The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-01-02

and often as she watched the quick and soft
step of her attendant, and compared her un-
wearied assiduity and gentle activity with
the indoenee and carelessness Of her other
slaves, she wondered what could be the !
crime of which so meek and unoffending
creature had been guilty. One night, she
felt worse than usual, and having persuaded
her sister TO retire for a while, she lay quite !
still, medita,ing on the phst, and on the fu-
ture, that fearful future, Of which she knew
so little, and which she so much dreaded.
ALICE was kneeling by her couch, and be-
ieving her mistress TO be asleep, she prayed
in soft voice to the God Of the Christians
for her recovery. Berence listened in still
attention; she heard to her surprise, the
meditation Of being implored, Of whose
very existence she was totally ignorant; she
she saw ALICE rise at last, with an expression
of resignation and holy hope in her meekly
raised eyes, which she had never witnessed
in the voiariss of Jeve. She called the
trembling girl TO her side and bade her
quickly explain her sacred faith. ALICE hes
itated; she knew the danger she would in
cur for both, and some remains Of the fear
of man ys! fingered about her heart; but she
coRquered the unworthy feelings, and draw
ing from the folds of her robe roll of parch-
ment, she read aloud to her attentive audi
treus the record Of Tho mos. surprising event
in the history Of mankind.
Many months had passed away. One
evening the sisters were aogeher in their
own apartment. Veyonica stood before a
mirror, her vest of satin, her Aower-wreath.
ed robe, her zone Of brilliants told that she
was preparing for festival. At the further
end of the room Bsrehice was seated. She
was arrsyed in plain white dress, and hel
long hair fell unbraided in its own rich lux
uriance about her throat and shoulders; will
her hand she founded snow-white dove
& ever and anon her dark hair fell over tn,
: gentle bird, and it nestled lovingly within
it; the other rested on parchment whicl
appeared 10 engross the naden's deepes
: attention.
Come now, Berenice,' said her sister
: playiully fixing the wreath of roses prepar
+, cd for herself, on her sisters brow, lay a
side for once your melancholy book, an
a send your dove 10 his rest, and come dow
: with nae to the banquet Bersnice locke
Q up and answered gently,
Not SO, Veronica, not to night; it is tn
:, anniversary OF poo. Ace'e death; and di
v she not die for love Of ms, watching an
e waiting when all others slept! Her imag
r has been with me through the day; can
n not JON The banque. with my heart full q
g sad memories; leave me, sister, and Bere
. nice took off and returned the wreath.
- Yet listen, one word mere; thou now
est who, will be there this evening. NJ
4 father will frown and Lucius Emilius wi
# sigh when | 60 IN alone. Lucius depart
"A 10 morrow for the battle; and shall he g
;, without one benizon from his affianced =
II No. replied her sister, speaking low an
i. fsllering; you. Veronica, will tell him til;
N wal, to see him here, before his depa
q, iure.'
'. " Berenice! my sister, be,hink you I
;, your father; remember his patrician pref
ces; surely this Step
- Go dear sister, answered Berenic
o' mild yet firmly, for the love that you bei
VI me, do me this errand. would not an
other eye should mark the weakness fe
of TO betray at parting with one whom my fat
or er has commanded me to love; tell my faith
er | am unwell, and it is true, my head al
ID, heart both ache-go dearest And Yer
n MICA, uaconvnced, vet persuaded by q
lie tears of her sister, which in truth were fo'
ire ing fast, left her alone.
ill Bersnice resumed her reading, but n
a for many minutes she arose and shut Il
volume saying Not thus, not thus, wi
he divided attention, and with wanderiI
M thoughts, may presume TO read this no
i'll record She placed it within small g
sp- den caskei; locked it carefully, and III