Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-05-24

e became crippled, miserable being.
The hand that braided those shi
y ming tresses trembled violently. The
S face in the mirror, assumed a softer
t expression; the eyes grew darkly
9 tender.
s "Broken-hearted, toil-worn, anc
, grown ole with care, he returned to his
S old home. He came to me, for he
D dare not meet that cold, withering
glance of pride-that scornful tri'
f, umph Of station and beauty in the
) face Of her be had so worshipped, SO
, adored, with love exceeding all things
J in its height aud depth and power
"Was her pride so mighty her
woman's nature SO much less?" said
/ Miriam, in voice made husky with
Indignation and fear. "Could she
] dared she fling him from. her, who
had once dwelt pre-eminent in her
hearth He, broken-hearted, and "a
lone in the wide pitiless world!'
"She is a woman," ! replied, cher
heart is true and loving, but her pride
has ever been to her second self. She
fears the world uithitssneers and Jibes.
have promised himto 90 to her--to
prepare for this sad event. Miriam,
how shall | counsel her to act!-how
deal with that supernal, overwhelming
pride2"
Miriam shook back the waving
hair from her brow, and turned her
regal aceupon me. Itwas lighted up
with noble and womanly love; a deep,
dewy tenderness,
Tell her to 60 to him and pour
out at his feet all that depth Of de-
votion which lies so rich in the heart
of woman. To hold out he. hands
to him, and raise him up, to stand
besides her on that high pinnacle of
wealth and estate. Tell her that OF all
the great heart oflife love is the dear
es: throb within it. 1t is a beautiful
creation, and oh! not lightly to be
dashed aside"
i burst into tears; ! pointed to the
door and cried
"Miriam! there is despairing and
heart-broken man sitting by your
.fireside. It is Leonard"
She started and fell backward a.
gaiHst a chair. The gush of imperial
beauty flowed away from her face and
left it colorless. Then, with firm
step and graceful majesty, she took
my hand and led me out into the
broad hall. Down the great staircase,
and across to the door of room where
he sat. Her brow was pale and calm,
her hand did not tremble within
mine.
Still in the wide seat where | had
left him,the fre-light shining vividly
around him, sat Leonard. He arose
when he saw us, and took a step. for
ward into the middle of the room.
| could have fallen down and wor-
shipped him rs he stood there with no
BILE, yet attenuated form, andhisgreat
adoring soul standing on the thresh-
old Of his eyes. He looked i'll and
sorrowful, but a conscious dignity OF
manhood hung about him like q
cloak. -.
Miriam leaned heavily upon me;
and now she trembled like an aspen.
He took another step forward and
spoke to her:
miriam, l have come to say fare.
we'll, | have come to release you from
the ties that bind youto this wretched
and MANNED being the shadow OF
myself l am here to; give you up
forever!'
Hisvoice died away in an agony Of
anguish. He essayed to regain bis
courage and manly bearing, his love-
omuipotent;suprem ,loosened all the
fountains of his heart, and ne most
bitterly wept.
With one bound she reached his
side; with one wide embrace of her
arms she made a circle Of love about
him; with one burst Of tears she
rained heaven Of light, hope,and De.
votion into his crushed soul. Through
the veil Of her jeweled hair, ! saw
her face lifted up in divine gratitude,
the lips moved as if in prayer-the1
broad white brow wore halo about
it.like golden band,
I departed silently and throughout
that happy day l repeated truly and
earnestly, "of all the great heart OF
life, love is The dearest throb within
it." ''s IL