True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-04-09

sis not this Else!" exclaimed the yourg
hostess--''Elsie Woodl"
81 can't remember" said she, but I'm
very tired"
"My poor Elsie, have you forgotten Susy
Arnold, your friend at ---- Seminary?"
Elsie pressed her hand to her aching
head and said in voice still more touching
ly sad, at has all passed away. Wont you
take care of my child!"
She was tossing with fever and uncon-
sciously telling the whole sad story of her
suferings-now praying for Ivol, now bles-
sing little Mary, and then begging to die.
A few hours after, there was another
watching by her pllow-Ival Gray, who
had long wept his lost wife. He sat down
by the bedside and whispered ina low tone.
Elsie, dear Elsie, don't you know met"
but she only gave wild laugh and said,
ella ha I'll never 60 back. He'd only
be kinder than e,er-he'd smile by the
hour, hut he don't care for me. No, won't
60 back" Then she began to sing in a
plaintlve tone, "TIush, ! ably, hush! Well
20 and sleep in the woods tonight andathe
great pines will whisper, lullaby, lullaby"
10 Elsie, speak to me," said lval but he
tried in vain TO win back the wandering
spirit. "lIa ha !" she laughed, laying
her tiugrrs on her auttering pulse, shall
soon be dead, aud then he can marry some
one more like her. Where is my sllroud'
lhe grave will be very cult-ugh! it
makes me shiver!" Ival groaned aloud.
"This must-must not be-" he said, pa
cling the floor; and then he went out on
thu piazza. The night was very dark
There was neither moonlight nor the glim-
mering Of stars, but all was gloomy as his
own soul. "!jhe will de-" he murmurrd
'wilhout knowing how trul y and tendNrly
love her. o that could recall the past,
Why did | drive her away-that young
girlish creature, whose low brdike laugh
ouce filled the house with gladness. II
she only knew how lonely / am and that
she is indeed the wife Of my art-as dear
as Angel Mary ever wos." When he re-
tnrl ed to Elsie, she was much calmer and
recognized him.
'.Elsie," he said, 81 have come to tel
you that love you. Can you love me?"
Elsie smiled and the large tears gather
ed in her eyes, telling that rest had ut last
come to the r,ubl ID heart.
A few evenings after, she sat in the easy
chair, watching the lying sunset. Iva
SIT close beside her, his face eloquent with
aft elton.
ELSIE" he said, "largive the past.
was so harsh, so selfish in my sorrow.-
Com" once more to- my desolate house. Lit
Il, NJ ry Wceps for you. Everything there
is lonely without you. You shall neve
aga n he driven from this heart"
Elsie pilowed her tired head on he
husbands shoulder.
~ love you so fnndy, size murmured
You was my first aud only love, and Tho
thought that you spurned me drove me t
madness. could not part with my boy
y e was 20 like YOU"
t Elsie, Elsie," said Ival's musical voice
a ''we shall yet be happy. The cloud is lit
e ing and the sunlight is just beyond"
: And where had Elsie been all thnse lonl
weeks ard months of her wandering! Al
I, she could remember was going to the cove
q to say farewell to the sea, and that there
! luffan seized her by the arm, andthreatene
: to carry her away in boat. Just then
u somebody had cried hulloa, which mad
u him let 90 his hold. Then she hid amon
: the rocks-thence few up little fnot-pat
q leading to her grandIather's cottage, wher
she concealed herself among the bushes.
was in the solemn gray Of the morning
that she threw her veil over her face an
: walked nnrecognized to the railroad depot
q The rest was u broken tale of long jour
neyings without end or aim. 1t was we
G that her tortured heart was oblivous to til
!, past! Now she was resting, forgetful {
D those days of suffering. Elsie, more har
: py than words can tell, returned to the ol
G mansion. She is not as gay as in her CIR
g hood: at times, there is touching patio
in her face, giving deep expressiyenes
Z to her blne eyes, but her home was neye
again darkened by shadow. Togethe
they ramble on the strand of the sea; t
gether they rove in the garden and beneut
the shady naples, and iervenily Ival blel
l. ses Heaven for the gift of his beautiful E
sic. .,.t. ,.,..,. ~,
" 0Fi French master going on hors,
" hack to trach at an academy for Indies. wa
- thrown off bis horse into ditch. Whe
10 he made his appearance befire the mistree
y in order to apologiz, e'r the dirt which b
smeared his habiliments,, he said, "AI
n nndomr, have fhllcn in de Dish" sou
aEmonei ie1r. see II, YOU are covered with d