
to force that elegant impOstOr, whom you
can husband, to open the den Of iniquity
that he has made OF Aunt Miriam's
palace. Heavens / can scarcely keep a
murderous hand from of him. l will not
believe you willing accOmplice of his
(tlOugh rumOr says you are }, until You
persist IN staying AFTER what 1 have writ
ten. Oh be my own pure little sister once
more: leave that wretch. We were so hap
py once. Father will welcome YOU back,
and I viii try to make you happy al. the
remainder Of my life, for, by coming
home. YOU will restore me to the Joys that
you have shattered by your miserable
marriage or flight. For the love of mer-
cy come! 1 Will be at the lawn fence
just after dusk tonight to bring you
home. / shall Join that mob and shoot
him If YOU do not listen to a brothers.
prayers and cOme!'
Harry WellbOrn little knew the secret
Of winning a woman. Perhaps he thought
my heart was made Of stOuter material
than his-that it would be easier for me
to live without my twin heart than for
him 10 yield up the hope of making Jessie
his own. His pleading moved me as little
As the ocean waves the rock. His threats
only strengthened me to stand by him l
loved to share every danger that was his.
The boy that could forget what had saved
him from the life Of a sOt was far too weak
to influence me. L tore the note into
pieces and then burnt them. Eugene
should never read those shameful accu-
satiCns written by my own brother. l
went down upon my knees wrestling with
Him who OVerrules all TO save my noble
hearted Eugene from the cruel knowledge
that had come 10 mc-tO save him out OF
all dangers that L might make him happy.
An the lesson taught me since those
days is that % ask happiness for those
we love is often 20 desire the ruin of their
souls.
He came in while my soul was so
STEPPED in sppplicating that his step did
not arouse me.
When l arose slowly he was there rC-
garding me with anxious tenderness.
" lth q new sense OF our perfect union L
drew nearer until his arm EMBODIED me.
In spite Of al that the morning disclosed
i could smile and meet his glance in open
trust, while saying:
Il am sorry that l have no pretty things
to show to-day. Mrs. Sears was not dis
posed Tor shopping and SO l have post
pOBed it,
Seeing that he was to question me, and
plying, 1 determined 10 divert him. Il was
not a sham for me to tell him that my
head ached, and then / asked to rest in
stead Of going out to lunch. The bell
rung Just then, so he had waiter Of nice
tempting things brought in there for US
two. While we enjoyed il SO much to-
getheT, the scene that brought back vivid
ly Our wedding niglt and caused Us to
talk Of il merTily, l suddenly remembered
that poor Amina must be sadly alone.
DO not, pray, let thoughts OF her in
trude upon your Joys, Daisy. She would
scOrn your sympathy"
'-She is strange person. Eugene. I Of
ten wonder how You can bear 10 have
her here. Is il necessary for her to STAY
alWavss'
81 hope not, :" herepliCd, while a shadow
came over his cCuntenance; ard after a
pause added: My mother would miss
her perhaps more than 1 as she talks our
native tongue. aud mother has no little
Daisy rs I have to be all the world 10
me- "
My cons cierce troubled me right natUr-
ally When IL occurred 10 me that i Was
growing cold 90 all of Eugene's house
hold. In shame 1 sUbdued every tenden-
cy I'm that direction and talked no more OF
Amlua. Ine happy repast was over and
my nealache was relieved. Eugene left
me with some Light reading, saying he
would De gone until night out in the vine
yards. was so happy that be did not 80
into the city. for ii was so much better
Tor lae not TO warn MIN of a danger that
was perhaps only myth after all. Some
tnlns impelled me IN spite OF adetermina-
uon not 10 Weld TO any emotion that
might oetray Inc into weakness to draw
Eugene down and with my arms about
his neck tell him this:
Il VIII never-ueyer believe YOU false
TO me, my husband, until I hear II from
your own lips"
No response came from MIN at first. but
be returned my caress with clasp that
was almost fierce. When nj last ne gave
the parting kiss his eyes were filed with
q seemingly reverent glow.
God be with you. my brave wife. and
help you 10 DE true 10 the end"
His step died away upon my ear ard
pam shot through my heart.
j could scarcely endure the pain that
continued for many minutes. It seeIelLJ
me tuat / saw an immense gulf widening
between MS, and 50 real was the vision %
my -Ac-teJ Imagination that l cried aloud
anu reached Out in vain for some help. IL
w. Neii That uo one heard the cry, for
'-a.srl eco,rjIn. toact Of Congress IN tie
- ISM s. l u. Estlll. In the Office of the
--- 81 -'-i vi Congress 80 " 1sniugtOn.