The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-02
CHAPTER XXI.


By night my state of mind was
somewhat more collected, the prepa-
rations concluded, and my toilet for
the evening arranged. Since our
mornings encounter, Leonard and [
had studiously avoided each other,
not even so much as by a glance, init
mating that we were aware OF the ex-
istence of the other.
Joel and Kitty come first Kitty,
whom the gods must dearly love, since
they have bestowed so much of good
fortune upon her. Laughing, merry,
as of yore; always doing some one
good merely TO listen to her musical
voice. Poor Jack, how l wish he too
gould enjoy this evening with Us, but
fate may have as many pleasant ones
in store for him, so | trust.
All the invited ones come singly, or
in pairs, until our guests are arrived !;
then with little dancing, music, and
general merriment, together with the
consumption Of my mornings work,
we while the hours away. [ onl y no.
tice Leonard once especially, it is
when the eventful cake is passed, and
he disdainfully, thus it seems to me,
refuses to take slice, while detect
contemptuous look, lurking about
the corners of his mouth.
The enjoyment seems general with
all but me, though / try to contribute
my share, but I am fatigued, and
heartily glad to behold the door close
upon the last one.
1t has been agreed, that Kitty shall
remain all night, as the night is cold
and cloudy, and Leonard, who has
been all devotion, during the evening,
shall drive her home in the morning,
as Joel must return tonight.
Thus after the house is all quiet be-
low stairs, Kitty and | above, seated
before roasting fire, in regular school
girl fashion, recount the events Of the
evening, as we'll as others of less re-
cent date.
I notice Kitty speaks of Leonard in
warmest praise, finding far more adj
mirable traits in his composition, than
it las eyer been my good luck to faith
ON, and as my thoughts float into
dreamland am dimly conscious that
as things portend, in Leonard, Jack
may find a formidable rival, since
wealth, IN these degenerate days, often
finds a surer road to the heart, than
sincere affection.
The morning is cold, with leaden
clouds, SHOWS surest harbinger, hang
ing threateningly above, and, since
Kitty's plans for her departure to-
morrow prevent her from remaining
in the face of disagreeable storm
she and Leonard embark upon their
eight miles drive.
The snow does not commence to tall
until in the afternoon, and then but
scantily; still the heavy clouds con-
ceal the blue of heaven, and the wind
walls it mournful dirges, as it hurries
over our barren fields with devastat-
ing foot-step. Yet Leonard comes
not, and the leaden twilight deepens
into night of blacklist shadows, when
wind, and rain, and snow contend ii
wild confusion for the mastery with
out, while within, lowering over ou1
cheering fires, we shudder for the
homeless ones, for the belated, anc
above all for those whose homes, the
frail built vessel, the mighty pillows
now surround, in majesty, too dread
full in its aspect, to arouse the terror
stricken senses, to thoughts of grand
eur. In the ferry of this mid-wintel
gale, how many fathers, brothers, sons
cast into the oceans pitiless clutches
will pour forth into the north wind
ear their parting words, which, jour
neying with speed almost unrivalled
it delivers in weird, unearthly Ian
guage, unintelligible to but few, enter
ing through hole and crevice to per
form its bidding, and shrieking its er
rand, when denied an entrance, striy
ing with awful force, to effect one, t
execute its mission with gentle
power.
To me sleep comes not, when hea
the signing, robbing, wailing voice
which the wind brings with it, an
through the long night, listen to th
tales it tells of ship wreck, disaster
far and near, which it, the great new
carrier, heralds as it journeys over th
earth.
With the morning light com,
scenes of carnage in our beautifi
grove. Stately oaks, with the strengt
Of ages, have been uprooted, and al