Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-03-02

oNi' ~ was III an upper CndlnUtI III hO
darkest of these streets which desolated pow
erty seems to haunt like a spectre, that the
spirit of Tristan rested.
lis sole occupant was a young woman
You could not call her a girl, for the fresh
ness OF glTlhood no longer tinted the thin,
worn cheek; nor had the outside show of
fine-ladyism replaced the pure womanliness
OF her face and mieD. She had thrown her
self on the bed, all dressed as she was, after
what seemed to have been a long vigil for
the faint glimmer of the expiring candle vet
struggled with the encroaching light of morn
ing.
And she, TOO, can sleep-such a sound,
peaceful, happy sleep g sighed the spirit
Even now, there is in her heart no memory
of Tristan y
1t was not so: for on a little table lay the
letter to write which she had sat up half the
| nipht-a night when every hour was so pre-
cioust TO one who toiled all day in the weary
life of a governess.
why did you leave me in such angerP
ran this mute record of vain tendeTness.-
'Tristan-my hearts joy-my only comfort
in this world-how could you say | loved
you not! Must | tell you over and over a.
gain for how many, many years my whole
soul was filled with you; how that from girl
hood to womanhood | have lived but TO make
| lu1 SUI WOlln1 VI OOu-llNGu luiOuHu CHdHBC
and hopelessness and world.sorrows, still
Keeping my heart pure and strong with the
simple thought that | might one day be your
wife. And yet, when you ask me to take
that blessed, name, because | dare not an
swer to the cry of your despair you say new
er loved you What are your words =
Maud, the world and fate are against our
union. Let us thwart them let us marry,
and then die And when | answered to that
wild daring of misery with words of patience,
you took the denial they implied as spring.
ing not from prudent love but cold contempt.
Tristan you said l scorned you because you
were poor! Butt will not think more Of that
bitterness, which was wrong only from your
despair. Listen to me my dearest! If we
are so poor that we must wait until the time
of grey hairs before we can have one home
l and one name, still | UiH tUait. l would ra-
, Their work until old age, and live and die
your betrothed, than wed the richest man in
England. And you, Tristan, take courage +!
, Life is never hopeless TO those who have
I youth and health and mind. | will watch
you rise, step by step, in the world-my
love shall cheer you and give you strength.
S You cannot fail-you shall not fail! My
t own ! my husband that will be you do not
5 know how strong love is-how much it can
endure and be conqueror at last. Come to
me Tomorrow, and let US forgive ore anoth-
err. ! know that | am very dear to you.-
t but, Tristan, you are all in all 10 the heart oil
Maud
=, An agony of despairing love, more terrible
g than human heart could feel or human tongue
: describe, appeared to convulse the airy frame
Of the spirit. lis term of wandering over, il
felt dragged down, down, down, through
storms and lightning and darkness, to the re
gion of the dead. A cry of fearful anguish
burst from it-and the spell was broken =
C All had been a dream!
e Tristan awoke, and found himself lyiue
under the parapet Of the bridge in the misty
light OF dawn.
,r Humbled TO the meekness of childhood die
is that pride-tempted man rain his tears in thu
Is dust, and bless the sleep, with its strang
ID dream-peopled mystery which had saved hi
err soul from the doom of a suicide.
10 Tristan went home. Under the rose-porc'
IS, stood his brother, who uttered an exciama
ton of Joy, ran forward and stopped
d. Where have you been, young scapt
IS grace? | was a fool TO make myself so VI
DIS comfortable about you
But Tristan felt, and returned, the hand
as warm clasp, and saw there was a q~uiverin
cd in the thin lips. Peace and forbearance hea
on ed all strife between the brothers, now. Bot
had learnt Lile's lesson in one night.
ed In the evening light Maud's arms wei
ad round T%ristan's neck, and her tears were fal
IT. ing on his bosom.
But in his Joy there was a solemnity-
an q~uietude which showed that a change ha
come over him..
ly Many years after, when he CHANGED TO |
CHI walking with his wife in the same spot, /
N told her of that marvellous dream.
Maud, in her holy woman's faith, doubte
net one word. But while with a shuddI
lis that she could not repress, she crept clos
TO her husband, her eyes were uplifted ar
I'd, her lips moved in a thankful prayer.
nat Life is full of mysterIes!'