Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-11-22

him to you to become your husband. She
will now be happy, said, and l will schoo
my heart to think of her only as a sister,
What it cost me to look upon you in tha
light, you know not of the many sleeples:
nights and wretched days-broken Spirits
and neglected work My thoughts travers
ing a sea, dark and agitated as themselves
in hopes to light upon some spot away from
all held most dear. | was like pine
hewn down in all its strength and vigor and
left 10 perish, branch by branch
And you loved me so dearly, Richard
More than life since | am now willing
TO sacrifice it in the fearful chances of war.
No! no! dear Richard, for my sake do
not become a soldier Speak, Richard -
DO you love me still ? and all her long lost
energy was in her tone and action.
Look at these preparations for long de-
parture from my home, and ask the ques-
ton.
Cephise paused for an instant She tho't
what she owed him The chance of his
death abroad-and her resolution was at
once taken.
Richard, can you pardon my having low
ed one SO far beneath you in nobleness of
soul, and generosity Of heart l-can you
will you forgive my blindness and follyP
Forgive you, O, Cephise' Richard
scarce dared to give a meaning to her sud
den enthusiasm, she continued,
IF Observation-Disclosures but
filled with admiration and affeclionaie es-
teen, can render the remainder of your life
happy. Richard, offer you mine and
here swear before Heaven and Yourself, |
4 hat I l., ho-
ed me O, then, if my hand is worthy your
acceptance, take it, Richard II am yours
for Iifev
You my wife the wife of Richard
MORN mo Cephise, you deceive yourself,
and we'd, with heart dead to the love Of
such nature, in the hope of returning all
1 feel for you no cannot accept your
generous proposal at the cost of your future
happiness
Hear me, Richard; away from you |
never can be happy-knowing what you
hare suffered-cW suffer for my sake
will give up my convent life, and we will live
as we hare lived-be again happy in each
other
That cannot be- The veil of relation
ship is laid aside, and we have now to part = :
o the discovery of that dreadful secret,
caves me as it were alone in the world .
But for that disclosure we might have lived i
10 happy !-happy did l say ?--ah no,
twas but the sembtance, for were you not
differing the hearts worst agony, vet wear =:
ng the outside show of peace within 2 ::
'Ah Cephise the disclosure of that Sc -
ret relieved my heart of much guilty feel >;
ng, but twas only momentary. The warm n
ide Of JOY was sent back, freezing in every q,
hannel' =
NO more of that, dear Richard, it recalls a,
D recollections of my weakness, | could
fish forever forgotten. But this secret 81
Who am | Perhaps the child of shame 70
70, "a, Richard, you must not wed with Ia
ne whose birth is wrapped in mystery | OF
are not effer-or you accept the hand of to
ne who III
mo more no more Cephise-sister fr
companion l-pife"
Cephise rushed into his outstretched arms. en-
ust then, the baroness and Father Antoine,
hose knock had been unattended to, enter
d the apartment. Cephise raised her head
nd encountered the eyes of the baroness.
Did not say, Cephise, you would find Sc
cart to comfort and sustain yours when
ost it needed IT, and arms open to receive tri
~! Turn your regards from the cloister, tn
y child, away from there you will find re
UGH to live for; accept the guardian of ca
'ur tender years; he is worthy your best CO
I'd warmes; love fol
% madam, said Cephise, throwing her tn
If at the baroness feet, you know ALL
zen. l am not his sister. Should wed lie!
ignorance Of my mothers name p SC
Oh exclaimed the baroness, raising Ce- di'
Use from her knees. Come to my heart no
"a mothers Aeara!-my child-my Eveli- ce
~ IN;
A shrek Of Joy and establishment burst tel
om Cephise as she threw herself into the no
ms Of her mother.
Need we say Cephise-or rather Eyelina, err
'came the happy, and well portioned wife su
the gunsmith Of Orleans ca