True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-29
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.d hrbr.t apg From tie Olive Branch
THE INFIDEL RECLAIMED.
By MRS. NJ. A. DENIsON.


as he took his seat at the supper table,
They are all half distracted over there
even the grandmother has ceased to impor
tune me abouther herbs aud nostrums, an
she said with tears thismoning, that 'twa
mouse doing anything for Mary, now sh
had heard the death call"
"But her mothcr-wbat does she say ?
asked Mrs. Lisle, her check a shade pale
as she spoke. 81 think the child is every
thing to her, especially since her father ha
declared himself an atheist"
She is calm, but suffering intensely
Il sometimes think that could it be th
cause of changing my husbands belief,
could spare Mary And then her hand
ell, and the tears rolled over her thin face
and there was anguish in every tear
Poor creature, it will be loss indeed
what beautiful little girl she is re
marked the doctors wife, the moisture
standing in her eyes; what eloqucnce il
all her movements the fact that she il
dumb makes her so interesting. never
could look at her unmoved, as | can al
some children. was there the other day
and she was sitting at her mothers feet,
talking with those large, luminous eyes. -
AS l went in, she moved back little, and
in conversation, her mother spoke of Mr..
Evans. She did not shed tears, and she
was talking in very low, subdued tones.-
heard sob, and looking around the lit.
tie child was sobbing in all the abandon
mcnt of grief.
1T is just so, whenever I speak of her
father said Mrs. Evans, holding the child
to her bosom; poor little one by some
heart intuition, she seems to be aware of
his danger.i What should / do without thee,
my dear dumb Mary?
Suppose you go over the doctor suggcs-
ted; Mrs. Evans needs sympathy, and she
tells me she thinks by some yearuing CLAN
COS Of the little one towards the door, she
misses your accustomed visit
The doctors wife needed no urging, and
together they sought the afflicted family.
MIR. Evans was rich man; his house
vas the most elegant in town; his name
stood in bold relief against groundwork
ofsilver. 'Ossian Evans and at the ring
Of the bell came troops of servants. Now
as doctor Lislc ascended the marble steps
passing into the door, without giving notice.
Molly, the nurse of little Mary, stood weep
ing in the hail.
What is the child worse? exclaimed
the physician, while his wife assembled to
the room above. ...
just then the father appeared; his eyes
were red, and his voice husky. He wrung
tho doctors hand, and his tones faltered
as he cried with suppressed anguish, 'oh
can't bear it doctor. To lose her thus ?
and never, nsOer see her again this, this
is agony unutterable.'
'An agony such as the Christian never
feels, said the doctor with emotion, 'but
lot me pass to the child
Stop, doctor-how-tell frantic man
hosO can I believe? Oh!if I could-if l
could large drops stood on lis forehead,
his eyes glazed and hollow, refused tear
he respired heavily like man in the last
throes of dessolation. But 60! though the
stamp is on her forehead she is almost
gone Oh, heaven! that 1 could believe,
he cried most ficrcely as the physician left
him; this damning doubt that makes my
veins curdle as I cherish it, that fills me
with delight that is full of horrors! Oh
God, if there be God, have mercy on
meP
Meanwhile the little sufferer placidly
awaited death. Shadows laid over the SOM
bre room; they were visible; not so the
shadow of that dread majesty whom men
call death, and who, pale with prophetic
silence, held the sceptrc above the white
brow. Loose and uncurled tho waves of fine,
golden hair, caressed the lace fringing of
the pillow. Her eyes, larger and more
mysteriously beautiful, were rivited by
turns upon her mothers face and upon
things unseen save by the tenants of death
beds. Mrs. Lislc sat near the mother with
an arm sbout her waist; the doctor stood
anxious and sorrowful on the opposite side,
his hands clasped. Once he made the re-
mark, she does no suffer- .... .
why does not her father come in ? ask
ed Mrs. Lislo in agoutlo whisper. .
'He says he cannot see her dic;' answer.
ed the mother, her frame quivoring with
suppressed sobs. 1sd@E2 sna9
tFathern lH tas HIi g.g~Tf
The voice was clear, distinct, sweet
Thedoctor started back ughast, unclasping
his hands violently; the mother and the
Doctors vito sprang to their feet lsl