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II。
Watching the sullen fire； Hearing the dismal rain； Drop after drop； run
down On the darkening window…pane： Chill was the heart of Alice； Chill
as that winter day； … For the star of her life had risen Only to fade away。
III。
The voice that had been so strong To bid the snare depart； The true and
earnest will； The calm and steadfast heart； Were now weighed down by
sorrow； Were quivering now with pain； The clear path now seemed
clouded； And all her grief in vain。
IV。
Duty； Right； Truth； who promised To help and save their own； Seemed
spreading wide their pinions To leave her there alone。 So； turning from the
Present To well…known days of yore； She called on them to strengthen And
guard her soul once more。
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V。
She thought how in her girlhood Her life was given away； The solemn
promise spoken She kept so well to…day； How to her brother Herbert She
had been help and guide； And how his artist nature On her calm strength
relied。
VI。
How through life's fret and turmoil The passion and fire of art In him
was soothed and quickened By her true sister heart； How future hopes had
always Been for his sake alone； And now；what strange new feeling
Possessed her as its own？
VII。
Her homeeach flower that breathed there； The wind's sigh； soft and
low； Each trembling spray of ivy； The river's murmuring flow； The shadow
of the forest； Sunset； or twilight dim … Dear as they were； were dearer By
leaving them for him。
VIII。
And each year as it found her In the dull； feverish town； Saw self still
more forgotten； And selfish care kept down By the calm joy of evening
That brought him to her side； To warn him with wise counsel； Or praise
with tender pride。
IX。
Her heart； her life； her future； Her genius； only meant Another thing to
give him； And be therewith content。 To…day； what words had stirred her；
Her soul could not forget？ What dream had filled her spirit With strange
and wild regret？
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X。
To leave him for another； … Could it indeed be so？ Could it have cost
such anguish To bid this vision go？ Was this her faith？ Was Herbert The
second in her heart？ Did it need all this struggle To bid a dream depart？
XI。
And yet； within her spirit A far…off land was seen； A home； which
might have held her； A love； which might have been。 And Lifenot the
mere being Of daily ebb and flow； But Life itself had claimed her； And she
had let it go！
XII。
Within her heart there echoed Again the well…known tone That
promised this bright future； And asked her for her own： Then words of
sorrow； broken By half…reproachful pain； And then a farewell spoken In
words of cold disdain。
XIII。
Where now was the stern purpose That nerved her soul so long？
Whence came the words she uttered； So hard； so cold； so strong？ What
right had she to banish A hope that God had given？ Why must she choose
earth's portion； And turn aside from Heaven？
XIV。
To…day！ Was it this morning？ If this long； fearful strife Was but the
work of hours； What would be years of life？ Why did a cruel Heaven For
such great suffering call？ And whyOh； still more cruel！ … Must her own
words do all？
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XV。
Did she repent？ Oh Sorrow！ Why do we linger still To take thy
loving message； And do thy gentle will？ See； her tears fall more slowly；
The passionate murmurs cease； And back upon her spirit Flow strength；
and love； and peace。
XVI。
The fire burns more brightly； The rain has passed away； Herbert will
see no shadow Upon his home to…day； Only that Alice greets him With
doubly tender care； Kissing a fonder blessing Down on his golden hair。
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II
I。
The studio is deserted； Palette and brush laid by； The sketch rests on
the easel； The paint is scarcely dry； And Silencewho seems always
Within her depths to bear The next sound that will utter … Now holds a
dumb despair。
II。
So Alice feels it： listening With breathless； stony fear； Waiting the
dreadful summons Each minute brings more near： When the young life；
now ebbing； Shall fail； and pass away Into that mighty shadow Who
shrouds the house to…day。
III。
But whywhen the sick chamber Is on the upper floor … Why dares not
Alice enter Within the closeshut door？ If heher allher Brother； Lies
dying in that gloom； What strange mysterious power Has sent her from the
room？
IV。
It is not one week's anguish That can have changed her so； Joy has not
died here lately； Struck down by one quick blow； But cruel months have
needed Their long relentless chain； To teach that shrinking manner Of
helpless； hopeless pain。
V。
The struggle was scarce over Last Christmas Eve had brought： The
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fibres still were quivering Of the one wounded thought； When Herbert
who； unconscious； Had guessed no inward strife … Bade her； in pride and