Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-05

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2, me You know-you know what sep
it rates us. Leave me tony simple, humbl
n life. Leave me to peace and obscurity" a"
C "Peacs, Ha /! ha." laughed the strar
: ger, gayly. "Such peace as tlol has
a known since then To wake YEARLY wit
| the days dawn, every limb aching wit
the labor of yesterday. To 60 about house
hold tasks, disdaining even the lightes,
because OF the servitude OF which it is
badge. Loathing the coarse dark bread
and the crisp watercresses, with visions o
flowing wine and dainty cheer, that com,
10y right to others far less beautiful thar
thee. Turning the heavy wheel without
song, while musing upon all these things
and donning this coarse robe with thought:
of the silkcn softness shrouding forms ia,
more coarsely moulded Ifthis be peace!"'
/ The girl pushed back the heavy hair,
which seemed to stiAe her. She no longer
resisted she stood passive in that soft, yet
compelling clasp.
"Come with me-" said Norma. "'Tis
but step. A light wind will watt US to
the other shore. Come nearer, and catch
the soft breath of perfume gushing from
those fragrant groves. Hear that burst of
festal music, ravishing the very soul as it
steals over the water! See, the lights are
cleaning; but not more brightly than the
eyes of love that will welcome thee. Such
wild, fervent devotion as thy silly heart
never dreamed of !! Giving up the very
love of Heaven for thine. Living for thee
dying for thee, Mecta.''
The pure white hand trembled. the mai
den's bosom heaved with a low, shuddering
sigh.
"Come-come away. l can not wait
longer upon thee. Every hour shall bring
some new joy from the love that has no
law but thine own sweet will. Away with
toll, and care, and servitude! Away, tasks
unmeet for thee! Jewels shall shine npou
this fair round throat, and loop back the
rich drapery that will add thousandfold
to thy charms, and flash in thy floating
hair. Come away, Meeta, and be-
".Such q one as thou" said another
voice, coldly and sternly, to the beautiful,
guilty creature.
"Once more" cried Norma, with wild
inpatience, sta'nr;.s -r~- tho Anuers at
her feet, while fierce CLEAN shot through
the pleading softness OF her lauguid eyes
"wilt thou come, Meeta?"
A quick gasping throb, one bcseeching
glance to the serene heavens, one thought
of prayer, pang, and the struggle was
ended.
"Nay, leave me, for thy very touch is
pollution, sending a strange fever through
my brain; thine eyes thrill me with fear
full thoughts. can not go with thee !! l
may not even listen to thy words! Leave
me, Norma leave me, for the love Of
Christ ~
And then, with loud, insulting Laugh,
the baflled temptress had departed, and
Meeta stood with hands unclasped and eyes
lowered down, listening to another voice,
the counsel of one who had been her guide
from childhood
"Follow me for I have never deceived
thee" she said. "This is no place for
thee, in the very sight of such mad revel-
ry Ab, was it wise to leave the
shadow Of the cottage roof, and plant thy
wheel where sounds like these float past
Is it maidenly to stand there with thy cir
die unbound, and the wind toying with
thy hair? Bind up the scattered locks,
and let me lead thee"
The rustling foliage Of the grove, the
ripple of the waters, the cleaning Of dis
tant lights, the faint gushes of song, and
mirth, ard laughter, the perfume of flow
ers-all these were left far in the distance;
for their path lay beneath the shadow Of a
huge cliff, past the chapel with its silent
srirc, down the rugged steps hewn in the
living rock a rough, toilsome way, and
Mceta's delicate feet were torn and bleed
ing when they reached the smooth, hard
beach. They stood there alone, with but
the heavy shadow Of the cliffs, the light
step of the faithful Leon, and the deep,
solemn roar of the waves breaking at their
very feet. The cool salt breeze came
freshly to the burning forehead of the
maiden. 1t was this deep calmness, this
solemn voice Of the sea, this cold kiss of
its waves, that her fevered heart had need
of.
"Look, Mceta, far out upon the wide
expanse. Wave after wave rising, falling,
stretching out to the horizon, bounded by
only what we have called Heaven. 1t is
thus with our lives. Standing upon the
narrow beach, we look out to an eternity