The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-11-11

and despair! Oh, the aching Of tina
wronged and slighled heart. Dear lady
you who have never been tempted, pity
the erring-for out OF all the world the;
wrestle alone wish agony.
"And for her," she murmered at length
|-efor her.! Can she love him as have
done9 had no home but in his heart
no future but was welded TO his happiness
My life, soul, being, we're hIs-my hecu'
en- was his presence, my eternity his
love, and now that have turned from ev'
cry lie Of earthly fellowship for his seke,
he abandons me for o child like that"
A step was heard TO break the silence
Of the hall, and as il approached, the deep
crimson of her cheek turned 10 deadly
pallor.
at is his step,' she whispered, "who
should know i, so soon as Il"
AA1od of radiance poured into the
room, as the door opened TO admit Austin
Willard, land as Ne paused for moment, a
more superb picture Of manly beauty
could scarcely be imagened. Slight but
exqusitely formed, with dark, bright eyes,
and face beaming with health and hap~
piness, no one would have thought his
heart a recepticle Of crime, or his eyes
but ministers 10 guilty soul.
"Norah," said he, in rich, musical
voice, which sent the blood back upon the
heart Of rhe guilty creature who covered
amid the curtains.
God only knows how the sound Of a
voice once dear TO the hearl. must forev-
er inger there like unforgot,en music!
God only knows how the face we have
once gazed upon i'll affection, is forever
craven upon the tablets Of memory! and
God only knows how we yeorn for that
voice, pine for that face, and go down at
last to despair with only memory to lighl
our onward pathway 10 the grave!
A half uttered sob attracted the at
tention of Austin to the window, and
quick as thought he was at the feet Of his
victim.
"Norah," he exclaimed but no Norah
The tall form Of Annie Clay
vile stood like spectre before him.
"What brings you here, Anuie," he
gasped, when enabled to speak.
"To witness your nuptials," she re-
piled. "No false priest for her. No
vows 10 be flung aside with
her. No more oalhs to be registered
against you in eternity. Mine be the
ruin and the shame! was poor! Who
cared that he, I though! priest, was
base imposier. Austin, | told you ify you
married that girl, would make one at
the altar. My heart shall no: be the on
ly one broken, and so I give you warn
ing"
"Annie arc you mad!" he exclaimed
in terror.
"Mad" she repeated, and her words
were now low and sad. 'No, not mad!
that is passed! The madness-ihe dream
which created it-.all is passed noD-the
madness Of a pure heart which yields
ed up its warmest wishes for a glo>
rious star tina, glimmered for one moment,
then sunk in eternal darkness! II is all
past-l'm not mad now
"Annie, you gave your free consent 10
this"
"My free concen,! and had not, what
then? My power was gone-my place in
your heart usurped by another; and yet
loved you-oh, you can never dream how
fondly! | would not ifI could, retain
faith wavering as yours had done! |
might deceive my heart, bu, not my rea>
son, and that hour, when mind and soul
and intellect were wreck you came 10
me, and asked me to smile while you
trampled upon my heart! Ibid as you
say, consen, that you should cas-, ne off
and wed this child, for the love Of my life
was turned 10 hate; but l swore in nv
misery ,tha. my revenge should be as deep
as my wrong had been great"
"Annie is it thus you threatens" urged
Austin. 'You--'
"No not me-not Annie, but the de-
non you have made her. All, who would
nave thought that the happy girl in her
cottage home, whose quick eye followed
he strangers step, whose un,utored heart
echoed the strangers voice, who learned
% love the man whom accident had sent
Ior aid-who would have eyer though,