The Irish standard., 1892-08-06


gratitude filed her eyes. l looked on
the two plain old people, SO quiet, SO
undemonstrative, and thought had
never known of such love as they had
for each other, and such generous sym
pathy as they had for mankind the
world over had known them but q
few hours, yet loved them dearly, and
already grieved at the thought of part
ing from them.
had no doubt but that I would be
given a home there if / asked it, but
felt that | had no right to presume on
the goodness Of strangers, and with re-
1uctance l announced my intention of
proceeding on my journey,
"What" cried Mrs. Cornell. "You
surely don't think of going OH now?"
II must replied.
"Why must you?'' she asked. sis
your cousin expecting you? She surely
can't be, because think you said you
have never seen her or correspondent
with her.
sShe is not expecting me- said;
''but I must go on. | have nc right
to-
"No right to stop here, Ell? Now just
hear the child, Aaron. She thinks she
has no right to stop here. Did you
ever hear of such an idea as that?"
"Well. we never athed her to
thtay, Thuthan, and l reckonth the
didn't know we wanted her to. don't
thee what made nth tho careleth; thure
don't"
''Well, don't, either replied Mrs
Cornell, 'sbut we ask her now; and she's
going to stop here week, at least. It
will take that long for her to recover
from her walk yesterday and the fright
she had last night
ga weoj1, Thuthan? Thaw! thay a.
month. Thath more like it,"
! isWel, month, then. A week is
mighty little time, sure enough"
I protested against this generous ar
arrangement, not very heartily, Isuspect,
for did want to rest in that quiet
haven of peace, oh, SO much. The old
couple refused to hear any objection
offered, but carried everything their
own way, and in the end l was COM
PEELED to agree to remain one week.
Reader, cannot tell, neither can
YOU imagine, what that week was to
me. 1t is an ilnpossibility to attempt a
portrayal of the happiness I expert
enced in those seven short days which
went by like deeting CLEANS of dazzling
brightness. For the first time in my
life occupied an atmosphere Of love.
For the first time within my recollection
lived and breathed III an atmosphere
of kindness. The old life Of slavery
and persecution was gone, and not a
vestige of it remained to mar the pleas
ure of my new existence.
The contrast between the old and the
new was SO great that I could hardly
believe I was in the same world.
Where before had been compelled to
toll through long days Of weary drudg-
ery, now had narght to do but amuse
myself in idleness. Where before bad
been urged to greater exertion by
scolding words and cruel blows, / was
now restrained oy gentle threats and
loving kindness. Where before had
known nothing but neglect, and my
needs received no consideration, I was
now an object of the tenderest solicit
tude and my wishes were OWNED and
gratitied without the asking. The
change was SO great, the contrast SO
marked, that could scarcely believe 1t
real. It seemed more Like a beautiful
dream, and at times found it difficult
to persuade myself that it was not.
The kindness of the parents was ably
seconded by the son. He was very
busy man, Judged for he idled at
home very little, but when he was at
the house he seemed anxious to add to
my comfort and pleasure, never losing
an opportunity to favor me with such
little attentions as he could with pro
priety render. Nor was he unmindful
of me when away, for often he brought
me some rare species Of wild flower or
some curious plant of the prairie which
he presented in such a way as to pre-
dude all idea of familiarity Or boorish-
ness.
The more knew Charles Cornell the
better liked him. In my esteem he
grew more noble and grand every day.
He possessed the same generous nature,
the same kind impulses, that character
lied his father and mother, and yet he
was SO firm, SO manly and so broad in
tellectually. looked upon him with an
admiration akin to hero worship. 1t
seemed to me his character was SO
noble, his bearing SO grand. that he
must inevitably command the respect
and even the love of those with whom
he met.
The truth is, reader, had nearly
fallen in love with Charles Cornell.
say very nearly, because felt toward
him as one does not feel toward a
friend simply, yet did not feel for him
all one feels for lover. should have
loved him with all the ardor OF my
& soul had it not been for one thing.
was in love already. Will Hanley's
image was in my heart. For three
wears I had not seen my boy friend,
\. and was young when we parted, yet
q loved him then dearer than life anc
III my love had endured through the long
separation
CHAPTER XII