Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-04-26

the enthusiastic and hopelui, anu happiness 10
vague and undefnable, and leaves little for
the chroncler to tell. The dark irregular
cloud tempts the pencil to endeavor to Por-
tray its marked and decided aspect, but the
clear blue sky offers nothing for the artist to
paint Alas that in that sunny heaven the
sorrow cloud was soon 10 rise Rudolph had
certainly changed since his marriage. lie
wa. not, perhaps, less assiduous in his atten-
lions to Gertrude, for his residence beneath
her parents roof would have rendered such
alteration unwise, and sure to lie observed,
and he was too polite to risk giving such Of
fence. 1t may be too, that there was as yet
no cooling in the fond affection he had profess
sed towards his fair young wife, for Gerirudes
was disposition well calculated TO increase
and strengthen attachment. But certain II IS
that as weeks went on, he became reserved
aud moody, that the sweet, lovely face of
Gertrude failed to call forth his accustomed
praises, and the long evenings, once passed
so pleasantly by her side, were now spent
more satisfactorily elsewhere. and with other
companions. Hlsyery appearance was alter
el his cheeks we're pale and haggard, and
his eye had The restless impatience and anxious
wandering glance OF one whose hidden
thoughts were apart from the passing scenes
around him, and full Of secret trouble. His
tastes and pursuits had always been quiet and
intellectual, and books had ever been his tru
est and most familiar friends lie had So
journed for many years abroad, and his Ger
man descent gave him that yearni love for
the vague and ideal which in this world of
commonplace aud actual finds in literature
lls ouly realization. But now, his most at
tractiye volumes Law untouched, his favor,e
magazines were never opened and their leaves
were uncut The imaginative refinement of
/ fty minds had lost It's charm for him, and
the change that had ccme DER the readers
spiri, was evidently fraught with heavy gloom
Gertrude was gentle and winning, but
neither highly endowed, no! eager for mental
improvement, and in their early intercourse
her husband had been wont TO point out to her
notice the striking assages in his readings,
endea7or 10 awaken her admiration for the
spiritual glory Of his fathe'land, and to strive
10 lead her mind through her affections, up
TO the inspired, the beautiful and the true
His own disposition was soaring and ambit-
ious il was not enough for him that his wife
was graceful and refined his strong and ex-
acting nature demanded more, and he earnest
ly sought TO arouse in her that appreciating
reverence for the greatly gifted, which re-
fleets even on the simple heart Il a, tenders it
something Of the mysterious charm and holi-
ness OF genius. And Gertrude loved tcrvent-
ly aad we'll and her spirit drank in, with the
irus,ul cagerncss Of little child, the clio.
quent teachings Of him whose words were
swceter TO her than all edrIh's music. Now.
these things had ceased. The hours on,e
blessed and frightened by such communion
were spent in silent separation, and tho young
wifes heart grew dim and heavy with It's sud
den sense Of utter desolation. Woe to thee
Gertrude for thy woman lot hath begun tC
dawn, and though the beautiful purity Of the
souls strong, deep love, must rise the dark
shadow of thy sweet life 5 bitter and abiding
Grief 4 las for the warm, true nature that
must learn 20 suspect, that must turn from the
nowcry paths of childhood's crcdulity, and
enter, with trembling footsteps, upon the sal
precincts Of the tIoube-hauncd valley ol
doubt
At length the observations of OF crs were
excited, and rumors were ahoat that Rudolpht
companions were not the most crediahe, tha
he had resumed the jissipated habits acquire'
during his foreign residence, and he otter
now ndulgcd in that vein Of skeptical ant
sueering phi osophy to VIII cb he had formerl!
rosoricd too frequently. lie spoke well an,
fucnt'y, and his language was always pecu
liarly choice and appropriate but his elc
quence was now wrongly and dangerously di
rectcd, and h's sconings dared 70 approach tn
most sacred truths, TO Profane the HOLES
hopes Gcr'rude a. fortunately the last I
note this fast increasing evil, for even III
lldusl'le anu TCChlcSS 5lOEuCE HCSllllCu 10 az
vance the bod irrcligion Of Rosseau's doc
trines, before one whose faith was so NEE
and unia'tcrng; and the sheptic shrank wit
involuntary respect from sullying the perfec
reliance Of trust that had never known tn
fain' est dimncss ufa doubt, Still the mora
darkness grew daily deeper around his ow
being. his principles, long ago undermined b.
false and specious reasoning, ceased to com
bat with temptation or to repel delusion. A
length Rudolphs dreamy speculations took
practical turn, and he yielded to the fatal dc
lirum Of vice, perhaps the most attractive o
any TO man confident in himself and prou,
of his Intellectual strength. He gave himseI
up, with the entire feryor Of a resolute, bu
misguided mind to the ruinous iniatuaton q
gamblers career. There is no unhappy in
fuence more difficult 10 regulate or subdu
than this, for il allows such play to the reason
and hatters the mental pride OF the victim il