The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, February 01, 1879, Image 1

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t\ - TWE ROWIRS «OU£G110M VOL IV J. H. & W B. i$ EA Lfc 5 , | proprietors' a LANTA, GA., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY l TEHMS{ *■ PER ANNUM IN AliVANi K. NO. 1ST yk-i-.VA IMV\IC1> T.WLOIK. BY CHARLES W. Hl'BSEB TT ; .y Viody with the dead j iffb mouldering lie; Thy spirit, perfect made In harmony. And in new light arrayed, Sluneth on high. No more thy daring prows Shall tempt tlie seas, Solving, mid polar snows, Weird mysteries. Or where the lotos woos The Nile god's kiss. No more thy master-pen, In charmful prose, Strange scenes, and stranger men,* shall oft disclose, Kach limned line a gem That gleams and glows; No more thy lofty lyre Its free song sings. Wooing tlie soul's desire To mildest things : I'rging its Right of fire With dove-like wings. A kingly heritage Thou 1 eavest us 1 ’ Which shall our grief assuage, Make less our loss, Silver the dark cloud's edge. And crown our cross— Thy life, thy work, thy name ! They are not 111 d; Stilffrom !heir lambent flame Pure light Is shed— The star-light of thy fame, 0 Poet dead! Atlanta, Ga. FLA IX SKX'fcF. The bounds which hedge Infinity No finite mind can scan : The mysteries of lUvinity Were not designed for man. Wliat human mind, though clear it be, This fact can comprehend?— To evolution there can t he Beginning uor an end. Though old to us, the world is young, And -rives man these impressions. If from a state of chaos sprung By infinite progressions. Each'l.-m ol ds '»-ulai .«■-.. t •'• lu Within itself still higher; The tun tertly springs from the worm Shall man's soul not aspire ? ’Tis true the worm can't comprehend The life the moth Is leading. N«>r yet can you nor I, my friend, The life to which we re speeding. Instead of fighting overcreeds, l-'ar better would it tie To trv ami find what mankind needs Prom Sorrow to be free. Oh, would that men Would try to be Like brothers to a brother, And learn a lesson Inmi the bee In aiding one another. And Right prevail e'er Might. knife in the smooth beech bark. (Sec .story on 5th | age.) EL md — OR— Tire Heirs of the Mil lionaire. CHAPTER Two days afterward Hal came v ith hs mother to introduce her to Tanglewood Dell, and Lei future daughter-in-law. The Earles were con descension and complaisance united. Mrs ( spell, forgot her remonstrance to turned a sympath zing glance. The r. suit was that Nannie, pale but tram quil, sitting in her chamber with her Bible it I hand, saw the carriage d sh up the walk, and I going dt wn to meet them, was startled by see- ! ing a graceful figure s, ring forth from behind j Mrs. Halsterd, w hile a brigtff, haughty, but sur pa.-singly lovely face, Bom ben iuh a fancifu J Fret ch hat, was turned npon her in a single in stant keen, sharp, qmstioi ing. It was but a moment, but in that brief timr between the two natures dashtd an intuition, electric, n agnetic, or what ever term you inn use to designate that inexplicable con. iction that so often com « to us, we know not where- Ha'stead was somewhat amused, but her eegei i fore, or from whence, but which we rind it im- interest was only stirred whtn Evangeline c m in, as usual, in delicious contrast to a half-hour’s odiousness with her lelatives. The soft, dark eyes swept their hasty scrutiny over the gave, somewhat melancholy, but thoroughly well bred face, and, '.he cue thus taken, Evangeline swep' j spell I own warns me one bright, k bi.ppy glance into her lover’s fa.e. guard against her.’ thereby mest tff.ctually winning the tender 'Oh how wicked and selfish I am!’ mother’s heart, then came gracefully, and half moaned Nannie. T do not like her. eagerly to Mrs. Halstead’s side, and Said with ! never like her.’ possible to shake off, which we fever refuse tc accept, ‘What, is this gird?’ mentally demanded impe riously Evangeline Earie, “how is she to cross my path? for I know she is a foe. A sabtl< of it. I shall be on mi secretly I shall genuine n genuorsnesb : ‘My dear Mr°. Halstead, you make me so hap py by your coming. And I shall not be afraid of you as I feared. I si all love you dearly Will you make of me such a good little girl as shall deserve your son ?’ » The lovely eyts were fixed pleadingly on her fee ; the red lips sweetly tremulous with an agi tated smib•; the melodious voice thrilled with a rich vein of tenderm s«. Of ooarse Mrs. Hal stead was charmed. She no longer wondered at Hal’s enthusiasm. She put her arm around the slender waist, drew the girl to her side, and left a mother’s k;ss on the rosy 1 i; s. Hal looked on in blissful intoxication cf hap piness. ‘Mey we tare yon home w.th us i asked Mr-. Ha’sttad presently, ionging to see more of the young lady, but - qnalty anxious to get awaj trorn Mrs. Seraphim* s vh| id chalt-.-iing. ‘Ineri you can set Nannie, v, ho was not well enough to come out to-day.” ‘I should enjoy the visit. But who is Nan nie? I have heal'd nothing about her.’ She is a daughter to me, and a sister to Hal. She has lived with us from a chil J. I hope you will love her very dearly.’ • I think the.e is little doubt if she is any thing like you or your son. ' >h, it is such a comfort io meet with tru ; hon. st-hearte-i, re lined people!’ This was spoken sotto voce, with a little < x- pressive, melancholy glance toward her owi relatives. Mrs. Halstead, herself under t Miss Earle advanced, nevertheless, with wba' seemed to Hal wondrous ease and grace, and gracionsness. And this is Nannie. She will give a kind word I hope to Evangeline Earle. ‘ •Thank you, Miss Earie. How do yon do?‘ This was what poor Nannie’s stammering lips murmured forth. How awkward and even un kind it seemed alter that frank, ingenuous gr-eting. Hai for the first time in his life tel ashamed of her. The bright dark eyes sweep- j ing back to his face read its expression, and so did Nannie, too, and there came a swelling dls tress at her heart and throat. With a gay laug Evangelic o Earle tripped or after Mrs. Halstead, and Hal followed in tc-ndei de votion. Nannie was left a moment on the doorstep. | Her lip quiver, d, the e came a wistful sorrov ; into her blue eyes, but the tears gathering un dej the white lids did not fall, “She knew that a pang had struck home to my heart and she triumphed in it. I saw ii whe* her eye ii shed i.om me to Hal, She shai not see me weak again,' thought she, as a fain' glow stole over her p»ale cheek. And in a few moments she walked into tin | drawir g-room. dressed with i xceeding Care anc j very becomingly. Mi s Earle just lifted her j delicately penciled eyebrows when the slendei j litile figure entered the room. " Mis,- Nannie is very sweet, very jolie” sai< j she carelessly to Hal, who was turning over a po t'olio of engravings for inr insp ctii n, “bn bow vety much of a child she is, so innoota and so d;Ifident, sc, distr<iil:’’ “She does not quite appear to advantage; sh> has been ill for some time. We were muck- alarmed about her one cay. What day was it? Oh, I remember, a day I shall never forget, that when I s«w von first.” The dark, shining eyes dilate ’, a little sneei J flitted over the litis and vanished. | • Ah, hov. sad! You came home and found tin dear little one ailing. How pathetic! 11 Hal looked over to the grave,' set face, and said mnsinglj : ‘I don’t see why it is, hut she is greatly changed. She vas always before iike a sun beam, and now—’ •She is rather like a storm cloud, I fancy,’ laughed Evangeline. ‘Ah, well, we women havt strange whims, sometimes. You must bear with us until the caprice has left ns.’ And Miss Earle walked over to Nannie’s side, and in the most polite terms, and dulcet tones, tortured her as odIj an artful woman can. Hal’s words and Nannie’s face had given the lat ter’s sorrowful secret to the mercy of the nev comer, and she was one to use it dex'.eriously. Guileless and frank-hearted and childish ai- Nannie seemed, she had quic.-t, fine intuitions, and Evangeline Earle had not addressed htu thrice, before she was aware that a merciless war was secretly de lured. Nannie was spirited, too, in her own Lshion, and though her cheeks were pale, and her hands unsteady, she w T ore r. bob! fnnt, and managed to flash back to thos< mocking, triumphant eyes a calm defiance. But the cards were all in the fair hands o Evangeline Earle, and she played them off in i skillful manner. •What lovely hair you have Miss Nannie. 1 do so dote on that golden bro.vn, and those lit tle short rings. If mine would only come on of these long :ir;glets. You don't look in the least like my Iriends here. I should never have suspected you to be a relative.’ •I am not,’replied Nannie, drawing instinc tively away from the whi e Lands which were toying playfully with her hair. ‘What, m reh-iion at ai.? Then why arc ah, I see. TLey are your guardians. How stu pid I am. Mr. Ha stead t it scare of your p Is that an enigma forme to gu:ss, •lam no child. I am as old is you, every day. And I do not give enigmas. I lave been taught to speak and act only. My mother died and left me a'.one in the house where Mrs. Hal stead lived al.->o. That kind friend took me to her hear 1 , and I have not lacked a mother’s lovt since. ’ ‘How affecting ! How exceedingly good and noble these people must be that yon could grow up here and never ftel the weight of an obliga tion which, in other vases, wouid crush a girl ts the earth. And they are not only wealthy eith er, as yet, receiving only the stipulated inooui' which I find sometimes very narrow for m* alone It receives one’s belief in goodness and innocence to h ar it.’ While she spoke Evangeline’s eyes dwelt ad miringly npon the rich blue silk dress, and the pearl ornaments—admiringly, but meaningly. Nannie comprehended every unspoken thought The blood rushed hotly to Ler white cheeks; the would be nothing less than torture. Excuse me, if you please,’ she said hastily and freez- ingly. 'I should get n o rest if jon were there.’ And before there could be any further remonstrance she hurried away. Evangeline Earle stood, with the bouquet in hand, ’ with downcast eyelids, and before she lifled them she brushed [across them her filmy handkerchief, as if to remove the tell tale tears. Her voice wavered as she Riid, looking up wistfully ruto Hal's suddenly darken- ;d face: •I wonder what I have done that she will not re ceive my i'rienship ? I hav e built sue h beautiful castles about our growing attach ment, but I fertr they must all fall. She does not like me. She will never be my friend. ’ ‘Nay, nay, dearest Evange line, do not look so hopeless I admit that Nannie’s con duct is inexplicable. I am tempted to be angry with her. But I am certain it is owing to her illness; her nerves are weak, perhaps ir ritable. It will be different by and by. She has natu rally one of the sweetest dis positions. We mi st have an other physician to her. I confess her appearance to day deepens in y apprehen sion.’ ‘How kind you are to her. It is very generous of you.’ ‘Why tnere s little gener osity in love,is there? It is so involuntary. We cannot help loving good and sweet and beautiful things, I take it.’ She was watching every ,shade cf expression on his ashed slowly Do you love her so much as that ?’ He looked a little puzzled, but replied promptly; ‘My love tor Nannie has grown with my years. No sister could be dearer. 1 do not think I could b9 truly happy, though every wish of my heart were gratified, if Nannie were in trouble. ‘I wonder you did not wish to marry her,’ abruptly contin ued EvangeL'ne Earle. Hal laughed and colored a 11.tie, wlii'e he touch.d lightly the fair hands crossed iffy over the bo li quet.{1 .“-Xp-v ‘I had my betrothr.l vows waiting at an unknown shrine. Can you picture my relief whenl found my heart sweet j joyfully eager to fodew in thepath of duty ?’ I She did not an: wor him. Her eyes had a far- everj j away look; there was just the faint, st contrac tion of the rosy lips, a scarcely perceptible shiv- | er of the delicate frame. •I am sorry that Nannie's listlessness troubles you. No one will grieve over it more than she, when she .s well again. Do not think it any thing serious, for it is Dot. Now come and see what a pretty marv 1 a German a tisan has made for us.’ They were still chatting over the toy when Mrs. Hal. tead entered, and asked quickij : ‘Wi ere is Nannie?’ She was tired and went away to rest more than an hour ago. Might I go up with you and say that I am sorry I helped to fatigue her? Perha; s I can do something for her. I can bathe her temples; they say that I have a pecu liar magnetic gift for dispelling pain, I will 3troke her forehead ever so patiently if she has the headache.’ •fo be sure, if Hal will survive your absence.’ ‘I would cheerfully undergo a great many pri- blne eyes dished indignantly as she replied: _ _ o r .__ •Thank heaven there are no sordid calculations j vations to relieve Nannie from illness,’ replied here ! I have been as free to receive as they to | Hal. give. I know that I aou giadly received as a daughter, and that I give a daughter's affecton and service in return. Mrs. Halstead would suf fer in my absence; there are many ways in which I am indispensable to her. Hal,’ said she, rais ing her voice as Hal entered the room, from a moment s visit to the flower garden, bearing his hands full of fragrant exotics, take Miss Earle to see that curious German automatic toy on the etagerie yonder. 1 ‘Or rather bring it where we can both see it. Don't send me away, M ss Nannie, I like you so much. We must be such true friends.’ And as she spoke Evangeliue Earle laid one while hand caressingly on Nannie’s shoulder, and turned her bright, beautiful face smilingly to H d. The young mar: crossed the room with a bouy- ant step, his fact beaming glad delight and ten der ess upon the pair. ‘Ah—ti at is so pretty and so charming for m to see,‘ lie said, ‘you must indeed befriends you two, for my sake. 1 And he said a bouquet in tidier hand. N unie rosy with tiers and said in a fain! rty. You are his ward. That is whv you seem | voic : him.’ so much like a child to Two thrusts given i voice. Nannie Hit tbt depths of her Sensitive I st i to speak calmly m ‘ I am neither a relati property whatever, nor huv of any,’ the sweetest possible stingi: g In the v- n tit, but she forced hti- i-.j . -uora i I ol aril. I have nr felt the nee< T am vet) tired. You will excuse so small >• lo.-s I au sure, and let me go up stairs to rest. Ler mo go too.’ cri d Evangeline, i agerly. *i would i' e it of all tl ing-'. Wt cm talk So free ly and pleasantly while yon rest.’ Nannie shut her lips together fiercely. Sb< found her fortitude fust dt sorting her, and tm presence of this girl in her chamber she kncv\ They went 3oftly into Nannie’s chamber, and found her lying down; the sweet, wistful face al most as white as the pillows in which it was bur ied. A small Bible was lying beside her, and -Trs. Halstead knew that its teachings had brought that peaceful, submissive look into her fV. ce. Evangeline Earle quailed momentarily from this beautiful picture of innocence, and the res olute antagonism which had arisen iq her heart shrank hack in a nameless awe. She walked softly to the drt ssing-table, and busied herself arranging her hair. But something she saw .here flung open the portals to a spirit tenfold more malignant. In tie small jewel box placed carelecsly on the table with open lid, she caught the dull gleam of a p. culiar ring. A heavy cir clet of chased gold of a very singular pattern. Mrs. Halstead was bending over Nannie, with her back to the dressing-table, and her person interposed between, prevented Nannie’s obser vation. Evangeline's hasty glance showed this to her. She stooped down, took out the ring, and looked eagerly upon the inner surface spell ing out carefully the quaint rhyme, and taking due note of the iniffds traced there. As she replaced the ' r.ng a baleful, wicked gleam shot i.ero-s her i ce, and she set her li[ s a moment in iron determination. But it was with a smile very ff ..z’ing in its brightness that she Lepped softly to the couch. VContinued on eighth j age ) .Tirana rami*ayiv mifr t-r uv azu ■ -fM-fv tcifMcr.;»>ir«itflnac