The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-01-22

er, as it seemed, for she threw back her
tangled hair, tossed back her crushed
hat, and laid bare her forehead to the pet-
T ing Of the storm. She laughed low,
shuddering laugh, as the icy drops trickled
upon her fever-hot eyes.
Anne had placed mortal on the shrine
of her Maker-the creature on the throne
of the Creator Not content to give the
unselfsh, unutterable love of a woman's
heart, she had poured on the altar of her
idol that sacred oil'' Of worship and
alteration that is not with impunity with
held from Heaven. She had concentrated
the universe into one point-and where
was her universe now? Where was her
idol-shrine
" The store" of the country for miles
around, with its much be chalked sign of
fish, flannel, -four, dry goods, groceries" {"
and Il dozen other Indispensable les, stood
just on the rocky bank, fronting the crcs-
cent fall, whose foamy wreath dashed
against its back walls 1t was kept by an
older brother of Anne. The bay pony,
by force of habit, slackened his pace be-
fore the plank platform. Anne looked
about her in momentary bewilderment !;
then sudd enly checking him, she threw
herself from his back, and dropped the
bride to the ground.
The little building shook with the strife
of clouds and river mists, that seemed
rushing to close combat beneath lis found
ations, when Anne stepped on the thresh-
old. 1t was dusk within, unlighted for
the want of customers Annc's brothe,
started forward from his desk, in surprise
at the sound of a step, and brushed against
his sister before she was aware of his pre-.
sencc.
"What are you about, Anne Z" cx
claimed he, catching her roughly by the
arm; "Girl, l believe you are beside
yourself! Drcnched and dripping sight
to behold and you were half dead before
What, in the name of the four elements
sent you out on such night -
4" 1 came," answered Anne confusedly
and rather incoherently, 81 came -
the children wanted some gingerbread
and I''-
" Nonsense - exclaimed her brother,
thoroughly provoked at her rashness and
heedlessness. "This is all of a piece
with your woman-caprices. Go home
Immediately, and tell mother that | will
carry you to the Insane Retreat, to keep
you out of your coffin, if she does not bolt
you in your room, out of the reach of fire
and water! There, there, go don't wait
to catch your death cold AS if | could
no, bring that foolish gingerbread Child
ish there, 60 -
How little we know where our harsh
words are falling, when they drop bitterly
from our lips! All! there are wounds
that cannot be healed in tine-nor yet in
eternity
Would he not speak one kind, brotherly
word to that anguished sister, If he had
looked into her haggard, despairing face,
perhaps he would not have turned away so
abruptly as he did after this TRADE, and
hidden himself again behind the high front
of his counting desk, assured by the patter
of the pony's feet upon the pebbles, that
he had taken the homeward road.
hOule tne ldi'Hiui poHy WcHG, dltei
waiting his time for his rider; but Anne
did not 90 with him. She only shrunk
back into the shade, until all was still
again. Then she glided, like a guilty
thug, noiselcssly through long, dark
passage, to the back door of the shop. She
lifted its latch carefully, and went out into
the gathering night.
Wild riare WIS beneath her! Bill
lows of mist rolled and s aged hither and
thither in the abyss, and where they parted
for moment, the inky waters appeared,
lashing the trembling rocks with mad tur-
bulence.
There was no eye but the eye of Omni-
presence, to look upon the passion blinded
girl, and to that she looked not up. Where
was her guardian angel, 70 whisper, "Wait, I
wait, be patient ~ 1t was the hour Of
darkness, and of fierce fends, who famed
the storm in her soul, so family emblemed