Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-08-12
EIGHTEEN AND GREY HAIR.
oE. LovE 5 iAaanR Losr !--A rErIrE HasroR

AftcT an absence of two years spent in travel ling. saw her again a. the theatre She was the attraction of the whole house; all eyes in the pd were fixed upon her; and |, after ore, could scarcely venture on second glance: st length summoned resolution; obtained a fall view of her: but how was l horror struck The reason of tie general observation her entrance caused was now apparent; cold siaverng came over me; my knees trembled:
 Poor. unhappy Henriesta sighed as con vulsively bit Iny lips. One of my neighbours, perceiving my emotion touched me with his elbow, and sand. |" Do you observe that young lady in the centre boX--the figst TOW Is Ii not surprising that so young creature should have white harl" ' And with Saeh sparkling black eyes. oF' re- marked another ' what thousand paties" ''lf q writer of romance were herc," sad thIrd, "this beautiful monster would furnish materials for an excellent ballad, something Ia Heine, at which we know not whether to laugh or cry.-- Black eyes and white locks; oaT attraction and abhouence true and lively picture of the liter ature of the day '" l could have anuihilated tue impertlneat puppies.
 At last the curtain rose what was acted God knows. The audience laughed. ground my teeth in agony. l several times thought of mak ing bolt for the door but all irresistible power chained me to the spot where my devoted victim presented herself, Cold drops stood upon my brow but remained. ,The play was and my tor mentors recommended talking of the young girl i with the grey hair.
 ] "Fof my part" said one, "I think 1t not at all unlikely that this poor thing in some lonely walk 1 At night stumbled upon ghost. Have you read the Scberin von PrevosSt, by Karnor-' " He Is poet and Swabian,' interrupted a person at my back. Trust me there are no such creations as ghosts and seeresses: I am phySi- can and can explain to you how 1t happens that nature produces on certain qualities of hair cer- l tain effects"
 An you ase doctor, are you f' remarked a new speaker; come, come. eXpouna 1t ali to us CT catbsira. The hsir9of a young girl cannot change its colour without some very extraordinary cause. She must have been subject to some ter Eble calamity, some shock. Perhaps her usband was murdered in her arms; or she dropped her child as she was dancing il at window and dash ! cd Us bralns out on the pavement" 't Excuse me, gentlemen. your conjectdres all fall to the ground saId the doctor, with an au- lucrative tone !" can't you at once perceive that this charming creature IS not a mother; perhaps unmarried"
 "How old may the poor thing be r' inquired one.
 "Sixteen," replied another.
 Eighteen !" exciaimedI. scarce knowing what ] l was saying,
 What! you are acquainted with her. thenr' exclaimed all ln breath.
 1 l made no reply.
 " He surely must be able to tell US something about her" doggedly remarked one Of the party. | !" Shfewdly guess that this young maiden owes ' her white hair to some cross in love, some--'' 1 In paroxysm of despair seized the hand of the
 las, speaker. |" Hoid sir; am wretch--a per ! iuged vi!laln."
 ! What effect this 'outburst of my anguish, this , involuntary confession of my wrongs to Henrietta -wrung from me by guilty eonscIenee-produced
 on my auditors may well De imagined but iuckl- ly for me- al this moment the orchestra let loose
 is thunder; all that noise al.d fury sgnlying mo- thing, that characterlzeS modern music and the curtain rose again. But what ictIttious sorrows:
 what love, FeaeheTy. despair, could Vie with mInel l My remorSeeSS memory pictured, ln colours too | true and faithful, how she had vowed to me her innocent, weak heart, and its dawning affections;
 how had sworn to be eternaiiy hers; 10 adore her whom had so shameiully forgotten and forsaken. ] Alas! l now, too late, perceived that had poi Soned all the springs of life and happiness: now, with white halr and bTQken heart, sinking fast 1 into the grave. Miserable wretchP' l eiacula- ted, 'is it lo5 late to redeem the pas'' thought ' dashed across the darkness of my m!n5-too late no, perhaps your repentance may make all well again. The mighty power of loye--l will ,hrow ! myself al her fee: will
 Ny resolve was inade-the performance was nearly at an end-I rushed out of the pit. Some one seizea me by the haud "GusiayuSy' y' ' Felix you here! Have you seen her" ab- ruptiy inquired
 ! '' fire ! whoF' ! !" Henaetta.'
 " l Jeff her only few minutes ago. You find her much altered, eh f''
 Felix, l am q monster of iniQuiyp
 '' What F said he, laughing, were you the sly ! rogue, the chaIiatan 70
 '' Cs0rlItan {! what mean you P' ! "fou must know that Henrietta, scarcely a month slnce bought of an itinerant yender Of po- matun a substance for making the hair grow. She had scarcely used it twice before her hair be- came as grey you now sec it."
 "Pomatum 1t was not love, then" the word ] died on my lips
 ! |" Lover replied Felix, with surprise, " God ! be pressed, no. We have been married eighteen months, and are the happiest couple in the uni verse. Whether my wlfe's hair be black or grey IS to me matter of indifference"
 Eighteen monthS+-your wife !--and I---'
 Alas twas but the penalty that my inconslS, tency So well merited. Take heed, ye of both sexes who possess tha; inestnable gift--another s love. Never triie with t as have done