Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-11-02
Love answered tremblingly the low


eyed children, bright with golden hai
of my lover husband, but the cosey tea
table with its fresh biscuit and clotteC
cream, brought bright visions of wash
ing dishes and securing knives; the
blue-eyed little ones. of my rocking
however fast the cradle logged, wculc
cry, and my errant fancy turned with {
sigh of relief to the other picture-tht
lullaby of the peaceful Mediterranean
| the summer isles upon her breast. Un,
consciously said aloud
4 shall be Hunt Hennesly's;' and
then my mother called me to her side.
thought as l sat down at her feet,
how beautiful she had been in years
past, how beautiful she still was, with
her great, sorrowful black eyes. She
looked steadfastly at me for a moment
and then she said half sorrowfully:-
my child have you promised TO be
Morgan Philips wifeP
No mamma, / am young yet
Yes, very young; but if you have
not promised, you have let him see for
these many months that you loved him
that his presence at your side was
welcome. Now, Hanne, if You did not
mean to wed him, was this rigbt?'
I blushed, and was silent, and she
continued: s.
4 know, that Hunt Hennesly loves
you, also, and will not counsel you
Your own heart will be your safest
guard, if you win only follow it; only
Hanne Stuart, my child, do not let am
bition, power, luxury, anything tempt
you to marry without love. The retri-
button win be terrible, terrible and my
mother drew her shawl about her and
shuddered; albeit the room was warm.
Her voice was husky when she said
I will tell you my poor girl, a story
of my youth. 1 had not thought to
confess your fathers faults or mine, and
God knows which were heaviest, but
you need the lesson, and you shall have
it. l was motherless. have seen a
picture of the beautiful being who
died that 1 might live, but she passed
from earth ere she had clasped me to
her breast. l was my fathers idol, but
at fifteen he died and left me poor He
had been wealthy, but after my moth
er's death he had trusted his fortune to
a faithless steward, and l was scarcely
above want.
Il was very beautiful, the world said,
and | knew it well. The face that met
my gaze as l stood before my mirror,
was brightly, bewilderingly lovely. 1
had been educated in conventual retire
ment, and my heart was fresh and pure.
I loped-Hanne, you have never known
such passion. 1t was worship-it
was idolatry--it was the life of my life.
And he l loved was poor. Allan
Greame, was fatherless like myself, but
l was an inmate Of his mothers cottage.
Very tenderly they cherished the orphan
committed TO their care. l knew that
Allen loved me. / read it in every act;
in the appealing tenderness with which
his blue eyes would rest upon my face,
in the care with which he anticipated
my wishes, and in the very intonations
of his voice as he addressed me.
But another suitor came. Allan
Greame had never asked me my love,
and l had never promised in so many
words to be his bride, but for many
months he had believed me all his own,
and yet, when your father visited the.
cottage, his eyes sought my face, with
kind of questioning sadness. Time
passed on, and seven weeks more beheld
me Percy Stuart's betrothed. Looking
back, 1 cannot see by what circum-
stances this change was brought about.
1 worshipped Allan Greame as madly
as ever. His smile was the sunshine of
my existence. Your father loved me,
at least he idolized my beauty, and he
was noble, glorious man. Still his
presence had no power to awaken a
single heart thrill. But he was rich
and nobly born. l coveted the proud
rank his love could give-the stately
mansion and the old name. 1t was
long struggle between love and ambi-
ton, but at length l laid my hand in his.
Scorn me, hate me, Hanne, / deserveit.
l sinned wilfully. / knew l did not
love him-that heart and soul were
long ago yielded up in a passionate
alteration to another-and yet / became
his bride.
ALLAN never reproached me, but the
stony hopeless sorrow in his blue eyes
was more bitter than the most terrible
words. His mother was as kind as
ever. But 1 could see the hot tears
fall upon the bridal garments she was
making. And 1. oh Hanne, shuddered,
locking back through all these years, at
the bare thought of my silent agony
l believe that L was more beautiful than
ever. My eyes were wildly bright and
my cheek flushed like wine an hundred
years old, mantling over silver goblet.
Ny bridegroom liked the impassive
GOODNESS of my manners. l do not
think that be ever dreamed that l did
not love him, and my stateliness ac-
corded well with the lofty pride of him
self and all his haughty race.
u married him. The ceremony was
over. And he turned to kiss his wife
for the frst time, when shrek ran
through the church. piercing, terrible
shrek. Then there was a heavy fall
Allan was borne senseless through the
croud Nv hoskond IL.