The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-12-21

Hio NY HSatu SN I'LL WIN aD indefinite
terror. The poor sufferer did not
heed me, for his eyes were closed to
the light. | thought my heart would
have burst, aud rushed to my own
apartment. traverscd it with rapid
steps; crushed my hand upon nv
bosom to stop its bcatings, and pressed
my forehead to the wainscot to stop
its burnings. | stamped IN kind OF
vindictive wrath. and uttered words of
impious fury. think was going
mad, but grew faint; was not left to
hlaspheme; | was s"ftcncd; they fell
like rain, and my spiritual triumph
prevailed.
What, thought I, is this perish.
ing clay to an immortal? His frail
beauty would at best have lasted
but few years. Who knows but |
should have loved too fondly those
dark eyes, whose intellectual bright.
ness struggled with their mellow ten.
derness; that mouth chisclled to the
most perfect turn of manly symne.
try? My poor Arthur? have some
times feared that your grasping in.
tellect and exquisite person united
placed you too much above me, that
| must worship you like q bright,
distant star; it is not so now. I shall
not fear to lay your aching head
against. my heart, to smooth the
lingering curl on your fcvered brow,
and call you mine only.
With these thoughts l kneeled
in prayer. Earth seemed a vain
thing to me; duty and Christian
hope my birth.risht.
Arthur said / chcerfully, as
I sat by his bedside a week af.
ter, with his hand in mine, parting
the scanty hair on his forehead, you
are not aware how much you are
altered by this sad accident. You
asked yesterday for a glass: YOU
must be prepared for a change
lie started. hesitated for a mo-
ment. and sail, in low tone, Il
feared this. Can you endure me?'
IF had loved your beauty only
I replied, I might not have borne
its loss SO well as I do: but while
God spares your intellect and heart,
| have still enough to be proud Of
lie looked thoughtful, and said =,
Is it really come to this? have
had fearful suspicious of it. His
land shook in mine with sudden trc-
NOR. Il have frequently desired
to introduce the subject he CON
tinued mcurnIully, but had not
courage. You arc not aware that
vanity has been my bcsctting sin. /
can rccollect the earliest praise of
my beauty. I remember ladies TAX
ing me in their arms when I was
child, and bcstowing on ne ex-
travagant expressions Of endearmcnt
and praise; remember nv power
over young girls, who tlattcred me
with .heir eyes, when their lips were
too modest to speak; my quick ear
has caught voices i'll public, even Of
rude boys in the street, pronouncing
me beautiful; and, yes, 1 will con.
fess, all, | have fingered over my
own miniature with a kind of idol.
worship. | struggled with this
weakness, and thought it mastcred;
Gods will bc done if this dispcnsa-
ton is sent to punish me-
Not to punish you, Arthur said
| fondly, as | perceived the ncr-
vous irritaJility Of his feelings, but it
may be to try you, to perfect you,
and to reveal to you my true love
which asks for ncthing in return
but yours. Oh, if you knew the
warm and brooding tenderness that
has settled OH my heart since your
misfortune, you too would say, it
is enough for me, it is worth more
than external charms can buy
Arthur improved in his appear.
ance and health. kept the mir.
ror from him, telling him that eve.
ry day diminished his Disagreement;
and he cheerfully asscnted to my
wishes, while his mind appeared to
be regaining its tone.
you will be almost what you
were, dear Arthur said to lin
one day when he began to despond
indeed forget that you are not the
same. Judge me by yourself, would
you look at me with less Of true love s
preference, if | were to be altered
by misfortunc!'
He shuddcred, and exclaimed
do not mention it; | cannot bear
to think Of it, (I repeat his Ian
guagc not with vanity, but tc
show his intense love of what he
thought beautifully Let me gaze
on you;' and he fixed his melan
choly eyes full on mine, lest some
awful power should change you
| co lopo 90 thoeo fr;o,o1 ,,b, bn, -,