Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-12-06


a life too short to ofor ts sacrifice of
tender ministries for her.
For during her absence had, ut first
mere refuge and then as a pleasure,
sought the society of the golden haired
lily, whose curls had hutttre agains,
my cheek nt ball. She was no more
like Rachel than n freAy is like a star
which melts its liquid silver into the
night, throwins of rpples of Iustrc to
glance and flash along the mellow blue.
She was only graceful fairy .fooiel c,ea
ture. innocent, simple, glad in her own
trnsilulness. who fancici for thoughts,
an would live on her love like be,
clinging to the honeyed bosom Of a
rose. No one had laugh. her anything,
and if they hal it woull have fixed in
her mini two iLeas---,hat the COOL
were lovcablc, and the bad hateful; and
that people ongh, TO be-k,n 10 each 9th.
cr, an think more Of morals than mo-
ncy. Her talk was tender prat,le; she
seldom expressed even those thoughts,
but they were her own pathetic moo |.
and chatted in low tone about the suf
ferings of the heart, and seemed passion.
ately to urge the virtue and the power
Of love, all those expressions which then
were mcant for my absen, Rachel sound.
el TO Lily as an Interpretation Of my
feelings for her. While thought Of Ra.
chel, Lily thought Of me; gradually how.
ever, her entire reliance on my worls,
her frank u!terance of her gadness in
seeing me. her soft, winsomc ways, her
sweet voice, bsr exquisite scnsiivcness
her purity of sentiment, and the child
like beauty Of her aspirations, in1uenc.
ed me-; all that was dear in her was
higher and dcarcr in Rachel to my heart,
my thong hts wan Tered back TO Lily.
was startled by the consciousness. |
refused to believe it. Surely was un
changed; ! would not admit the thought;
yet my emotions would move in their
spheres; pleased myself with the mem
ory Of the golden locked one, while |
forbade myself to dwell on the idea Of
her. ! resolred 10 be faithful to Rachel,
but knew my heart was already false
because it needle | a resolve.
This, for while, went on. | saw
Rachel often; new more Of her COOL.
ness; measured more p,oujlv the worth
Of her noble mind; saw more than ev.
cr that she was create to be love :anl
yet love her less. sail, inleel, no;
a word of my change, and | was sincere
in my determination not to change.
womld love Rachel. But delighted to
meet Lily, persnading myself, bv the
casuistry Of sellius,iica,on, that she
,I
most fatal term, which covers multi.
tude Of sins! | dared to be jealous o!
her. | elaine privileges with her; AMI
gra lually all her acIuaintances concc
G | them 10 me. And yet, even to my.
self pretended not to know was doing
wrong. Lily belonged to entirely an.
other circle from that Of which Rachel
forme the grace; ami thus my folly was
favorel. was loving Lily without in.
tending 10 win her. | had won Rachel
without continuing to love her.
Whispers, however, came to the Col
den Locked One. as called her, an in
her simplicity she askel me, without re.
serve, whether was allianccl. Sad
Lily. Her namesake flower, bfuise
AMI troIdcn, never hung on its stem
and wept away It's beauty ia pearls o
dew moe mournfully than she bowed
her head and let fal humble tears. Her
countenancc, which had shown on the
young moon, now paled as the moon
palcs when triumphant sunlish, ilushc:
The sky all around. But that light was
darkness to her, and saw that mad in
jured good heart. had done double
wrong; for hal Iovel her, and, lovin!
her, woull not accept the love she CAV,
to me. Rachel l hal woocl while
: Lowell her, anl won when loved her nC
more.
! As the sole atonement could make
| told this to Rachel. She listened, an'
; | knew from her face-at first surprise,
5 into anguish, but then shaded by I
proud, indicn int calm-that sickness
; had fallen on her heart. The paenes
spread even into her eyes; del ec,io'
: drooPe1 in her ashoS, quivering witt
, tears too pitcous to fall. No reproacl
S passed through her cold lips; but in thci
, palor-in one upward look-in he
r countenance, in her form-what a win
l ter OF rsproaches came rigorous and chill
S about me! The whole current Of M
0 former love poured ou, af'esh. | imp!or
r el, and spared no plea, that Rach
,, would forgive me, ami forget the pas,
She owed it to me she said, to pardon
e mo, but she owed it TO me also, as t
c herself, to remember my broken faith.
9 was forbidden to think of her more. New
y er, she vowed would her heart desert il
/. own; never should another hand elias
hers as mine hal done, but from til
uncrring testimony Of actions by whic
| hal deceived her, AMI duped myself,
could not now tcust myself any NOR
than she could trust me. 1t was be!te
then, that We should part.
So we parted. Rachel had few wor,l
to say, for she could not soo,hc, and sh
vouM not upraid me. And | lost Ra che
and did not gain Lily. Worse than a
other reflections, was the consciousness
@ ;hat had invoked this treble sorrow ir
IS to the world. A virtuous will has a
0 most the power Of fate; but they VIII
c would be happy in the enjoyment Of a
/, intense, exalted, suprems desire, mu