LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 707, 25 September 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

ONE WINTER. {From the Banbury News.') 'Miss Goole,' said Dr Silver, entering the small sitting-room where Fatima sat, watching and waiting, vainly trying to forget herself in the novel before her; • it is all over.' She made no outcry; but went to the window, drew the curtains aside, and looked out. It was a dreary night in the early autumn, and every now and then there was a wail of wind. Fatima stood and looked at the bright light of the street lamp opposite that struggled through the misty gloom, and thought how utterly alone she was in the world now. Up stairs lay her father, dead, he who had never loved her, and whom she only respected. Yes, she was now alone in every chilling sense of that cold word ; but it was nothing new. She had always been lonely and solitary as long as she could recollect. ' And,' continued Dr Silver, looking at his watch, ' will you give me a cup of tea ? It is too late now to go home for supper. My wife has taken her's some time ago, and besides, after tea, I've got to have a talk with you.' Fatima left the window and rang the bell. Dr Silver watched her narrowly ; but there were no tears in her eyes. She looked just as usual. The servant answered the bell, aud Fatima ordered the tea as if nothing had happened. When the tea was ready she took the seat at the head of the table, and Dr Silver sat opposite. They began to eat without conversing any. Fatima was not eager for conversation, nor yet curious to hear what he had to say. Dr Silver felt himself at a loss how to begin. After he had finished his last cup of tea, however, he looked up, and said ' Shall I tell you Mr G oole's last words ? ' 'Yes,' answered Fatima, clasping her hands together in her lap, fastening her eyes on the bright coal tire, and noting how the smoke curled and hesitated before going up the chimney. ' He has left you in my care,' began Dr Silver, ' until you wish to marry. He has left you all his property, and you are very wealthy, as I suppose you know. And I am going to try to make your life happy, not so gloomy and so solitary as it has been. I am sure my wife will help me in the undertaking.' Dr Silver paused. In the next moment Fatima was kneeling down by him, and warm arms round his neck, weeping and sobbing very bitterly. ' Yes, take me to you,' she said, tightening the hold of her arms ; ' make me happy as other girls are. Nobody has ever loved me! Nobody has ever kissed me goodnight, or allowed me to taste of the common joy of living. Make me happy ; make me different from what I am ! He never loved me; he would not have me near him when he died. I was told to quit the room when I went to him, and hired people watched over him when it was my place to do so. Oh, take me to your heart; let me love you; let me belong to some one in the world ! Take me away—do anything with me you like! Dr Silver took her in his arms, soothed her like he would a child, tenderly smoothing back from the white forehead the heavy, wavy hair of golden hue. 'Very well, dear,' he whispered; 'we shall go away together. My wife, or mother as she is to be henceforward, has been worrying me for the last two years to join the Willats, friends of ours, in Europe. So, if you can get ready, and would like to go and visit those famous places in the old World, we will start next week, please God. There is nothing to wait for. If we need anything we can purchase in London or Paris. Are you willing to go dear?' Fatima nestled closer to him and laid her soft cheek against his. ' How glad mother will be when I tell her,' said he, accepting the silent reply. Then he began to make plans for their trip, and chatted with Fatima about the places they should visit till she became animited and interested. Long after he left her, with her first good-night kiss, she sat before the fire, and thought of the bright future in store for her, of the glad, sunny days to be spent in quaint old towns, and whiled away in dreamy sails on romantic streams rich in story. How fair was the picture, and how longing was her heart to enjoy it! What a good thing it is to know pleasure and happiness I * * * • * # After arriving in London, and after seeing a little of the great, grand old place, our friends determined to go on to Paris, where they expected to see the Willatt family, or find some information regarding their whereabouts. There were letters from thorn at the American Legation, informing Dr Silver that they were all gone to Spain to visit Nell Willatt's Spanish lover and see what kind of a life and home she would have in that country should she marry him. Mrs Silver was the only one in any way chagrined over the news. Dr Silver was rather pleased than otherwise, and Fatima was too much charmed aud interested with everything she saw to care" whether the Willatts had gone to glorious, beautiful Spain or not. So, after seeing and quietly enjoying Paris at their leisure, they went one early morning in December to Stra9sburg. They proposed to linger in this curious but handsome old town a little and rest. The first morning after their arrival they strolled about the place and wondered at the strange buildings and odd streets. They were told at the hotel to be sure to go to the Cathedral at noontide and hear the cock call the hour. They did bo, and were in good time ; but there was such a crowd of people before the world-re-nowned clock that it was very difficult to obtain a good view of it. Fatima was tall, she. could overlook the many heads and see the clock well. But Dr and Mrs Silver were in despair—they could only see the cock and the head of Death, Dr Silver at last left his wife and Fatima and wandered away. Fatima was lost in admiration and stood there gazing with all her power, even after the cock and crowed and Death had taken another soul in his grim keeping, Sy-and-bye, Fatima turned to quit the >pot, and as she did so she saw to her amazement tbat Dr Silver was talking, as if he were very delighted, with a young aud elegant gentleman. He saw her and called her to him. ' This is Dick Choreley, a friend of mine,' said he, introducing Fatima. ' He is waiting here for friends from America, and as I know they won't come, I want him to

join crar party. Please try your best, too, dear Fatiina.' Fatima smiled very brightly, and said she ■would endeavor to do her best. Dr Silver then left him, and went seeking for his wife, who had drifted away from them no one knew whither. 4 1 am so pleased to have met you, said Mr Choreley, after they had taken a few steps together; 'I have had a dreary time here by myself. I was sorry I left; Dresden.' 'You have been in Europe some time, then 1' queried Fatima, standing still, and looking up in his comely face with great, but unconscious witchery. They were in one of the grand wings, opposite a window, and the ruddy light through the stained glass lit up the heavy waves of rich gold-hued hair, and brought out the delicate beauty of her wonderful face and the deep-thinking blue eyes to perfection. Dick Choreley thought he had never seen so beautiful, so perfect a face in all his life. And how well her strange, odd name seemed to suit the dreamy face ! Fatima did not think of the answer to her question; she began to saunter on, intently thinking of the ardent manner in which he had looked at her. Oh, if she could only be beautiful! Did he see aught in her white face and large eyes to praise and to admire 1 ' You will join our party ?' she asked, facing him. * Say yes, please. lam sure you will never regret doing so. We shall try our best to make time as endurable and agreeable to you as we possibly can. Say you will come, please !' Mr Choreley did not reply, for just then the Silvers came up, and insisted upon his taking dinner with them at the hotel. But something in his grey eyes satisfied her completely. Mr Chorley * did' the Rhine with them, and as he had been on it many times before and knew all the legends by heart, and knew how to relate them in an easy, charming way he enlivened the small party, making time pass very pleasantly indeed for them. He seemed much struck ■with Fatima, and pa'd her great devotion. She wandered at it, but accepted it with a warm, novel sensation in her hitherto lonely heart. They saw everything well in the delightful Bergstrasse, and Fatima was more than pleased with grand, old Heidelberg. From Heidelberg they went to Geneva, and here they intended to pass the remainder Of the winter. Fatima soon became a universal favorite in the pension, and wherever she went, the daughter of the house, Luisa Beyer, accompanied her; for Fatima liked the girl, and would not go anywhere unless she went also. After awhile, however, she had no pleasure in common with Luisa. She took her out in public as usual; but there was a decided coolness between them. There were no more confidences to tell; no more sympathy to receive from impulsive, warmhearted Luisa. (To he continued.)