The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-23

sister,
The haunted man, with his head resting on hi
hands, replied, g had" The Phantom with al
evil smile, drew closer to the chair, and resting it
chin upon its folded hands, its folded hands upor
the back, and looking down into his face witt
searching eyes, that seemed instinct with fire
went on:
"Such glimpses of the light of home as haC
ever known, had streamed from her. How young
she was, how fair how loving | took her to the
first poor roof that | master of, and made j
rich. She came into the darkness of my life, anC
made it bright. She is before me -
" saw her in the fire but now. hear her il
music, IN the wind, in the dead stiffness of the
night" replied the haunted man.
. Did he love herr" said the Phantom, echoing
am sure he did. Better had she loved him less
less secretly, less dearly from the shalower depths
of more divided heart"
:" Let me forget it, - said the Chemist, with an
angry motion of his hand. g Let me blot it from
my memory"
THE Spectre, without stirring, and with its un.
winking, cruel eyes still fixed upon his face
went
Sc A dream, like hers, stole upon nv own life"
" 1t did," said Redlaw.
A love, as like hers pursued the Phantom, GO as
my inferior nature might cherish, arose in my own
heart was too poor to bind its object TO my for
tune them by any thread of promise or entreaty.
than ever had strven in my life strove to climb
Only an inch gained brought me something nearer
to the height. toiled up In the late pauses OF
my labor at that time-my sister Sweet COM
panlon y still sharing with me the expiring embers
and the cooling hearth-when day was breaking,
what pictures of the future did see -
:" | saw them in the fire, but now he muir
INJURED ''They come back to me in music, in the
wind in the dead stiffness of the night, in the re-
vslving years.
Pictures of my own domestic life, in after
time, with her who the inspiration of my toll.
Pictures of my sister, made the wife of my dear
friend on equal terms-for he had some inheritance
We none-pctures ofour sObered age and mellowed
happiness, and of the golden links, extending back
so far, that should bind us and our children, in a
radiant garland said the Phantom.
Pictures,' said the haunted man, g that were
decisions. Why is it my doom to remember them
too WE'LL -
''Delusions,'' echoed the Phantom, in its change
less voice, and glaring on him with its changeless
eyes. For my friend I'm whose breast my conf
dence was locked as in my OWN passing between
me and the centre of the system of my hopes and
struggles, won her to himself, and shattered my
trall universe NV sister, doubly dear doublv de-
voted, doubly cheerful in my home lived on to see
me famous, and my old ambition rewarded when
its spring was broken, and then
Then died" he interposed. g Died, gentle as
ever-happy-and with no concern but for her
brother. Peace"
The Phantom watched silently.
Remembered" said the haunted man, after a
pause. Yes. So well remembered that even
now, when years have passed, and nothing is more
idle or more visionary TO me than the boyish love
so long outlived, think of it with sympathy, as
II 1t were a younger brothers or a sons. Some
times even wonder when her heart first inclined
to him, and how it had been affected towards me-
Not lightly once, | think. But that is nothing
Early uDhappiness, a wound from hand loved
and trusted, and loss that nothing can replace,
outlive such fances''
Thus" said the Phantom, &c bear within me
Sorrow and Wrong. Thus Iprey upon myself
Thus, memory is my curse; and, if could forget
my sorrow and my wrong, would"
" Mocker," said the Chemisl, leapng up, and
making with a wrathful hand at the throat of his
other self "Why have always that taunt in my
ears?''
Forbearn' exclaimed the Spectre in an awful
voice. " Lay hand on me and die ~
He stopped midway, as if its words had paralVzed
him, and stood looking on it. IL had gded from
him; it had its arm raised high in warning; and
smile passed over its unearthly features, as it
reared its dark features in triumph.
If | could forget my sorrow and wrong
would" the Ghost repeated. "If | could forget
my sorrow and my wrong, wOuldi''
81 Evil spirit of myself,' returned the haunted
man in low, trembling tone, 'my life is darkened
by that ncessant whisper"
s. 1t it an echo" said the Phantom.
" If it be an echo of my thoughts-as now, in
deed, know it is" rejoined the haunted man
why should |, therefore, be tormented! 1t is not
selfish thought. | suffer it to range beyond myself
All men and women have their sorroWs-most of
them their wrongs: ingratiude and sordid jealousy
and interest, besetting all degrees of life. Who
would not forget their and their wrongs %
Who would not, truly, and be the happier and
better for it :" said the Phantom.
"These revolutions of years, which We COM
memorate,'' proceeded Redlaw ''what do hey
recall Are there any minds in which they do
not re-awaken some sorrow or some trouble
What is the remembrance of the old man who was
here tonight A tissue of sorrow and trouble"
$ But common natures" said the phantom, with
its evil smile upon its CLASSY face, unenlightened
minds and ordinary spirits do not feel or reason on
these things like men of higher cultivation and
profounder thought
g Temper" answered Redlaw, 'whose hollow
look and voice ! dread more than words can ex-
press, and from whose dim foreshadowing of greater
fear is stealing over me while speak, hear again
an echo of my own mind.'
=" Receive it a proof that am powerful, " re-
turned the ghost. &c Hear what | Offer Forget
the sorrow, wrong and trouble you have known -
Forget them he repeated.
g | have the power to conceal their remem-
brance-to leave but very faint, confused traces of
them that will die out soon, returned the spectre.
'' Say. Il it done 20
{" Stay" cried the haunted man, arresting by
terrified gesture the uplifted hand. 81 tremble
with distrust and doubt of you and the dim fear
you cast upon me deepens into nameless horror |
can hardly bear. ] would not deprive myself of
any kindly reflection, or any sympathy that is good
for me or others. What shall / lose if assent to
this What else shall pass from my remembrance 20
6 No knowledge; no result of study; nothing
but the intertwisted chain of feelings and assoca
tons, each in its turn dependent on and nourished
by the banished recollections Those will go.''
$ Are they many ," said the haunted man,
in alarm.
&" They have been wont to show themselves in
the fire, in music, in the wind in the dead stiffness
of the night, in the revolving years. returned the
Phantom scornfully.
s In nothing else -
The Phantom held its peace
But having stood before him silent for a little
while, it moved towards the fire; then stopped.
" Decide " it said, s. before the opportunity is
lost !"
/" A moment. I call Heaven to witness,'' said
the agitated man, 8 that have never been hater