The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-16
THE LOVERS SEPARATION.
BY FREDERIKA BREMER.

7 ! know, Sigurd, that your determination
is steadfast; that you do not waver Nor
will endeavor 10 persuade you. | would
merely say TO YOU to night farewell; and
would thank you for the time when you
loved me, and for the good will you showed
TO me. would restore what can no Ion
ger retain. You leave the city tomorrow,
and return to my family, to the home Of my
childhood. We separate. There is your
ring, S'surd. 1t was with delight that |
placed it on my finger; with sorrow it is that
| remove it. Bu, il must be done! There
was mournful, quiet determination in Ger
da's voice and deIneanor, which was very
unlike her. Sigurd had often seen in her
towering defiance, burning Indignation; he
was accustomed to these, and TO see them
go over and change. But this was some
thing new; 1t s)unded-it felt strange. A
cold shudder passed over Sigurd. He lock-
I'd at the young woman with an inqurlng
glance. But her glance opposed his, calm,
strong, solemn, but very sorrowfll. There
was something in 1t which penetrated ST.
gurd's breast, and touched his heart as If
with the finger of death. lie looked away,
and then again he looked at her; on her pale
countenance, on the determined, deep
glance. For the first time. Sigurd seemed
10 have met in her all equal, whose being he
could not understand, and against which he
could not contend. An increasing astonish-
ment in his countenance, seemed 10 express
the question of his soul, and involuntary he
uttered, What is this? us it scriousr Gerda
laid her marble cold hand upon his. Yes,
it is Serious said she, as before. We must
part, Sgurd; but gladly would that we
should part as friends. And believe me,
Sigurd-l am attached TO you still, though
say 10 You farcweIl!' Her voice trem-
blcd. She leaned her forehead for momeut
against lis shoulder. Then she rose up and
remained calmly standing before him. Ills
sensations were extraordinary. lie still felt
the pressure Of that marble hand upon his,
and II seemed as if an icy GOODNESS went
from itup into his breast. There was
buzzlng his ears; his heart beat violently,
whilst he felt that some great change was
about to take place between hims If and her
whom he had governed SO long. Il do not
understand what you mean, said he. in al
most Stammerlng voice "What is the
cause OF all th>l But this you know very
well, that dcsre your true happncss-your
real well being; and think that no childish
dlsp'easuTe ought to make yon doubt it.
What Is II that yon rcproach me with! what
is ii that you desire OF mel' 'N",hng, ST.
gur nothing: only to be free! 1t is no ca
price, no accident, which separates US. 1t
is the necessity of the thing; it is the dissImi-
lartv between our two natures. More than
this will not say 10 you. will not embit
ter this moment by rcproarhes. You have
done right for Yourself and for me-but if ]
should, with The excited feelings that you
daily awaken in me, become. your " i(e; woe
both to you and to me! Our lives would
become miserable. have felt haired and
bitterness towards you growing in my heart!
Thus it ought not to be! No, | would still
love you, as friend, as a bcnclactor; and
therefore we must part before it becomes
too late. Ii cannot be otherwise, Sigurd: !
have proved it for many years; and have
become clear on the subject only within a
short line. highly estecm-I am attached
10 you; but we must partp SIgnrd's head
had sunk whilst Gerda thus spoke. Mid
and gent c as her voice was to him, it soun-
dcd like the thunder of doom. When she
had ended he looked up, and she appeared
to him beautiful as she stood there, in her
stern gravity, with g'ances that quiet y seem-
ed to flash fre,-ncvcr had she appeared to
him more bcauliIul-more worthy to be de.
srcd Love, anger, Jealousy, rage, penetra-
ted him, and his eye flashed, as he said in
bitterness, You arc really rash, Gcrda. This
is very easy to you;-it is 4 light matter OF
course, it troubles you Of very little how
much may suffer! Ii is small affair for
YOU SO give up him who has devoted his life
to YOU for these many years,-bccausc you
have already perhaps-given yourself to all
other; and the whole Of this courageous de-
moastralIon, and all these great words, may
perhaps, al the bottom, mere y say, Il am in
love with Davidp On nur replied Gerda
seriously, but without the slightest anger;
that they will not say; and you do not, al the
heart believe it yourself. No, Sigurd; you
have loved; and shall never love any one
as | love you. And, if it can alleviate The
bitter feelings which you experience, know
then, that | have not rent assundcr this bond
without suffering severely myself; that l,c-
ven at this moment, love You above any 9th
cr man! And YET, yct-yct, Sigurd, we must
parl!-I, is as sure as the judgement Of lIea-
ven above you and me. But never shall |
again be as happy as have hitherto been;
neither shall ever marry. Solitary shall !
90 on my way; letit be whatever God pleas
es. Never shall forget YOU; never be JOY
Gus; never be really easy until know that
you arc happy again, and that you can think
Of me without bitterness. On. that could
eiface that which you now feel; that could