The Hand But Not the Heart | Page 5

in a a page of the other's
wordy utterances." Her lips moved in the earnestness of her
inward-spoken thoughts. "How annoyed I was to be dragged from his
side by Mr. Dexter just as I had begun to feel a little at my ease, and
just as my voice had gained something of its true expression. It is
strange how his presence disturbs me; and how my eyes fall beneath his
gaze! He seems very cold and very distant; and proud I should think.
Proud! Ah! has he not cause for pride? I have not looked upon his peer
to-night. How that man did persecute me with his attentions! He
monopolized me wholly! Perhaps I should be flattered by his
attentions--and, perhaps, I was. I know that I was envied. Ah, me! what
a pressure there is on my heart! From the moment I first looked into the
face of Paul Hendrickson, I have been an enigma to myself. Some great
change is wrought in me--some new capacities opened--some deeper
yearnings quickened into life. I am still Jessie Loring, though not the
Jessie Loring of yesterday. Have I completed a cycle of being? Am I
entering upon another and higher sphere of existence? How the
questions bewilder me! Clouds and darkness seem gathering around me,
and my heart springs upward, half in fear, and half in hope!"

An hour later, and Miss Loring still sat by the closed window, her eyes
upon the gleaming river and sombre woods beyond, yet seeing them
not. The tall mountain of vapor, which had arisen like a pyramid of
white marble, no longer retained its clear, bold outline, but, yielding to
aerial currents, had been rent from base to crown, and now its scattered
fragments lay in wild confusion along the whole sweep of the western
horizon. Down into these shapeless ruins the moon had plunged, and
her pure light was struggling to penetrate their rifts, and pour its
blessing upon the slumbering earth.
A rush of wind startled the maiden from her deep abstraction, and, as it
went moaning away among the eaves and angles of the surrounding
tenements, she arose, and putting off her garments, went sighing to bed.
Dreams visited her in sleep, and in every dream she was in the presence
of Paul Hendrickson. Very pleasant were they, for in the sweet visions
that came to her, Paul was by her side, his voice filling her ears and
echoing in her heart like tones of delicious music. They walked through
fragrant meadows, by the side of glittering streams, and amid groves
with singing birds on all the blossomy branches. How tenderly he
spoke to her!--how reverently he touched with his manly lips her soft
white hand, sending such electric thrills of joy to her heart as waking
maidens rarely know! But, suddenly, after a long season of blessed
intercourse, a stern voice shocked her ears, and a heavy hand grasped
roughly her arm. She turned in fear, and Leon Dexter stood before her,
a dark frown upon his countenance. With a cry of terror she awoke.
Day had already come, but no bright sun shone down upon the earth,
for leaden clouds were in the sky, and nature was bathed in tears. It was
some time before the agitation that accompanied Miss Loring's sudden
awakening, had sufficiently subsided to leave her mind composed
enough to arise and join the family. When she did so, she found her
aunt, Mrs. Loring and her cousins Amanda and Dora, two not over
refined school girls, aged fourteen and sixteen, awaiting her
appearance.
"You are late this morning, Jessie," said Mrs. Loring. Then, before her
niece had time to reply, she spoke to her eldest daughter--"Amanda,

ring the bell, and order breakfast at once."
"I am sorry to have kept you waiting, aunt Phoebe," replied Jessie. "I
did not get to bed until very late, and slept too soundly for the morning
bell."
"You must have been as deeply buried in the arms of Morpheus as one
of the seven sleepers, not to have heard that bell! I thought Kitty would
never stop the intolerable din. The girl seems to have a passion for
bell-ringing. Her last place was, I fancy, a boarding-house."
Mrs. Loring spoke with a slight shade of annoyance in her tones. Her
words and manner, it was plain from Jessie's countenance, were felt as
a rebuke. In a few moments the breakfast bell was heard, and the family
went down to the morning meal, which had been delayed full half an
hour beyond the usual time.
"Had you a pleasant time last evening?" inquired Mrs. Loring, after
they were seated at the table, and a taste of the fragrant coffee and
warm cakes had somewhat refreshed her body, and restored the
tranquillity