Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-07-18

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you like a calm accusing spirit. have never
forgotten that look. 1t has haunted me ever
ever ;and now am free once more, aud let me
hopc-will you not let me hope that may YET
win your condence-yoW love--here, where
you once promised to be my wife 7 am des-
pera,e wooer, Lacy
She looked at him in amazement The proud
! worldly man was bowed Ly torrent of uncon-
| trolable emotion. 1t was the same impetuous-
ness she so well remembered of old.
{ Is it that so many years have passed, time
has changed me so that you will not see | am
pouring out my heart at your feet know my
words are more bcttting rash boy; but was
very hasty, and let that plead for me. Ever
wild and ungovcrnabe. But am not old
you are not old. Speak to me, Lucy"
you cannot forget she said, slowly and
sadly that here, N this very room, said God
bless you ; when we parted. Since then there
has been scarce day that have not asked foi
| that blessing on you and yours.
Thou angel !-he murmured rather than
spoke.
You have no forgi' cucss to sue for. What
more would you have me say!
Much more, that you have loved me through
all that all his drcary past shall be forgotten
that You will be my own yet, Lucy Oh you
must remember how happy we were then how
we planned and dreamed of the future! All
this can be realized; there are many years lett
for the e1piation =
lie saw that she was moved. With all his
vehemencc, he could feel that the past was still
a spell of mighty power
Il would have spared you this, she said again
speaking sadly. Il feel intensely all the pain
must inil'ct. Yet you have mistaken me.
loved what | fanced | saw was noble in your
heart and lite !; nv idol became clay before my
face. 1t was no light word when said would
never be your wife,
But you have never given my place to any
one ; you have been and are free, Lncv.
Because have feared another awakinU.
have cherished no love Dreams but not that
they have been shut out by tenderness for you.
] cannot separate love from unbounded conf
dence and respect. 1t is not my nature to trust
when once betrayed. No, by the sorrows OF
the past, as you have invoked its happiness, |
will be your true friend as ever; nothing
more
l hat strange, stormy interview was at an end.
She stood where he had left her, bewildcred by
the suddenness, the wiIdness of what had pass
ed. She IT jected that love for which her atlec
tIonate nature yearned; had put aside all thots
of that shielded domestic life she had coveted.
But she knew she was right in this for as
SIC bad said, with her respect and love were
insepcrab'e, aud she could not respect one who
had once SO betrayed lis manhood. All, this
was the trial! and she could not doubt that she
had received the direction she had prayed
for.
There was patter Of childish feet upon the
stairs, and beautiful little girl came dancing
into the room, tossing her light curls in affect
ed anger at her nurse, and springng to Lucy S
arms
Dear Aunt Lucy ? said the little fairy, lay
ing her bright head in an atltctionate, loving
careSs upon her shoulder And Lucy pressed her
closely-her brother child-and felt that there
was many a dear tie to life though the love of
husband and children were denied her. So she
went on her beautiful way, more humbiy per-
chance for that last trial, but still thoughtful
for others, and still grateful for the many proofs
she had received of the loving kindness Of her
Father in Heaven.
In all thy 'cags acknowledge Him, and lie
'cU direct thy pathS, Tor what is here written
has its noble counterpart in real, actual life.