Love stories; New York (N.Y.) -- History -- 1775-1865 -- Fiction
In the month of May there occurred one of those wet spells which are so
irritating "growing weather" of course, but very tiresome to those who
felt the joy of spring escaping them. Week after week it was too damp,
or the winds were too sharp, or the roads too heavy for quick driving,
and thus the month of all months went out of the calendar with few red
letter days to brighten it. Then June came in royally, and Cornelia was
glad of the sunshine and the breeze and the rapid canter; and for a
week or two she was much out with her father. But he was now ever on
the watch, and she judged from the circumstance that the Hydes were
back in New York. Besides which, he did not any longer give her the
assurance of not meeting any one they did not wish to see.
One exquisite day as they went up Maiden Lane the Doctor said--"My
friend General Hewitt sails for England to-day, and we will go and wish
him a good voyage." So to the pier they went, and the Doctor left his
carriage, and taking Cornelia on his arm walked down to where the
English packet was lying. They were a little too late to go on board,
for the shoremen were taking away the gang-plank, and the sailors
preparing to lift the anchor; but the General stood leaning over the
side of the vessel, and exchanged some last words with his friend.
[Illustration: "SHE WAVED HIM AN ADIEU"]
While Cornelia listened, she became suddenly conscious of the powerful
magnetism of some human eye, and obeying its irresistible attraction
she saw George Hyde steadily regarding her. He stood by the side of his
father, as handsome as on that May morning when he had first looked
love into her heart. She was enthralled again by his glance, and never
for one moment thought of resisting the appeal it made to her. With a
conscious tenderness she waved him an adieu whose spirit he could not
but feel. In the same moment he lifted his hat and stood bareheaded
looking at her with a pathetic inquiry, which made her inwardly cry
out, "Oh, what does he mean?" The packet was moving--the wind filled
the blowing sails--the hoarse crying of the sailormen blended with the
"good-byes" of the passengers--and the Earl, aware of the sad and
silent parting within his sight--moved away as Cornelia again waved a
mute farewell to her lost lover. Then the Doctor touched her--
"Why do you do that?" he asked angrily.
"Because I must do it, father; I cannot help it. I desire to do it."
"I am in a hurry; let us go home."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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