True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-27

her breast. For one moment he was
tempted to believe her innocent, but the
proofs of her guilt seemed too positive
He bent over her and pressed his lips mad
ly, pasSionately upon her brow. She turn
ed over with a sweet smile, and whispered
his name, without waking "Hypocrite,
even in Sleep" he muttered, and sitting
down at her table, wrote her note full of
the most scathing and terrible reproaches,
and ended it with an impassioned farewell
forever. For a year he believed he had
done right, but he saw not single hour Of
rest. Her sweet, silvery voice would star
tie him even from his dreams. At last he
resolved to look once more upon her face
His soul cried out, hungry for herpresence,
and would not be satisfied. The next day
he resolved to set out. That evening there
reached him trusty messenger, who gave
him her marriage certificate, her letter and
their child. Too late !! TOO late Hence
forth there was for him no hope of earth
ly pardon. The true heart had loved too
vainly, too faithfully, and so it broke.
There was to him no heritage but a men,
ory and a grave. This then, was the
wrong which had clouded his life with re-
morse, of which he had spoken to me so
shudderingly. Thank heaven it was no
worse. He had secreted these papers in
the casket, because, except the certificate
of marriage, he was unwilling they should
meet any eye but my own. 1t had never
occurred to him that after all might fail
to find them. His letter concluded with
an earnest prayer that 1 would judge him
as gently as I might, that thinking on his
suferings l would pity and forgive. Then
there was a postscript, telling me that the
picture of the italian singing girl was the
portrait of my own sweet mother, as he
first saw her, at fancy ball.
"Too late!' was my first thought as
laid down the letters. "Had Reginald
Percy but known this three years ago,
might have been his wife. Too late, toe
late " Then l asked myself-"Ought
to let him know it now!" I resolved tC
let that evenings testimony in regard tc
his position be my guide, and smoothing
down the folds of my velvet robe, l fast
ened bandeau of pearls in my jetty braids
and went down-stairs.
Already DR.. Hamilton was waiting il
the drawing-room. He smiled when l en-
tered and exclaimed, with cordial shake
of the hand
"Well, now, this is something like it
little woman. You look five years young
er than you did this morning, and there's
such light in your eyes as I haven't seer
there this many day."
I do not know what the opera was tha
night, I took no note of the performers
I sat in a retired corner of the box secure
from observation, Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton
being fortunately sufficiently occupied witt
the spectacle to let me have my own way
could see every expression of face, ever!
movement in General lllsley's box dis
tinctly. l recognized Marion at once
She was tall now and very elegant, but he
expression was the same. Her feature
were absolutely perfect. Her golden hal
fell in long ringlets about her dazzling
white neck and shoulders. Her dress wa
of deep azure satin, with frills Of point
lace, and was singularly becoming to he
peculiar style. An opera-cloak of violet
colored velvet, lined with ermine, fell care
lessly back, revealing the graceful waist
the elegant bust, and the rounded arms
with their pearl bracelets. She was NOR
beautiful even than I had ever imagined
Beside her was Reginald, so like, and ye
so different There was the same tint o
pure gold on his curling hair, the sam
cloudless azure to his deep eye, and a cor
responding grace of figure; and here tn
resemblance ceased Both faces were ex
pressive in their way. Marion's betoken
ed fearless self-complacency, full SOY
ereignty of pride, and an admirable pow
erof self.command and concealment. Wit
her face, a person in an humber spher
would have been pronounced passionate
self-willed and deceitful. But such word
were not admissible in the charmed cirsl
where moved the accomplished Miss ILL
ley, and certainly none but true phys
ognomist could have detected these ell
ments in character yelled by SO sweet
smile. Reginald's expression was jus
i what l remembered il, bold, fearless, trs