Tee Mystery Of The Library

No searching eye can pierce the veil That e'er ni y" secret lile is trown; No outwavdsigns íeveal its taíe, But to my botom known, Tlms like tfie spavk whose vivid light In the dark fllnt is hid from siglit. It dwells wilhin, nlone. [Mis.Hemans. " hat have you c.orcealed hero?" I s;i.l, ti.kiiifí hi"ld of the heavy Hllk dnipcry :tt1iu:hec] tu u r. se-wood eornicea iñd ñilüngin gmeeluJ íold to the ficii.r. "Liliuii! Liüan, don't miwe iti" exclaimed Mvs. Thorntim, sprinoincr fr..in the e;iHV cliiiir in wliich she had been rediní witli the ]islk:ssnesá uf a dreaining child, and dartinjí to rny sido h prei'sfd m heiwy iiyain-t tii veil that I i)uld discern the oulline oí a jjicture iiüiue. "A picture í" I exclaimed. "O, I must see t, f.r I can never resc whure there is inything niysterious." "But thia you cunnut - must not mu," i did not reply, for havins: been an ininate { the hue "nly a wefck, uil tliis bein.? my fiit viít to the li'orarv, I did not íve'uUemncu to the thoiightK which nished throiigh my nrindí - Peihaps Mis. Thointon divintd rny thoughts, as aíter a moineüt's silejice hIk' suid : 11 Yon are to have access to this library at all times ; every book i.s at i your service, ind yon are at liherty, : even to rumiuage the drawers and pigeon hules of my desk, it your curio.sity demande it ; bat ymi must not look be nt-alh the veil thai hijea ttiu picture;" and her palé lipa trenibled, her durk, expnstúve eyetiwere tíxed upon mine. " Jusi n:ie gUinc ,;' I suid deiidinglv; hutshe movcil her haad iH'galively, and I went on: " Hw can I study with that inysiery ever btíore me, and then too I jfiail úever cleep souinlly aguin. but dreum the lifelotig night of this mystical veil, and that it bidés so-ue tirange, weivd imnge; or tttwm, be come a soinnambuiist and íVighien every Borvant, who happen to tear ghíiFts, fróni th honws by midoight explir;iiiot.s nnd iiiilerii]g." " No cye but nine ever looks upon this veilrd littnre. 1 1 is waered, for it ia the nnly relio I have preserved of rny past Iifef all that I linvu to remind me of t)l-py days too biiiíht to las! ; rifa trifef perii'd when litu'H i athway was stiewn with flowbrw, petéis, sharp, piercing thorns -ero hidden." Her face was pal as death, an.il ihose deep, dark uves moist wilh pearly teais. I 8nw that her heart wns deeply pained; thut welliutr Irom memory's fo)nt cair.e painful remembrancc, and triily xnitent, I said - 'Forgive niy thoughtlesH words, and 1 promi'se ijííver to raise the veil frorn the picture, nor pain your hoait vvith my questi"na." An intense srniio stole over her pnle features, and IfriéfinK my ehttsi ttfae inurmured - "Dearchild; perhitpa uurva day I may lifl the veil and teil you uil." Then turnir.a awav to hldö hui1 tears, lfi me béfore the vei'.ed picture. It was r;ither curious bow I carne to be a dweller in the homsi "I Miv. Thornton 'i wo years pgo, wheii but lourtecn years f.ld, I coine to Nuw th.von tii Utwiid school, iind iller niy father leüving home for Ëuropu, whera he cxpected to rernnin for llirefe ye;irs, intnihied tne to Ú r guaiduinship of Mr. Howe, in ald lVifiid of his colleu duya. It wiis ut the houso of Mr. Howe that I first met Mfs. Thointt.fi Kho went but little into nricietv, and my guanlian's wíis une of the fnw familie clm viiied Her pule, expre-Bive face attiaoted me, aiid ihen, tu), was :m indutiiuible aomething in her durk, liquid evos, novv so 'sad, and now olowinjr vvith an intenso miiilc, that awoke an annwering euho in lliy yonrifi heait. She ttlwjiH called me to her idu to ask me abot my studies; und whu :i ncw 'mok was aonounccd vvhich slie tlmught wnuid ba B ui taille lor me to read, t-he placed it in niy hand uith niy n'ama engruven upn th'e ily Itaf in her own haiid writing- -r Waa it Btrangu tte ny hcart warmod owurd her; nn-1 tliat hor coming was ouktd forw:,rd to wilh pleasure orthat 1 oden rfeifged to visit her in hev quiet, ileusaiit home. My visita there woru lot very frequent ; and when we ;it in hia boudoir, which was fittod lp uuh artistio tanta, and bavingpever )een admitted to the library I ha4 oef er seen the veiled picture. I had a pleasant home with Mr Howe's family ; vet ii was a glad surprise whtTi 'he"said I eonld board with Mi's Tiionitoji, il I wished, nnd I hought th:it I would be happy there. Hrs. TJiornton had proposed it, as Mr. ïoue's fami'y imlicipaled heinjf absent 'rom Ihü city'mos; of the sqimner; nnd the followiag Saturday I removed to ler hon:e. It was. my first lioliday in my nen1 home, and ï liad gone to the libr.ry wilh Mrs, 'i'horntoii to select a look, hen nn pii!ii"g around, my eyes l'ell iipcni the silk drapery shading the wallr. D ihe lurthest corner, and was aboilt ti di-uw it Kstde, when hor e'xolüñiktfon irevented. I had promised ftut tri nok benenth tlie m.vrtttrkwM fokls uf thal silken veil. vet I w:!S nut satitied ; uuiiusity prompteii me to oatch u glimpne when Mrs Thornton was occujii-d, but hoinir {oí -badi!. dammer and auïurnn pnssed, and ho long winter evenings were spent in the cflsy, ohierful library; and though [ cast many a furtivo glanue touard the veilud picture. I dared not questicin Mrs. Thornton, and bogan to des lair if thedawuing rif thal day whun she woiild relate tht hi.tory of the licture. It wis a mild evening in s)iing nd we wi.'re fitting before the grate in he libr:.ry; I wntchüig the fast diinningcoals that had i unit liw, white Mrs. Trfornton, with olosud eyes a;t ïeur, in the ea-y ctiair. My rêverie was broken liv the tramulous tones ol ïer voice, saying: i'Lüian! do you remember your mot her ?" Then I answereri that, though I turned leaf af'r leaf of memory's bonk, vet I eould find no record ot a mother's ove. Sho died when I was abcnt tuo years oíd, yet my i'atlier had buen kind, and, us l;ir as pos.-ihle, tilled the place '4 both father and mo'.her. My ohildhood had passed happily; my fat her wa both friend and instructor, and my first great ssriof had been when I was sent tn school and my falher saüed ior Europe. ''Was your motlier's name Liüan ?" !ind thel'ü was sonmthiig in the tone o{ hi r Vuice that star led me. " ör i arne was Flora - Flora May. Wji.Ï 1. ll't a sweet n:nneV)' '■Very p'e'.ty," and the glowing intensky of her ye, as I met its gaze, made my heart throb with a [ion. "I cnn'l teil where sho was buried. - Om-.e when I aíked my father ht y;tid it v;ts Jar :ivviy, and we would go tu the phwe uf my birth when I as oíder. My fathur was sn lnely Iter iríot ht-rV; deéth, that lie sold hia homo ti New York and went to Ohio. I have no reciillectinn oj iny first home, but eball usk my ínthtr to tuku rno there hefore vvs return to Oliio." "And your father loved hit wife?" ''Whiit ;i strunifH question," uid I - Yet she :ippL'íireci U havo spoken without thoiight. ''If' he hnd tiot lovefl her, do yon tliink be wm.ld hivo renutined truo to her inembry fifiesñ yejirs?" ''I h:ive a headaehe, md hall retire," Mrs. Thurnton r m i d , ríeing; ar.d cotninw to my side, fh& kisse i me tendiíi'lv, md vvith a tiushud cheek lelt the Mb'ttry. Por n long time I sat g'izing into t'ne dying co;ils. Were lier questions tlie mao;ic key that untonköil the caske where thé memories of my childhooi were stored ? I could not teil. Yc ihere carne u dimremebrance of a tirn when I was playing in tha gardn inc i stranga jfati peered iuto mine, as soiiie orie claspjpg mem lier arms kissed niH anin and again, hilo iny ftce was wet with tears. I never knew wlienee he carne or whither che went, and it seemed utiMnge thatdim memory whould c.omH back then. It passed, and a hiitrht di'büm Hiited befo re my wakini; vieinn - my father would return in a months j he would meet Miv. Thornton ; she was so gentle and ning ha vvunlr] not f:iil to be pleased wíth her, and I might be pennitted to chII her mother ! My hand wns on the knob to open the door, hut I hesihited, It wan late, and the house wan still, Huw eaty it would bo to solve the myittery, and Mr, Thormon know it. F.-r inonths that veiled picture had haunted rny king and sleeping viaiinns, why liould I i lotiifff perplex my mind w-ith vain conj'-cturo; and ernsing the library, I pluceil the larnp 80 itw light would fall ditectlv npon the pictnrë'. Was it the ru.-tlinï of the filk 01 the faint ei'ho of gentle footteps that startlod me ? hut, intening intently, I found all silen' wiihin und without. Ah ! it was the hispernig of the wtill srnall voim, and nhould I heed I's promptirgs ? She would not know it euriofiiy whispered; so I ruisfd tha veil; hut tut my eye eauoht a tilnnpse of a g-iMed fraaie th.drapery full trom my hand I I Peiijfltnbered my proini.se nevor to rainu ihat vuil, and I lurned away wondei'ing why so cos'ly ti frame was hidden buneath Lhoce dark fold.-". Prora that niuht the mystery of thu library decpened. I liad a nervouw dread of beiníjleft tinne ivitli ihut Veiled pi ture, and iy imaginativo niind piíitlired a scöiiü of horror tbat vvould ihrill hvüi'v nerve and ffééze rny heiift's blood ! Mv father rotnrneil, and wben I told him huw kind Mts Thornton hfid byen, he cülled to thaiik her ia pefsrtn, bat cho was ill and ciiuld not loav hor room. Wondeiinii what coukl abítate her so. T retunieil to iny Futher, i-iaylng uhe would be bt'lter ia a day r two, and hu iiiiiüt not leavu tha city without eoiiiff her. But hü was tirni in !i:h i'uci.stoii to loave thü nexl day,am) I Muif4 uo ciiinpuny Li i 1 11 Theo I expre.-3t)d a wirih to seo my m tlier's grave. lio drew ino to his side, and wilh hls arm ndrcling me, und my hfad íestiiig up m bis b lïoin, told me of mv mniher; To hun the inemnry of tha ptwt vine paiiiiul, and I mingled my te ra wiih ne of iny father, wh'lu ;il;;iÍii I suoined to stíe tliat strango fuce peering iiito njine. In two hours I would lonve my kind friend, und I was gaioct without the mys'ery "f the library being tlveJj so I ventured to liint tlnit, when 1 cauw to viteit her the nest year; I boged to the veik-d pluturo unvuilud. She (lid not repiy, Uut U.king my hand led me to the libra'ry Sha would teil me all, she siiiii, for," porti aps, wo never inighl Illiitit ;i _-; ï 11 . M. Thornton tnld her story briefly Shu was tho nnly child of wealthy parents. and mitnied at tho aie p( niñateen. For ihreu y eara fhe wna hijppy in tho plöiisunt hoine to ivliioh hor hu.-i biind tnok her; then a cloud f midnif{ht darkntw overshndriwed that homo Soüieono envying her circuialed reporta injurioqs to her réputütión, and these cuning to her hn.sband's eara, hc, beisg nittuntlly of u jealoun disposition, lielievi. d thein. Tijo wifa luved her httsbaiid devotedly, and bding innouent, how ooul.l she bear patiuntly hfs tauntH nnd uncalled lor surveillanue ? - So sho propued fetqrning to her parental li'ime, 'md llio husbund sa'hl, (ín, onlv irtia must Iojvb her.ühild. .She did tro,"und ihree yyai-8. ul'ler, her parents baiug dead, he went to Europa, wliere shè remained e'ight yeurn, Ketiirning to A'iierica, nho camo to New übven, vhei-e, luider tho as-nimöd natna oi ïhornton, she hussiaua rc--ided. Once she viisited the hoiijö ot her huaband durillo his absence, and bribing the hou.-ekeeper by the preíetjt ot U well tilled pnrse, procured hix pirtruit; and Ui all her wanderings it had been her coinpamon, thouh elo.-ely veiled, lest nomo one shoulil recoiriiise it, and thus her eaiTier hislory baonine lood for idlö gossip. Then, too, he had seeii her child, and for a brief inoirent pressrd it lo her bosom, but words could not express tho agony of her breaking beurt as sha turned away froucj hur chil.l. '■ Your hnsbtind's name," I said, sinkiri it bet ieet, ;ii)d guzing wonderngly no lier p.ilc fuut) md d;.rk liqnid ejöBjboQl i loviuly upon me; Igr u wtrunga hupe made ïny huurt Ui rob wildlv. ' I c:innot repeat bis namo, but you iüv lonk upon hU counterpart," slie uid, riwing. SIdwIv, ilmost reverentiv, sho put ack the" iolds of that ailkun veil, 'hjf stood, h a : 1 breyUilt-as, besido hur - Was it a drea.n, or wai t ruuli y ? - 'hdi'ü waa nu mista!. mg tliat lllíenens iid invcluutaiil-y thu words - "My Falhr!'' burst friii.n my lipn Tlian, like a riftlv lïinviiig panoraiiui, it all pasned icl.'iü my miad, and throwing my anns l-.nii.ci lier neuk, 1 c;illed hel' - My moih-i! - my l"iig tost ir.other! ly father tnld ineull vesterday," Isaid vlicn I had ijeooitJ.e -alm. "Hj lealiied hut Wie rt'[;orts wre willmut inundaioii, and heariiig JÜ luid gunu to Euopa, &{■ thruo yeaia he has snught t'r uu th'ero, and now liis heufl is sad bucauso he could not tind any trace üj 'ou. Will you seo him V" She ciid not "eh-, but I read her answer in the beaming oye, and liaslily Innning my bonuot and man Ie, ra; lo the h. tel whefe I iurpriod my father by FuiilHUg breathless into bid room. llCo:i)i' willi iri, - =- .YLrs. Thurnto-i vvill ' ee you novv," I suid, nervou&ly clulcli na; his ann and pufljng hini towurd t'ie doiT. hut he, resisting, usked what had óbcurre'd t exci e inu ao. It was not j there ih;it I woul 1 expluin, so hu ii!lowed iny rapid ínnuteps uioi.tr thu stteet and up tlie shuded walk, but uhen I threw open the cjooi' JtjaciOg to the librury, l:o pnu.sud. " öhe is hert - come, I suid drawing h'un inlo tho library. Öha hud riseu - bow lovüly aho lodked thun - her pal? bruxv, her lu'iyht eye, and u crimsu:i spcit bunnng on either cheeli One moment my stood as ihough clwined to tho spot--thui) aivuii'Swz he exclaiiried ; ' Flrra, my wfe." " Hei-bert!" was the soft reply, and she was 'lasped in his anus. " Forgive and fui'göt the past," I haard a iiianly voioe inuninir; ai:d ihen I my nair.e waa repeatuU ju sit't u'uc.'onts, I went to my niother'a side, uid lbo happv husband af)d father presried his vviio aad ehild lo hi.- heart as in reveront tones ho implured God to bleas our reunión. Thu veiled picture was unveiled, the mvstery of the libriry solved , and retuniing to nur Western home, onct, more u huppy t'amily gronp dsvelt benuath its roof. A gentle loyipz wift and mother was the guiding atar o: that homo.