Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-04-17

and soft, O know not its name, and the
deep bonnet from whose dark shadow
her eyes beamed like stars. Never since
have seen such eyes as Deborah's, so
full of liquid light, the soul looking out
of clear depths, as if no thought of de-
Element had ever married its purity, and
the long lashes falling heavily over them,
as though to veil such brightness from
the rude gaze Of mortals. A proud man
was |, when, as l turned towards her,
(and never spoke without doing it, }
she would look up for moment with
such soft and timid glance, and then
drop her eye-lids, as if terrified at her
own boldness The gentle murmur of
her words thrilled my heart. 1t seemed
to me it would be Heaven to clasp that
little hand.
The sun went down, and the silver
disk Of the moon CLEANED in the eastern
sky. The trees began to darken more
thickly around us. Islackened my reins,
my horses walked gently along, and no
sound broke the stiffness save the sigh
ing 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 l never had loved, never
could love another!
paused for response. She trembled.
The transparent muslin modestly folded
about her neck heaved convulsiveIy. A
faint blush stole over her face; her lips
parted and closed again; few bright
drops trombled on her long lashes, and
then coursed slowly down her cheeks as
if 10th to leave so fair a resting place. -
Then, with a smile such as the angels
wear, she looked up suddenly in my
eyes, and said with falling utterance
"No, Gregory, it must not be. We
will be friends, but nothing more"
"Then you cannot love Inc Z" said
hoarscly, each word seeming to choke me
in the utterance.
Deborah turned and gave one glance
from the depths of her sparkling eyes.
| needed no dearer answer. "You are
minew | exclaimed with rapture.
She shook her head mournfully.
My heart SINK within me. | tore a
bough from the trees we were slowly pass
ing, and needless of what | was doing,
stripped off the leaves and flung them to
the winds / knew not how long we
rode in silence. A 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 consencrated to my Master
service, and though others NAV serve
Him more in other ways, know that for
me the path of usefulness and upward
progress is that of single life. Love so
precious as yours would bind me to earth,
and | should forget, to 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 friend, my chosen" hcsitated-
"my beloved friend ?"
An unaccountable calmness came over
me- took the little hand Eyes, De-
borah, )" | exclaimed, eve will be friends
forever While you walk on your soli-
tary way, | too will journey on alone
ask only for kind thought, kind look,
and sometimes kind word from you,
and | will be satisfied. Like you / will
pass upward, and when our love is chas-
tened and purified from every earthly
stain, we shall go to be separated 10
more"
As | spoke, we came to a sudden bend
in the road, and the moonlight CLEAN.
ed full on Deborahs upturned face,
which shone seraphic lusture as if already
gazing on 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
weary way alone. We met but seldom,
and then our words were few. Our af-
lection was too deep, too pure for utter
ance. Through others often heard Of
Deborah; of her patient, untrng, un-
selfish devotion to the comfort of others
Of her unwavering equanimity under ev-
cry trial; Of her meek humility and UNI
fortitude. Sometimes | re-
ceivcd few words of cheering encour
agement in her delicate chirography
sometimes kind message which bore to
me a deeper meaning than the simple |
language conveyed.
It's ten years since / saw her last -
limo has woven many a silver thread amid |
her dark locks. lie had stolen her bloom
and wasted her form but a tender light
still beamed from her eyes, and her face
seemed to reflect the radiance of the
world she was approaching. Deborah
was very dear to me in her youth. In
her old age she was unspeakably pre-
,ious.
Deborah is gone. l had just knelt by
the green turf beneath which she is sleep
ing. / love to lnger there to remem-
Der her sweet patience and child-like
faith to recall the many blissful hours
she has already given me, and to look
forward TO the many more which are be-
fore me. / think of her as she walks
the streets Of the celestial city, as she
mingles in the songs Of the redeemed.
and ! move on with frncr step and a
lighter heart seeking to work more faith
fully for my Lord till lie shall call me
home.
Master A! il has been struggle Of many
years, but through Thee / have tri-
Imnhed | love NV nnnnl nn,u hnnnnnn