The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-12-13
Original Gkettl).
For The Cecil Wing
A HEART HISTORY.

II HLlE1 no lOn1'
II was night. Still, solemn, mysterious night
reigncd over hill and plain, and the stars slis
tened brightly in the clear, cold atmosphere ola
December evening.
A watcher turned from her window with
heavy sigh-soon. oh soon, another ye.: would
be numbered with the past-even now the wind
seemed to be mourniully singing its dirge. Hers
was not youthful brow; the frost-work of many
winters had passed, silvering her locks and
leaving deep burrows on her face. She eazed
sadly into her fire, recalling dim phan'oms of
the past. Alone! how drear the thought; nay,
not alone, for one above was to her, companion
and friend. Her thoughts wandered back into
the Past-the Future was not her world-with
the past and present only she held communion.
The friends of her childhood; where are they :!
Gone to their long home, or painfully changed;
few had fulfilled the promises Of their early
youth; few remembered in their days of pros
perity the lone and desoate OLD MAID. She was
blight upon their paths; God had denied her
the gift OF beauty; He had taken from her those
friends who would have shed lustre on her path
way, and kept her in atiluence.
Alas! alas! who so fricndlcss as poor old
matt? and yet reader, she might have been
wife had she chosen to have sacrificed her better
nature; had she consented to give her hand
without her heart; but no, hers was too noble il
soul thus 10 forget lis high principles. Nobly
had she struggled on, not seeming TO notice tie
many Sights so untceIinsly heaped upon spin
slcr; many Of the young and thougltess. forge :
full that such one has sorrows of which they
dream not, and that their unknd words are the
drop too any in the cup ready to overflow, utter
things they would condemn in their thoughtful
hours.
This evening her thoughts are with the past
Once more she is young and and joyous maiden,
living over her dream of love and happiness.
dream Of love to Tighten her eloonl Yes, So i,
was, and that light only served to render the
present more dark and lonely. Her heart was
then full Of happiness and this happiness lent to
lcT pldiu tCdtuItS SNtu tHd's
even she could not but notice the change, when
standing before her mirror and without vanity
her heart rejoiced in the change. for would ii not
render her more attractive TO the one she loved
Again she seems to hear the voice of him she
deemed all that was noble. She had invested
him with intellect and high and generous ma
ture; pleasantly the hours rolled on, the sun
seemed TO shine more brilliantly than usual, the
forest leaves looked of a brighter green, the
very flowers seemed to smile for joy, and the
waters Of the brook which ran near her home
sang to her listening ears joyous words TO
sweet music.
Her happiness lay too deep for communica-
ton. Besides, not yet her lover told his love
in plain words and besought hers in return, tho
his actions and looks plainly told the story so
with nature she held converse of her happiness,
and drank yet deeper of the cup, in solitude
broken only by the carrolings of birds. Ever
and anon her walks were shared by him 10 whom
her whole soul was given; honeyed words he
whispered of love and sympathy ofsouls, still he
said not, 81 love you" She thought him high
souled and honorable; not a breath of distrust
had been infused into her mind. Love alone
in all its beauty dwelt there and gave no place
to aught beside.
Very lovely was their last walk together, and
still lower was his voice as he gently pressed her
hand at parting, and told her he would soon re-
turn and never, never could he forget the many
sweet hours they had Iassed together.
The days passed on, and yet he came not, nor
word or letter; still she trusted on, for he had
frequently spoken Of impediments to his doing
that which would make him happy for life. Days
became weeks, and weeks months, e'er her
trust was broken. Then, oh then, no more
smiled the flowers, no more sang the waters
joyously and never more cared she for the car
rolings of birds. The beauty of life was gone
forever and the light..of love could never more