Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-05-19

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the moon CLEANED in the eastern sky. The
trees began to darken more thickly around us.
l slackened my reins; my horse walked gen.
tly along, and no sound broke the stiffness
save the signing of the wind through the
pines and the melancholy chirp of the cricket.
| looked at Deborah, and my tongue found
utterance. told her how dear she was TO
me, how long, how ardently had loved her
how ] never had loved, never could love
another.
paused for response. She trembled.-
The transparent muslin modestly folded about
her neck heaved convulsively. A faint blush
stole over her sweet face her lips parted and
closed again; a few bright drops trembled or.
their long lashes, and then coursed slowly
down her cheeks, as ifloth to leave so fair a
resting-place. Then, with smile such as the
angels wear she looked up suddenly in my
eyes, and said, with faltering utterance No,
Gregory it must not be, it cannot be. We
will be friends, but nothing more
Then you cannot love me ? said hoarse-
| ly, each word seeming to choke me in the
utterance.
Deborah turned and gave one glance from
the depth of her speaking eyes. l needed no
dearer answer. You. are mine ! l exclaimed
with rapture
She shook her head mournrully.
My heart sank within me. tore bough
| from the trees we were slowly passing and,
needless of what was doing, | stripped off
the leaves and flung them to the winds. |
know not how long we rode in silence. n
faint sigh reused me from my gloomy reverie,
and Deborah's voice broke the stiffness.
DO not think me unkind. nor her voice
trembled, 'unloving. My heart rebels against
my decision, but it is an unsafe guide, and
may not trust it, My life is consecrated to
my MASTERS service, and though others may
serve HIM more in other ways, | know that
for me the path of usefulness and upward
progress is that of single life Love so pre-
cious as yours would bind me too closely to
the earth and / should forget and wander
away from ONE who loves me far more than
you. But, Gregory she laid her soft hand
gently on my arm, 'you will be my 1riead, my
choscn'--she hesitatod-'my belorcd friend?
An unaccountable calmness came over me.
l took the little hand: Yes, Deborah | ex-
claimed we will be friends for ever While
you walk on your solitary way too will jour
ncy On alone. ask only for kind thought,
kind look, and sometimes a kind word from
you, and will be satisfied. Your MASTER
shall be mine. Like you | will pass upward,
and when our love is chastened, and purified
from every earthly stain, we shall meet to be
separated no more.
AS spoke we came to sudden bend in
the road. and the moonlight streamed full on
Deborah's upturned face, which shone with
seraphic lustre, rs if already gazing Oh the
bliss of heaven. Our eyes met, her hand
claspcd mine, and angels registered the VOWS
which our lips could not utter.
We parted, each Of us TO pursue life's wea-
ry way alone. We met seldom, and then our
words were few Our affection was too deep
too pure for utterance. Through others |
heard often Of Deborah of her patient. until
ring, unsclfsh devotion to the comfort Of
others Of her unwavering equanimity under
every trial of her meek humility and uu-
shrinking fcrtitude Sometimes l received a
few words Of cheering encouragement in her
delicate photography; sometimes kind mes
sage, which bore TO me deeper meaning
than the simple language conveyed.
| 1t is ten years since | saw her last. Time
had woven many silver thread amid her
dark locks. He had stolen her bloom, and
wasted her form; but n tender light still
beamed from her eyes, and her face seemed to
reflect the radiance Of the world she was APP
preaching Deborah was very dear TO me in
her youth. In her old age she was uaspeakG-
big precious.
Deborah is gone. have just kuet by the
fresh green turf beneath which she is sleep,
ing. I love to linger there TO remember
her sweet paticncennd chld-like faith to re-
call the many blissful hours she has already
given me, and to look forward to the many
many more, which are before me. think o
her us she walks the streets Of the ceestia
city, as she minglas in the songs Of the re,
deemed, and move on with tirmcr steI
and lighter heart, seeking to work more
faithfully for my LORD, till He shall call me-
home
MASTER it has been u struggle Of many
years, but through TnEE have triumphed
l love my angel noW, because she reflects
THINE image. j ask no other heaven than
the enjoyment of TnysElF.