Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-03-18
uIymuuth 4tiu, gaturhay Mnrnng, Marth Is, 1857.

there are ties which are stronger than a
fathers command-ties which no man has
power 10 break. Meet me TO orrpS Mt
noon in the Low Lane-we will speak
fusther.'
He did not say this in any supplicating
nor in any loving manner; it was simply
command, ,unaccompaniedb By one tender
word or look. He had never said he
loved me-never; il seemed 10 me he too
well understood between US 10 need assur-
ances.
| answered, yes burying my face in
my hands; in shame at this my first act of
disobedience 10 my father; and when |
raised my head, he was gone. Gone as
he had entered, without football sound
ing ever so lightly.
met him the next day, and i: was not
the only time that | did so day after day
| stole at his command from the house,
TO walk with him in the Low Lane
the lane which the country people said
was haunted, and which was consequent.
ly always deserted. And there we used
TO walk or sit under the bighted elm-tree
for hours; he talking, but understanding
all he said for there was tone of gran.
deur and Of mystery in his words that
overpowered without enlightening me,
and that left my spirit dazzed rather than
convinced. had to give reasons al home
Tor my long absences, and he bademe say
that had been with old Dame Todd, the
blind widow of Thornhill Rise, and that
had been reading the Bible to her. And
I obeyed, though, while said it, felt
Lucy's eye fixed plaintively on mine, and
heard her murmur prayer that | might
be forgiven.
Lucy grew i'll. As the flowers and the
more rapidly away. have known since
that it was grief more than malady which
was killing hr. The look of nameless
, suffering which used TO be in her face has
haunted me through life with undylng
sorrow. 1t was suffering that I, who
ought to have died for her, had caused. -
But not even illness stayed me. In the
S intervals, nursed her ,enderIy and low
p ngly as before, but for hours and hours |
, | left her-all hrcugh the long summer
r TO walk in the Low Lane, and to sit in
p my world of poetry and fire. When
n came hack my sister was often weeping,
and knew that it was for mel, who
once would have given my life to save
=. her from one hour Of sorrow. Then
would fling myself on my knees beside
her. in an agony of shame and repent
\ ance, and promise better things Of the
morrow, and vow rong efforts against
y the power and the spell that was on me
But the morrow sub biected me to the same
n unhallowed fascination, the same faith
lessness.
At last Felix told me that must come
with him, that must leave my home, ant
:, take part in his life; that l belonged tc
= him and him only, and that could no
y break the tablet of fate ordained, tha
I was his destiny. and he mine, and tha
:, | must fulfil the law which the stars hud
4 written in the sky. fought against this
. | spoke of my fathers anger, and of my
\ sisters illness. prayed to him for pity
not to force this on me, and kneIt in the
' shadows Of autumn sunset to ask from
him forbearance.
- did not yield this day, nor the next
nor for many days. At last he conquer
- ed. When | said Yes he kissed tn,
. scarf wore around my neck. Until theI
y he had never touched even my hand will
q his lips. | consented to leave my father
- whose whole life had been one act of low,
- and care for his children; and to bring
slain on our name, unstained until then
o | consented to leave those who loved me
for stranger.
e All was prepared, the hurrying clouds
"a lead colored. and the howiing winds, tn,
q fit companions in nature with the evil an,
~ the despair of my soul. Lucy was wors
Il ,o.day-but though l felt going to m,
~ death. in leaving her, could not resist
T. Had his voice called me TO the scaffold,
ii must have gone. 1t was the last day o
! October and at midnight. when l was t
leave the house. had kissed my sleep
" - ing sister, who was dreaming in her sleeI
" " and cried. and gra.ped my hand, calle
:. aloud, Lzzie, Lizzie come backn Bu
the spell was on me, and | left her, an
still her dreaming voice called out, chok
- ing with sobs, Not there! not there, Liz
- zie! Come back to me?'
~ | was to leave the house by the large
Il old, haunted room that have spoken c
n before: Felix waiting for me outside
" And, little after twelve clock, opene
,, the door 10 pass through. This time tn
chill, and the damp, and darkness ur
". nerved me. The broken mirror was j
: the middle of the room, as before, and. i
passing it, l mechanically raised m
r. eyes. Then l remem ed that it wa
> All Hallow's eve, the ain vers ,ry of tn
,e appari'ion o' last year. As looked, tn
or ROOM which had been SO deadly still, be
10 came filled with the sounds had hear
+. before. The rushing Of large wings, an
ID the crowd Of whispering vnices fowe
,v like river round me: and again, glal
: ing into my eyes, was the same face
Il. the glass that had seen before, the snee