Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-07-03

On the simple cross, Of purest marble
was written
"Eesells de B.
Aged eighteen years.
The words, ITO my daughter" were
also inscribed below and among the gar
lands were many in which the words,
IA ma File" had been interwoven.-
One, evidently freshly placed among the
rest, bore this motto, Regrets eternal" in
black and white immortelles.
! stood looking at this last resting place
Of some cherished child, who had Just
budded into womanhood, to be culled by
death, and wondering how many there
were in the circle that once ldolised her.
wEo still brought flowers to her grave,
when my friend D, la, ing his hand
lightly on my arm, pointed to seat near
US.
"Sit down" he said II will tell ycu
her tale.
You knew her p asked.
.Or she would not be there" he re.
Piled. His voice was broken. l did not
look at him. but walted till his emotion
had passed away. Presently he ccutin-
ued-"A year ago she was pure and beau-
tifM assan angel. We met, we loved, and
she is there %
"You were faithlcss;" asked, re-.
proachfully.
"Faithless |" he repeated: "no, men
are not faithless to women like Estelle,
especially when they stoop from a high
born sphere to love one infinitely below
them. Unworthy as was Of her inuo-
cent love, l returned il with as sincere q
passion as my soul is capable Of. How Of
ten have these quiet spots witnessed our
glad meetings; how often has the solemn
shade Of cathedral pillars, or the glitter Of
masked ball, concealed our love from those
who watched over her. Enough, she was
mine-mine for ever, as fondly thought;
but love had mingled poison with its
sweets. Can angels fall, and forget the
heaven they have losta
"Suddenly | lost sight Of my Beloved
In vain sought her in our former haunts !;
she no longer visited them; in vain l placed
letters in the hands Of our confdanse she
never came to receive them.
Fool that was to doubt her to fancy
Ianything could shake her faith, OF make
her false TO her vows Of constancy. Had
she not sacrificed all for me forgotten
family and parents--nay, heaven ltselfi
and yet l mistrusted her.
ii ceased my inquiries-I soughtto for
get her.
Zone evening was disturbed while at
dinner. by the announcement Of stran-
ger. It was the medical adviser Of Es-
telle's family. He came to tell me that
Made De B. was dangerously i'll and
lin consequence Of mental alteration, as
her friends supposed, had for many days
been calling on my name, and entreating
that she might see3 me once more before
she died. BY the Doctors advice, and as
q Las, resource, her parents had consented
to this strange request, and now sent to in
vite my presence in their house. hoping
the sight Of me would be sufficient TO dis
pei the dying girls delusion. There was
an intelligent look in Dr.. LIS face as he
told me this. which gave me intuitive con-
fdence in HIM. and convinced. me, when
, afterwards recalled it, that he had strong
suspicion Of the real state Of the case,
which was doubtless confirmed by my
overwhelming grief
II few to the dwelling Of my beloved
and the doctor insisting only that he and
should enter the sick room. scarcely a
moment elasped before ! stood in her pres
ence.
Her open arms received Ee, her eyes
flashed with the same pleasure as of yore
but oh how changed-Estelle, Estclle y
The unhappy man bent his head and
sobbed aloud.
=
did not attempt to comfort him;
knew that remorse was mingled with grief
and that it was better so.
He went on after . while
cat seven o'clock was compelled Il
be at the theatre, TO perform in the fiIs
and last pieces. Il was within half ar
hour Of the time.
"She suffered me to 70 with difficulty
/ "You will come back-will you not ?
she asked, as held her once more in my
arms. II shall not sleep till ! have seer
: you again.
Il promised, and tore myself away from
, that clinging embrace. reached ths
theatre, / dressed and played my part
Yes, play ed it, laughed, jestsd, Knocked .
|, love. and was cheered. doubly cheersd =
The applause delayed me. impatient t.
have done, I.hurried on sith my part
the piece seemed the liyelier for it--th,
applause became greater. In the intesva