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think we are fondly remembered by those to
whom we are now bidding adieu.”
“You will not forget me, then, Evelyn,
when you are moving, a pure star, amid the
‘ noble and gifted of our land V Tell me
that you will think o 1 me, but not as you do
of others, Evelyn,” he passionately exclaim
ed, taking her hand, “and I will leave
America—yes, even this dear home—without
a regret, without a saddening anticipation.”
“Forget you, Walter'? Can you ask it*?’’
And her look of chiding tenderness swept
the responding chord that vibrated in his own
bosom. Love for Walter Preston was the
vestal flame which shed its light upon the al
tar of her virgin heart.
“Do 1 dream, Evelyn 1 Dp I deceive my
self 1 Can you, so pure, so lofty in spirit
and in mind, love one who is so wayward ?
To win vour heart, Evelyn Hamilton, has
been the ceaseless effort, the ambition of my
life. I knew your own rich endowments,
and I knew, too, that a proud intellect alone
dared ask for reciprocity of heart. Never,
until this evening, have I suspected that you
regarded me. Were it not that we part so
soon, I should not have presumed, thus far,
to have declared my feelings, until I could
have laid the laurels of my ambition at your
feet. You would not spurn them, and the
heart that hinds the offering, would you,
Evelyn ?”
u You have d.efined my feelings well, Wal
ter, when you supposed my heart incapable
of bowing at other than an elevated shrine.
Then seek to reach that standard, if you
would claim its homage.”
“I have your permission to hope, and to
strive to reach that elevated position. Bless
you for it, Evelyn. In four years, if Heaven
smile propitiously upon this chosen spot, 1 will
claim the hand to which you bid me aspire.
Tell me—shall it be thus
“ Until then, Walter, no other shall claim
either hand or heart.”
“ Then, dearest Evelyn, each evening,
when the stars of heaven light up the deep
cerulean, look upon that one pure star which
floats so proudly bright, where all are glitter
ing and beautiful, and feel that I, too, look
upon it, and think it sheds its light upon the
being and the ‘land I love.’ Let it be -an
ever-abiding earnest of my devotion. That
sweet look of approval, Evelyn, speaks all
1 would have you say.”
And, with all the glowing enthusiasm of
an ardent nature, he breathed the eloquent
tenderness that was welling from his spirit’s
depths, and portrayed the visions which
danced so merrily in the vista of coming
years. Evelyn possessed all the ardent en
thusiasm of her lover, without its vivid hope
fulness.
■“You are a most happy limner, Walter:
but, in the living portraiture which your ima
gination gilds, you sketch the purling brooks,
azure skies, and refulgent sunsets, unmindful
of the darkening clouds, the fitful shadows,
and billowy strife, which must enter into
life’s picture, to soften down its too gorgeous
coloring.”
“I am a most happy limner, Eva, and you
a bright dreamer, were it not for the shad
ow which you are ever blending with the
bright things in life. Why clo you thus tanta
lize yout imagination with unreal sorrows
and sad forebodings, because transitory cir
cumstances make you sad ?”
“I try, Walter, to be happy—to participate
in all the beautiful and happy thoughts you
so vividly portray; but I cannot resist the
half-defined premonition that gathers in my
heart, whenever I think of our long ab
sence.”
Evelyn, if it is not pleasant to you, I will
not visit Europe; fori would forego every
earthly consideration, barter every ambition,
to secure your gratification.”
“ Can you suppose me so utterly selfish,
as to wish you to sacrifice your most cher
ished plans of life, merely to gratify a weak
§©®lTlSfl&{&El ® A % g ITIi 1 & ♦
ness —it may be, a vagary of an over-wrought
and wayward heart % No, Walter, you must
go as you have said, and fit yourself for fill
| ing that station in life, which you are so well
i calculated to adorn. Heaven will avert or
temper all those evils which are not for our
good. And yet my heart grows weak, as I
turn to leave this spot, and know that to
morrow we shall all be far a\vay from the
scenes amid which we have sported and whi
led away the hours of youth, when our spir
its were fetterless as the singing-bird’s. I
fear the simplicity of our tastes will be
changed, but may their purity be spared the
immolating touch of refinement.”*
“But, Evelyn, why do you linger here,
when it but serves to increase your dejection ?
Come, there are many favorite haunts yet for
you to visit, which Horace, Ally, and Ban
gero, the happy trio, have explored this
evening; besides, the little family festivity,
in the arbor, near the river, which kind Aunt
Lydia has planned for our pleasure, requires
our attention.”
The three years at school had nearly fleet
ed by, fraught with little incident to mar the
monotonous round of studies, lectures and
exhibitions, except when a letter -would ar
rive from Walter, or when a Christmas vaca
tion rolled round which was to be spent in
their sunny homes. But never had a period
been to them so deeply interesting as the
coming exhibition ; for they should again re
turn to that home, and would never again be
compelled to leave its blest shades. Evelyn
Hamilton had long occupied the most elevated
position in her class, and, from the bright and
masculine energy of her mind, had received
the appellation of the “ Southern Star.”
She had sought to place herself upon that
elevated pedestal, the proud eminence where
Walter’s too partial fondness had loved to
■picture her.
The evening of the exhibition had arrived,
a crisis fraught with overweening solicitude
to Evelyn Hamilton* It was the time ap
propriated for the exhibition of the premium
sketches. Alice, the little amateur sketches,
was a competitor; for weeks, she had been
absorbed in the execution of her most cher
ished design : it'was and gem of a sketch of
her own beautiful home, yet not even a
glimpse would she deign to Eva or Horace,
until they should see it ranked in the bril
liant list. Evelyn feared the effect which
disappointment would produce on one of her
sanguine and enthusiastic temperament.
When the committee of examination had
taken their positions, the artist proceeded to
unveil the bright pictures for decision. As
the last one was unveiled, a gleam of such
natural, life-like loveliness, radiated the can
vass, that a simultaneous murmur of appro
bation was breathed through the audience.
The committee arose, and approached the
painting, and, after a few commendatory ob
servations, requested the name of the young
aihateur.
“Alice Hamilton,” said the artist.
“ Will Miss Hamilton allow us to bestow
this testimonial of our appreciation on one,
whose talents we are proud thus to honor V’
And, as the lovely girl advanced and knelt
before the leading member of the committee,
the delicate gold chain was thrown upon her
neck, clasping a richly chased medal, and
accompanied by graceful compliments.
“ Who is Alice Hamilton ?” inquired some
gentleman that sat near Evelyn and Horace.
“Do you not know the beautiful young
Southerner, and her gifted sister, who receiv
ed the first grade of scholarship. Alice Ham
ilton is the most delicately beautiful creature
I have ever seen. She reminds one of a
sweet fragile lily, of her own fair and sunny
home, born to bloom and smile alone amid
its summer air.”
Yv T hen the exercises had closed, many
pressed forward to examine the picture, and
obtain an introduction to the aristocratic
young Southerners.
“ You leave us on the morrow, Miss Ham
ilton,” said a gentleman, bowing low, as he
approached Alice. “Can nothing which
our fair city prqsents for your enjoyment lure
you but a few days longer from your home ?”
“ Under other circumstances than those
which at present must govern our conduct, I
might be induced to devote a few weeks to
enjoyment; but our absence from home has
already been too long protracted by the course
of our studies, and the arrangements for our
departure have been previously made. By
changing that plan, we shall disappoint
those who are to meet us.”
“It would speak well for our patriotism,
Miss Hamilton, if our feelings of nationality
were as strong as the clinging ties and asso
ciations which bind a Southerner to his
home : this feeling is the most beautiful pe_
culiarity of Southern character. The home
you love must, indeed, be worthy of that
feeling, if that lake of enchanting loveliness
has its counterpart there. As I look upon
its leafy solitude, and see all things combin
ing and harmonizing so true to nature, I can
almost fancy myself amid its mystic influen
ces and balmy air.”
WhenLlorace Sidney approached his cous
in, to communicate the wishes of Aunt Ly
dia, his eye was full of a happy light, and
he drew her arm in his, apologizing for the
very unceremonious interruption. It was
not without deep emotion that Evelyn and
•% >
Alice bade a lasting adieu to their teachers
and companions, with whom they had so
long held familiar intercourse and friendly
confidence ; but the delight, the wild buoy
ancy of feeling, which could call up even a
memory of home, chased away every transi
tory grief—that home, where every floweret
breathed or smiled a welcome.
“Evelyn,” said Alice, “though we are
all again established at home, I miss Walter :
he always seemed to enter into my views,
and assimilate his tastes to mine. I dare
not approach cousin Horace with a subject
so silly, for fear of shocking his dignity. If
Walter has given over his cheering merri
ment of manner, and his rambling propensi
ties, I, for one, shall feel that Europe, and
University, and traveling, have sadly changed
him. I expect he will come back again the
formal, polished gentleman, and, by his re
spectful kindness and dignity towards me,
will be constantly reminding me that I am
Miss Alice, the young lady of seventeen,
and not, as formerly, his ‘little pet sister,’
the companion of Bangero and the canaries.
I could try to act with dignity, and be a re
served young lady, whilst I was mingling in
society; but at home, where all love, and
cherish, and smile on me, I must be a child
still; I must ramble among the woods and
flowers, with my heart blithe and free as in
other days. But, Eva, dear sister, I would
have you dignified and amiable, just as you
always were—that dignity which does not
awe me—amiability which combines every
gentle and generous feeling of your heart—
one so far elevated above me to look up to,
and love me—a kind, fond heart, to caress
and talk soothingly to me, when I am sad.”
“Ally, you are a beguiling flatterer: I
shall ever strive to be all your trusting heart
requires.”
“ But, Eva, I fear I am too exacting and
capricious: if I am, your forbearance and
gentleness has made me such, and you must
correct it.”
“ Ally, don’t feel that you possess any
such untractable qualities. But there are
Parson Evans and Horace, with an open let
ter, too!”
“Oh! Eva, it is from Walter!” And the
merry girl sprang like a light fawn down the
gravel walk to meet them. Another short
week, and he would be again with the only
being on earth, with whom he claimed kin
dred ties.
It was the evening of Walter Preston’s ex
pected arrival. Evelyn was alone upon the
balcony which opened into the parterre, and
as she watched the varying hues of a gor
geous sunset, which threw a soft light fu
into the vault of heaven, the perfume-laden
air, “breathing over the early spring violets ’’
came soothingly to her brow—the beautify
thoughts of life’s young dreams flitted round
every hope of coming years. Her fond rev e
ry was broken by Alice and Bangero, who
came bounding to her side from their accus
tomed ramble. Evelyn looked tenderly down
upon the fair head w hich lay upon her lap
and, putting back the tresses that fell around
that young face, contemplated its surpassing
beauty, as the glow of vivid thought would
radiate the delicately-chiseled features. Not
in heart was Alice Hamilton more child-like
than in form and features. Never had Eve
lyn thought her so surpassingly beautiful as
on that evening: a dress of the showy mull
fell in graceful folds around a sylph-like
form—the flowing sleeves were looped back
with clasps of pearl, displaying the delicate
ly rounded arm, and the luxuriant hair fell
around that airy form; the charms which
Nature had thrown over lip, and cheek, and
brow, would have matched the hitherto unri
valled “Campaspe.” Both of those gentle,
girls were fair, hut one was passing beauti
ful.
“ Eva, I have been, since sunset, watching
every distant speck that floated upon the riv
er ; and, more than once, I have mistaken a
snowy water-fall for the sails of the little
boat. But they will surely be here soon.
Let me beguile you of your sadness, Eva, my
sister, by playing for you that sweet air he
loved so well, ‘ The Ingleside:’ it inpver
grows trite, though it was one. of the first
songs I ever learned.”
And, unlinking the silken sash by which
it Was suspended around her neck, her fair
hand swept the strings of the silvery lute up
on which it rested. The simple accompani
ment, blending with the tones of her witch
ing voice, was still “melting on the soft
summer air/’ when the tangled masses of
of flowers and foliage were pressed aside,
and Horace Sidney bounded to the balcony,
followed by a manly form —who,'ere Horace
could announce, had knelt, and pressed the
hand of Evelyn Hamilton to his lips.
“And this is my beautiful ‘pet sister,’” he
said, bestowing on Alice a like greeting:
“and this is faithful Bangero,” he continued,
stooping to stroke the head.of the favorite
Newfoundland. “What an interesting trio
they form, Horace!”
“Waller, we have been expecting you anx
iously for the past hour; but you must not
delay another minute to go and relieve Aunt
Lydia’s anxiety.”
“ Why, Evelyn, we should have been a
few minutes earlier, had we not have been
arrested, spell-bound, by the witching min
strelsy which came floating through these
enchanted regions; but I suspect that we
have found the syren, and this is the charmed
‘shell,’” he said, raising the lute from the
sculptured vase of Camelias, upon which
Alice had thrown it.
“But, Walter, you forget that you owe
compliments and greetings to a host of oth
ers, both here and at the parsonage, before
you make your exclusive devoirs to these
ladies for the evening ; so we are off fora
beginning.”
Again, their childhood home was bright
and happy; for they, who were its light and
hope, again gladdened all things with their
smiles; and again could the.good old Minis
ter bless them together, for they had all
reached his fondest expectations. But of all
in that bright and happy home, Evelyn and
Walter were brightest and happiest. M alter
Preston had again offered the wealth of bis
love, and claimed the heart for which he had
been permitted to strive and hope.
“ Evelyn,” he said, as they sat together
on the banks of that fair lake, “here you
once promised that, when we should all u-