The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1857-08-27

mony in the expression of the same
sentiment"
Loffen and Madame Nugel bowed with
embarrassment.
"Ahl you are made to understand
each other" added the enthusiastic
lover of music, pressing their hands
"Music is like an emanation of hearts;
and to play so harmoniously is almost
to love one anotherl"
Madame Nugel smiled and blushed,
and wished to leave the piano; but Do
rothea begged her to sing one of the
German airs which she performed so
well. After little resistance, she seat
ed herself, and began the old ballad of
ola Lose Bleue."
As Madame Nugel sung, all the re-
sentiment of the Major seemed to vanish,
and an indescribable emotion seized
him. This song he had heard the first
time he saw Charlotte; and afterwards,
in the days Of their union, she had re-
pcated it thousand times The voice
of Madame Nugel acted upon him like
fairy, and rebuilt all the broken edi-
fee of his happiness. While listening
to her. he thought he saw that little
house, surrounded with vines, which
they had inhabited together at Prague;
that garden, with its arbor of clematis
and its border of violets. He imagined
himself young, confding, joyous. 1t
was like an appeal from all which had
been tender and happy in past life.
Madame Nugel had quilted the pi-
ano, and had been some time in the same
spot, with her arms crossed and her
head cast down She was interrupted
in her reverie by the voice of William
who told her midnight had Just struck.
lie took Madame Nugel's arm without
remark, and turned towards the temple
with all the guests.
There is, in the solemn act which
binds forever upon earth two beings,
and which destines them to live for
one another, religious character which
touches all hearts; but especially to a
parent the nuptial benediction has
something in it grave and touching
1t is an abdication of all his rights
over the child he has brought up, and
whose happiness he hereafter confdes
to another.
The emotions which the Major had
just experienced had particularly dis
posed him to tenderness; and he could
not restrain his tears when he heard
the minister pronounce the consecra-
ted formula which gave his daughter
to William. BY an involuntary move
ment, his looks sought Madame Nu-
gel; she had concealed her head in her
hands, and was sobbing.
This sympathy of emotion entirely
dispeIled all the resentment there was
leftin the soul of the Major.
After all" he thought, Kit is her
mother!"
This idea touched him. Her moth
er! and there as a stranger, and under
a false name Her mother! and her
presence was not even pure and com
plete. Joy to Dorothea, for she remem-
bered that the most sacred ties might
be broken, that all the happiness
dreamed by her and by William might
end IN violation and hatred The Ma
Jor felt his heart oppressed as with
remorse, and when his daughter rose,
holding Williams hand, he cast down his
eyes to shun her look.
/ They went out from the temple
The guests took leave, after having en-
braced the betrothed.
Dorothea had placed her arm in her
fathers, William took that of Madame
Nugel, and they all returned to the Ma
jor's.
They found the hall still illuminated,
the piano open, the violin suspended
from the desk, and the portrait, which
seemed to smile at these festive scenes.
Madame Nugel then advanced towards
the Major; she was pale, and her voice
trembled:
"This is the hour for us to separate,
she said; farewell, and thanks, sir, for
having permitted me to cross your
threshold. Do not think, especially.
that have wished to affiict YOU with
my presence. If L have come, it is be-
cause ] could not resist the entreaties
ofthis child. l have wished she should
not stand at the altar an orphan, and
that in the most solemn moment of her
life she might find both of us near
her to bless her. Pardon me, then.
for having presented myself without
your permission, and for having prof.
ted by the authority granted this
child for day. st. Sylvester's Day is
ended, sir; you are master again, and
can return to the solitude which pleas
es you"
At these words she turned towards
Dorothea and William, and pressed them
to her heart.
"Farewell," she said "you who love
me still, and whom shall see no more.
l carry with me the remembrance of
this day as a consolation for my future
life; but you must endeavor to forget it,
Close this piano, which has not been
opened for SO long a time; cover this
portrait, and all the past with it; for st
Sylvesters Day Is finished"
At these words, she tore herself from
the arms Of the children, and advanced
tremblingly towards the door; but the
Major, who had Just closed it, remained
standing upon the threshold pale and
trembling. Their eyes met, and life
time Of anger and sorrow were pardon
ed in that look ... ~. i.
"Charlotte," murmured LOifen, open
ing his arms.
"Lueian," replied Madame Nugel.
At last, after a long embrace, the Ma