The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-26
For the National Era.
H 0 | | wv 0 O D ,
BY ALICE CAREY.
CHAP. EII-Continued

BY ALICE CAREY.
, CHAP. VII-Continued.
| saw that, in spite of nv soft interpreta
tons her honely perceptions struck straisb,
a. the truth, and felt in all ways compro
missed. She, my inferior, was in posses sion Of
my secret and IN some sort was in her power
rity. ''''''
one appeared to appreciate my position and
my thoughts, and said, abruptly:
It's no use to say we forget a thing. when
we dont and can't forget it but not for this,
nor Tor anything that may know or suspect
ABOUT certain persons, will anybody be any the
: wiser: After all, | may be all wroDg-I ex-
pect am, but don't believe am, and know
l amt but IT had once thought tina. what |
knew about the letter would make Won sad
would not have spoke it tho longest dsy
lived" And, making some practical, common
sense observation about the needs of the kiteh-
en-, she lett me TO my own reflections
cannot hope to make you understand the
conflict that was in my heart. A tormenting
passion is love, at the best but when love is
not accompanied by the most perfect conf.
dence IN the object loved it becomes the most
agOnizing of all torments. And. now that
had permitted myself to listen to the suspicious
OF another, mine own seemed to have acquired
|
and possibilities in the world against one
damniDg faeta
arose from my abjec. position, and taking
from drawer, where it was carefully laid
away among dried rose leaves, a small illumi-
mated volume, a gift from Mr. Richards, which
L greatly priced, | went to the parlor to re-.
place 1t wheSe it had been previously TO COM
ing into my possession. For moment
pressed it to my heart for another, to my lips,
and, tearing hastily out the presentation page,
| turned, crumpling the leaf in my hand, and
stood face to face with the arbiter of my fate
Whether he had witnessed my action and
OWNED my thought, know not for, approach
ing me, in a manner which had in it all the
tenderness of devotion, he drew me to the sofa,
and, folding me close in his arms, kissed me
again and again-kissed my forehead, kissed
my lips.
] "Thc story" | said, disengaging myself !;
"you had something to tell ne, you said let
me hear it now"
"No, Mary, you are not in a mood to hear
the story | had to tell. Another time,
when -
He checked himself and remained silent.
said | was prepared to hear anything
even that had been deceived and betrayed
and forsakon. Nothing could surprise me-
nothing could wound me more deeply than
udu diIeduy Ueen WOunCeU.
He seemed to muse for moment and then
clasping me close in his arms, said
cit seems to me cannot better fulfill the
true mission of life, than by living here, and
with you"
what do you mean }" | asked holding
back his face between my hands, and hooking
close in his eyes.
He laughed, in gay, good-humored fashion,
which seemed to say 1 had been needlessly
alarmed, and which made me feel that | had
been; for | laughed responsively, and, as he
tghtened the embrace, nestled with childlike
confidence TO his bosom, and for q moment as
blest.
All at once the room grew brighter |
thought it was our love shining so, at first :;
but looking up, saw that Mr.. Richards was
holding over the flame of the lamp the letter
which he had that evening received He
turned it, that might see the seal was melt.
ing unbroken, and, when the last particle fell
to ashes, said:
"So, Mary, Wa are friends agsin-more
than friends-we are lovers; we are married
by the invisible priesthood of God-the angels I"
He bent low to my lips, and | gave without
shame the seal of Confirmation
God, my Father, thank thee for that bless
ed hour. Nothing in time nor in eternity can
undo it, nor disunite Its memory from my soul
1t came like sunshine through a rent Of the
clouds; and | felt the angels about me, and
heaven over ali.
Oh, how Often wandering, and weary, and
dissatisfied, | have turned back the dark leaves
in the volume of my life. and, coming to that
bright page, have read it and read it. till long
ago every word has been transferred to my
heart. IL is beautiful to know there are-things
which cannot be taken from us-the power TO
dream-to widen our low chambers into pal
aces, and roof them with the planets Of the sky,
and the peopling of them with friends who are
true friends-who never say to US, | weary of
your smile, and am hungry for knowledge yOu
cannot impart. This is one thing for which |
am humbly grateful; but for the real joys
which | have held close in my arms for mo-
ments, | cannot be thankful enough.
What pretty plans we made shat night for
the future! The great melancholy moon shone
warm, almost, against our faces, as we looked
out upon the still woods and fslds, devising the
things which should beautify our future home.
Hetty should come and live with us, and be
sent to the new school, and Charley should be
found, and my father made glad MIR. Rich
ards would go in the morning and persuade
him to join in our little festivity, which ne said
should but little precede our great festivity.
| must bring my white dress, for when that |
should wear it, he should only see me, and not
the garment. | went into the dooryard and
gathered some red flowers, and twined them
about my hair, just as | proposed to wear
them On my triumph day, which in my heart
| did not call my triumph day any more but
the marriage day little beyOnd-that was to
be the great triumph--the great day of my
/ life.
When he smoothad my black locks, and
crushed and broke the flowers among them, in
playful fondness, praisiDg both | reproved
with make believe frowns, which were scarce
", | confess it, meant to correct the faults
and so, finding interest IL every trife, as lovers
will, the strokes Of the clock were uncounted.
Not a rose bash grew by the path that we did
not quarrel about, and agree about again. One
would begin by saying it must be pruned it
quite overspread the path it had been an OBJ
struction long enough; and the other would be
sure to argue the contrary-its natural growth
could not be improved upon BY pruning knives.
ASA special favor, it must remain as it was
and, when the request was granted, the petit
toner was sure to withdraw the plea, and each
would say the other knew best.
But all this is tedious for that which is all
ia all to lovers is nonsense to the world.
The midnight cock crew, hoarsely;it seemed
to me. and as if he reproved US. | said 80, and
that | must go, for | am naturally supersti-
tious and, though my companion had, knew,
in his nature, no spark of sympathy with the
feeling he soothed my apprehensions as gently
as o mother would soothe her little child-his
love should charm away all ghosts and ugly
) things that BODIED harm, from the chamber OF
his Mary-his wife.
| L fingered, for he had not named CUR nup-
sial day; and, when he OWNED not my silence,
said: