The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-04

! the garden-a tavorlte resort OF ours. IN
! sun had sunk, but his slowly fading Hgh
| was still fitting the quiet place. and the shad
ows of trees and bushes were still distinc
| upon the ground
| had not been here long when heard tn,
| foot knew, and, turning, beheId nv Httl,
| friend Fastening toward me.
| She was pale. but otherwise composed
and said at once;
Have you heard tn at l am going ayay?'
stammered something. / know not what;
/ it must have BEEN inaudible. / had sharp.
choking sensation, and dropped my looks
! from hers
Il have just got letter from nay father.
am TO 90 back home Immediately Seer
! So saying. she placed in my hand the small
| inclosuTe which she had received from Nun
ster in the morning Seeing my puzzled
| look, she exclaimed:
"Iou may read il.
| l did read ii, in one quick. painful glance.
l remember every word OF i: now. 1t was
written in large, bold hand, and ran as fol-
| lows:
my OWN DARLING LITTLE MADELINE
/ 1ou will hear from the good people with
| whom you are living that great change has
| taken place, and that YOU must come home at
once. Wish a kind goodbye to all your
friends in England; perhaps YOU may never
| see them again. Come without delay to your
/ loving father, RODERICK GRAHAM"
| Prepared as had been for the blow, il did
not fall so heavily as it might have done.
struggled with my feelings, and choked down
a violent tendency to cry.
She perceived my CONSERVATION, and was
herself moved. But there was quick, strange
| light in her eyes, as if she were contemplate
| ing something far away.
| Il have prayed many night that my faith
er would send for me" she said. thoughtful
| ly; land now he has done So | scarcely feel
glad. / am afraid there is something wrong
at home. Shall you be sorry, Hugh, when l
gO?"
| At this open question l broke down utter
| ly, and burst into violent sob.
She put her hands in mine, and looked
earnestly into my face.
Il thought you would be sorry. None of
them will miss me so much as you. We have
been great friends; never thought | could
be such friends with boy. l shall tell my
father of you, and he will like you, too. Will
you kiss me- Hugh, and say good-bye?'
could not answer for tears: but put my
arms round her neck. and l did kiss her-a
pure, trne, loving boys kiss, worth million
of the kisses men buy or steal in the broad
world.
My tears moistened her cheek as l did so,
but she did not cry herself.
She was altogether calm and superior, bow
ing down to my boyhood, compassiOnating
and cherishing me; but in all possibility
sharing little of my intense personal passion.
She was nearer womanhood than | 20 man
hood rgirls always are more mature than
boys; and she took my worship in gentle
state. \ queen, kissed by royal subject,
could not offer her cheek more royalty than
little Madeline offered her cheek to me.
Yet her manner was full of strong affec-
ton, too. She would miss me. l felt sure.
In the midst of my agony, found words
to inquire how soon our dreaded parting was
to take place. What was my astonishment
to hear that she was going to leave MINISTER'S
at once.
There is a ship to sail in two days, and 1
must go away to Liverpool tomorrow early
in the morning. Ny poor fatheri There is
something very wrong indeed, and it will be
many a week before we meet, though the
ship should sail ever so fast"
AS / write, recollection darkens, the sun
sinks behind the little garden; the little
shape fades away, and it is dark night. /
seem to remember no more.
But what is this that CLEANS up before me?
1t is the faint gray light of dawn. | have
been in very disturbed sleep, and am awak-
ened by harsh sound in the distance. 1t is
the sound of carriage wheels.
start up; it is daylight
hear hum of voices in the house below
Without awakening any of my companions
in the room, l creep to the window, and look
out.
How chilly looks the cold damp world out
sidel How pitiless and cold lie the dews on
the leaves all around! | shiver, and my
heart aches.
A traveling-caTriage stands at the door, and
sleepy-eyed coachman yawns on the box.
Hush yonder from the house-porch comes
Mrs. Munster and by her side the little figure
that love-
The proud spirit is broken this morning,
and the little eyes look soft and wet Made
line clings to her protectress, and mods adieu
to the servants, who flock around to bid her
farewell.
She does not look this way. Does she
think at all of the poor friendless boy whose
heart she has filled with her beauty, and
whose eyes are watching her SO wildly from
the curtained bedroom window up above?
The coaehman cracks his whip, the horses
break into trot, the little one leans out, and
waves her handkerchief until the carriage
rounds the corner, and is hid from view.
Madeline Little Madeline!
l have fallen upon my knees by my bed
side, and am passionately kissing the lock of
hair begged from her last night. My heart
seems breaking. All the world has grown
dark for me in a moment
To what new trouble is this that am
about to waken, now that the one star of my
life's dawn has faded away?