Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-04-03

whitening glance Of pride that scornful tri-
umph Of station aud beauty, in tho face Of
her he 20 worshipped, 50 adored, with a love
exceeding all things in its width and height
and power"
ssWas her pride, thes, 50 mighty ?-her
woman's nature 50 much less - said Miriam.
ia Q voice made husky with Indignation and
tears. s'Could she--ddred she fling him from
her, who had once dwelt pre-eminent in her
heart? He, broken-h hearted and alone in the
wide pittieless worldw
ssShs is woman" replied, "her heart
is true AMI loving; but her pride has ever
been to her q second self She fears the
world with its sneers and jibes. have
promised him to go to her--to prepare her
for this sad event. Miriam how shall / coun-
sci her to act ?-how deal with that supernal,
overwhelming pride ?''
Miriam stood back, the hair waving from
her brow, and turned her regal face upon
me. II was li-hted up with noble womanly
love; deep, dewy tenderness.
ssTell her, to 60 to him ard pour out at his
feet all that depth Of devotion which lies 90
rich in the heart Of woman. To hold out her
hands to him, and raise him up, TO stand be-
side her, on that high pinnacle Of wealth and
estate. Tell her, that of all the great heart
Of life, loue is The dearest throb within it.
1t i: u beautiful creation, and oh not light
ly to be dashed aside''
burst into .ears; pointed to the door,
and cried
s'Miriam there is despairing and heart
broken man sitting by your fire-side. 1t is
Leonard -
She started and fell backward against
chair. The gush Of imperial beauty flowed
away from her and left it colorless. Then,
with firm step ana graceful majesty, she
took my hand and led me out into the
broad hall. Down the greet staircase, and
across to the door of the room where be sat.
Her brow was pale and calm, her hand did
not tremble with mine.
Still in the wide seat where had left him,
sat Leonard. He arose when he saw us, and
took step forward into the middle of the
room. Icould have fallen down and wor-
shipped him as he stood there with his noble
yet attenuated form. and his great adoring
soul standing on the threshold of his eyes,
lie looked i'll and sorrowful, but conscious
dignity Of manhood hung about him like a
cloak.
Miriam leaned heavily upon me, and now
she tremblsd like an aspen. He took
another step forward and spoke to her.
L
"Miriam, | have come to say farewell, /
am come 10 release you from the ties that
bind you to this wretched and MANNED be-
ing-the shadow of myself. l am here to
give you up torerer ~
His voice died away in an agony of an
gush. He essayed to regain his courag Gus
and manly bearing, but his love, omnipotsnt,
supreme, loosened all the functions of his
heart, and he wspt.
With one bound she reached his side; with
one wide embracing Of her arms, she made a
circle of love about him; with ope burst Of
tears, she rained a heaven of light, and hope,
and devotion into his crushed soul. Through
the veil of her jewrled hair | saw her face
lifted upward in divine gratitude, the lips
moved as if in prayer, the broad white brow
wore halo about it, like golden band
departed silently, and throughout that
happy day, 1 repeated truly aud earnestly,
g Of all the great heart of Life, lore is the
dearest Mrob Uithin it.'