Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-10-16

departed, knowing that she was about t.
pen letter to her lover, from my cottage
But the smile of Louise was touched witt
scorn, she had long since been initiated in
to the mystery of the one grand passion
and could afford to look down upon thu
Trembling happiness of the novice
She settled herself composedlv for {
study IF hef favnrite authors--Tennysor
and Smith-whiIe l, leaning upon my
queenly Marss arm took up my portfolio,
and led tie way TO tile spot more sacred
to me than any other in the grounds-my
little dogs grave. Then we seated our
selves ON the fresh green grass, while
read to her the leaves yet fresh from the
pen-leaves on which 10 esaer eve had
looked, and which, in my tntetored mag
nation, sparkled with tie richest gems OF
fancy.
Mary was golden girl. smet and un-
pretending herself, save in the one matter
Of that queenly air, which she had inheri-
ted from her lady mother, and which was
part Of herself Though | am pursuaded
in her humility, she would have gladly
dispensed with it,j she delighted to lose
her own identity in that of another-weep
where they wept and rejoice where they
reioiced. | had chosen her from all the
rest to hear my crude Ri, mes, because.
welding no rital pen herself, she would
only praise or blame. as the faults or mer-
its of the article required certainly l
could never have found better listener.
She laughed heartily at the humorous
sketches had penned, and which first
reed, (between you and | dear reader, J
fear | should not have done the same in
her case, without exertion, )-she gave all
due praise to my poems, irregular in me-
tro rhyme and versifcation as they were,
and seemihgly-nay, truly, Qor Mary was
no hypocrite,) looked upon me as prodi-
gv in the intellectual world.
One may easily imagine this was de-
lightful food tor my vanity; and it was
long ere we Arose from our grassy seats.--
Helen's letter had been finished, Louise S
books were thrown aside, aud the two sat
rocking in my little boat and casting i'm
patient glaares round the house for me
to come and row them out on the harbor.
But one sketch still remained. the gem
Of all. and one, which, from her recent
bereavement, fancied would touch my
gentle friends heart still more deeply
In the gathering twilight | read it, in a
voice broken with emotion--then paused
and listened for her grateful applause.
Not word was spoken to break the
deathlike silence gathering around US.
looked up. What tears? Such tears =
Had this power? Yes; tears, a trem-
bling voice, fair face hidden upon my
bosom-tl,e long hair streaming over my
shoulder for a moment; then the face up
lifted with glorious smile, fdli OF hope,
and love, and faith. shining through her
SORROW ra;nhow-like
That was the happiest mamen; Of ny
lie? The wlea saw the ec.t-same sketch
within the columns of the Olive Branch :;
but not even then did such thrill of ten
der grateful emotion fill my heart.
The picture fades slowly. A mist, ris-
ing from the sea, hides the cottage and the
little grave from my sight; the faces OF
those three fair girls grow pale and un-
certain. Then | know that Louise still
treads.the path Of fame, yet casts no friend
ly glance on me; that Helen is a
happy and an honored wife; and that
Mary beams the guardian angel of her
lonely fathers home--and that they all
ore lost to me for ever; then feel that
in all my lonely wanderirgs, the image oil
what has been and never more may be
will raise up before the, 5ear!ins in the
light of that prohd and loving smile -
God bless thee, Mary
| That home, thds5 friends. are niue no more
My lie is dreafy
| tnin ME towards foreign shore,
Alone and weary.
And Fever, to assuage my pain,
Thine eyes can meet my own again
Yet, for The love which has been mine.
And cannot vary,
AM, Tor thy sympathy divine,
bless thee, Mary
And even as thou hast smiled Oh NE,
So may our Father smile on thee
Boston Qiiae Bsa,.ch.