True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-29

llu IuC vi ,
know you not, fair lady, the world has set
the seal of degradation on your brow al
ready? What matters it, then, whether
you have sinned or not, while the world
names you among its fallen-and far soon
er would Allan Evcrard take to his bosom
a viper to nurse than one who has once
betrayed. Why should you toll day by
day, bat only at last to starve or sin, if sin
there be in smiling on love like mine"
There are times when the heart is goad
cd to its utmost, by the iron of stern suf-
fering, until every fibre seems crushed and
incapable of resistance; and so it was with
Lucy Everard, as she said, without once
raising her eyes from the floor
GAS Eve was restored to Eden, so do I
dream of restoration. When the body
hath toiled, suffered, until the worn out
spirit seeks another sphere, then, and then
only do I hope for reunion. Oh, I am
not the vain creature to believe he would
forgivc-but for my child's sake l would
not SIM"
"Your child!' and the strangers lip
curled in derisive triumph, as tightly gras-
ping her arm until she fairly shivcred
from the pain, he continued" "listcn,
Lucy Everard month ago they said he
was dying-dead he must be by this time,
and they said his mothers was an inter-
dicted name. Aye! what of the past
have you to live for now-all, every ves-
tige of it is gone-no trace, no mark left"
There was wild confusion in her brain,
feeling that she could fling herself upon
the destroycr's bosom in ecstasy of laugh
ter, and tell him she would 60 where he
went-it mattered not what became of her
now, for every light was darkened. And
he saw it all; knowing, too, that the cup
of cold water, standing on the table, would
restore to the excited brain its clearness,
send from the heart the fever vein gnaw-
ing at its very vitals-yet gave it not, but
watched for the light of reason to waver.
But it did not entirely fail. 1t was dark,
very dark in the mist that enshrouded her
brain-but slowly there came glimmer-
ing light, borne by tiny angel that had
once called her mother, and it whispered,
''never more should the light fade out on
her pathway-that he was waiting to clasp
her in his arms when she reached the por-
tails of death, and but step divided
them" No, she would not yield now,
when the heaviest clouds were over; and
she rose from her seat scarcely less beauti-
full than the angels, and while her thin
lip quivered with intense emotion, said
Once before I told you my lips should
never belle my heart; now I tell you,
death, misery, privation and suffering of
every kind might come, and I would not
yield my hopes of heaven for the brightest
bliss earth ever witnessed.
No, l can die now, and no sin can bar
me from my child-no unforgiven crime
shut me from yon bright land. 1 spurn
you-l detest gou-and yet may God for
give, and teach mo to do the same"
There was food of eloquent words-I
had well nigh said love-but that sin can
never bc-yet they fell unhcedcd on Lucy
Everard, as she knelt in the moonlight
and tried to murmur, "God be merciful
even unto me-" Hour after hour passed,
and external things rivited not her atten.
tion-nothing save the simple prayer pas.
sed her lips
Dimly came the morning light creeping
up the eastern skies, slow, but not the less
sure; and one by one the misty clouds
dispersed until the whole east was an in
termingling Of rose, gold, and fawn color
| tinged here and there by blue and yellow
J and then suddenly, like the upraising o.
al lark, came the glorious orb of day; still
Lucy Everard knelt there alone. The
warm breath of summer morn famed hel
, fevered brow, and brought calmness to hel
Q heart; and when she rose, there was
: brighter light in her eye than had shon,
there for many long day, and new re
solves had lent the color of excitement t,
! her cheek But little, while, and tn,
Q toll, the pcrplcxing cares were laid aside
t and she turned her weary feet from th
city, No CLEAN Of gorgeousness lingere,
d in her heart-it had hocn too long an,
n severely tried no blessed rest was ther
for her, and she was going where one
dearly loved still, might lay his han,
y upon her and say, $50 in peace, and ma