The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-18
whose low, nute.like tones stole upon the
heart like erial music

ed to listen to such words! Cas-, out, like
an Indian pariah, from the pAle ofhuman
fellowship, had almost forgotten how to
pray; but you have shed the healing balm
Of religion once more upon my scared and
bligl'ted heart, and can weep glad tears
ofpenitence, and dare 10 hope for pardon" !"
After this burst OF excitement, she grew
more calm, and our conversation assumed
devotional yet placid tenor. until she
drew from her bosom small packet, and
gave it to me with trembling hand.
Read it. sir" she said, lit is the sad
history OF life Of sorrow. Have pity as
you trace the record Of human frailty, and
remember that you are The servant of the
Merciful!'
She paused, and her cheek grew pale,
as if her ear caught an unwelcome but
well known sound. A quick step was
soon heard in the passage, and man en-
tered, bearing light; he stood moment
on the Threshold, as if Supplied, and then
hastily approached us. A model of man
ly beauty; his naughty features bore the
prevailing characteristics of the gipsey
blood-the rich olive cheek, the lustrious
eyes. the long silky raven hair, the light
and flexible form, the step light and grace
ful as the leopard's; yet were all these per.
fections marred by an air of reckless IL
centiousness. His attire. which strangely
mingled the rich and gaudy with the worn
and faded, added to the ruliianism Of his
appearance; and as he cast stern look
on the girl who shrank beneath his eye, |
read at once the mourniul secret Of her
dispair. With rough words he bade me
begone. and, as the beseeching eye of his
victim glanced meaningly toward the door,
departed, with silent prayer in my
heart for the betrayer and the erring.
A cold drizzling rain was falling without,
and | walked hastily homeward, musing
on the strange scene in which had so
lutely mingled. Seated in my little study,
drew my table near..the fire, arranged my
readinglamp, and commenced the perusal
Of the manuscript confided TO my charge,
Ii was written in delicate Italian hand
upon uocoulh and various scraps of paper.
and appeared to have hean transcribed
with little attempt at arrangement. and at
long intervals; but my curiosity added the
links to the leading events. and gradu.
ally entered with deeper interest into the
mournful history.
"How happy was my childhood!"it it be.
gan. 81 can scarcely remember grief
through oil that sunny lapse of years. |
dwelt in a beautiful abode, uniting the
veranlas and vine.colored poricoes Of
southern clmes with the substantial in
door comforts OF English luxury. The
country around was romantic, and grew
up in its. sylvan soltudcs almost as wild
and happy as the birds and fawns that were
my companions.
81 was motherless. My father. on her
death. had retired from public life. and
devoted himselft to her child. ldolized by
him. my widest wishes were unrestrained;
the common forms Of knowledge were ca.
g,rly accepted by me, for had an intui.
tive talent Of acquiring anything which
contributed to pleasure; and | early dis.
covered that, without learning TO read and
write, the gilGed books and en- amefed desks
in my fathers library would remain to me
only as so many splendid baubles; but
regular education, religious and intel
lectual course Of study never pursued.
read as liked and when liked. Twas
delicate in appearance, and my father
feared to control my spirits, or 10 rob me
Of moments happiness. Fatal affsction
How did repay such misiulging Lowell
slime flowed brightly on, and | had
already sren sixteen summers, when the
HAie cloud appeared in the sky that so
feariully darkened my future destiny. In
one Of our charitable visits to the neigh
boring cottages, we formed an acquaint.
anco with a gentleman who had become
an inhabtant Of our village; a fall from
his horse placed him under the care Of our
worthy doctor, and he had hired a small
room attached to Ashtree farm. until he
recovered from the lingering effects of his
accident. Handsome, graceful, and in
sinuating in his address, he captivated my
ardent Imagination at once. Unaccus.
toned to the world. looked upon him as
the very "mould of form;" new and
blissiul enchantment seemed to peryade
my being in his presence, and my girlish
fancy dignifed the delusion with the name
oflove! My father was delighted with his
society; he possessed an inexhaustible
fund Of anecdotes and strange adventures,
was an excellent musician, and had the
agreeable tact accomodationg himself to
the mood Of the moment. He was con-
slant vsiter, and at length became almost
domesticated in our household. Known
10 us by the name Of Corrie, he spoke o.
himself as the son Of anoble house, who
10 indulge poetic temperament, and ro'
mantle passion for rural scenery, had
come forth on solitary pilgrimage. and
cast aside for while what he called the
iron letters Of exclusive society. How
sweet were our moonlight rambling'
through the deep forrest glens; how fondly
xs,a t;ncarcd hv. the. Rair;aos Wall in ths