The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-09
RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY, IND, UGUsT 8. 1856.

of religion to case Of which the sufferer
persisted in keeping ne profoundly ignorant?
Once she seemed on tlla point of opening her
mind, bat Juan enteredthe room. and she was
silent; nor could ever afterwards induce her
TO speak freely. Meantime her bodily condi
ton became very preearious; and Juan, who
was now aware of hei danger. scarcely ever
retired from her bedside Old Gertrude, as
you suppose was scarcely less anxious about
her.
One evening, when l was in the cottage.
the doctor arrived; aud having examined his
patient, pronounced taatunless some powerful
reaction took place she could not long survive.
How solemn were the m nents that succeeded
This announcement, Poo Juan grasped con
vulsively the hand Of his wife, while the large
tears strearned from bensfh his bandage
l began TO exhort heron the SUBJECT OF re-
ligion; and when spose OF the mercy Of her
Maker, she exclaimed :"Oh, l have great
need of mercy, for nv onscience is burden
ed with heavy load Isten," she continued,
addressing us all. ..and.ell me whether l can
hope for forgiveness"
Grouped around her BED, we waited In ST.
lent astonishment Marguerite had raised her
self into sitting postur; her wasted arms,
disordered hair sunken Failures, and her hol-
low eyes cleaning with light like that OF a
lamp kinding up before it is extlngulshed for
ever, lent an air of indirribabe soiemnIty to
the scene. Placing her hand in her husband $
she said: j uan, YOU remember when we sep
arated. the promise which we made OF mutual
fidelity? NV heart was yours, and yours was
mine. Well, the terror of losing that heart
caused me TO commit a grlevous SIN. L PIC
tured YOU to myself with shocked, averted
looks. at the sight of her who was named the
Pearl; and in the agony, the dehrium of the
moment. cried to Heavean-Oh y. Gadi i.i sithes
eye-sie,hti The moment the selfish, impious
prayer was uttered, | bitterly repented, and
would fain have recalled il; but too late, Ju-
an. the wish was granted. and | have never
known since. one moments happiness.
What cried her husband, land this is
the secret Marguerite, which is killing you|'
"Itis."
Then live, dearest. and be happy; your
PRAYER was not answered.
And tearing off the bandage which covered
his ewes. he fell on his wife's bosom, and clas-
ped her in long embrace.
1t appeared that the blindness which had
fallen on Juan was ofonlya temporary nature
Under the skillfu treatment of our friend the
surgeon. whom he privately consulted the
power of vision began slowly to return
the whole history Of Maguerite's horror at the
idea of his beholding her disfgured face, he
generously determined TO conceal from her hi.
cure at least for a time. Now however it wa
suddenly revealed: and. wss it too late? The
doctor, motIonin9 US all away from the bed
took his patients hand, aud held her pulse;
/ hopeful smile played on his benevolent lips
/ My friend,'' said be, turning to me, 9Th
age of miracles has not ceased-Marguerite i
cured''
Here the good man ceased. and after pause
| asked: "And was Marguerite in reality 81
very much disfieured?''
'You shall Judge for yourself"
We walked on, and soon reached neat ant
pretty cottage. coverd in front with luxurian
vine. An old woman sat near the door-waI
spinning and placed on low chair by her side
young woman was nursing an infant He
figure was remarkable graceful and her face
although certainly not handsome was by NJ
means repulsive. 1t was even easy TO distin
guish, amid the seams and scars which marked
it. the vestiges of great beauty There was
touching expression of serene tenderness she,
over her features, as she looked on her child
which in my eyes amply compensated for tn
want of regular comehness.
The curate advanced. "Good morning
Marguerite" he said.
Good morning, sir" looking up withs
beaming smile.
.How is baby to day?'
LAS well as possible said the happy moth
er, holding up, and showing her nursing
rosy, dimped cheeks
sWell, Marguerite" said the good old man
taking the innocent little creature in his arms
and kissing its tender forehead. Il could fan
cv this is yourself as l remember YOU on tn
day that baptized you. Come, the valley c
Campan has not lost its Pearl-it is restore
in the person of your lovely daughter.
Chanl5ers S Journal.