The weekly Sierra citizen., 1857-08-15

leys datkened destiny "A life-time had flown by since
then but Ashley wept old ehoties stole back upon
the sympathy she felt for those SO dear her She had
no words Of coincidence to or she felt how more than
vain they were to assuage grief like this but as her
eye fell upon the green mound before her. she breahed
prayer that she might be permitted to soothe his de-
cnng days. and she knew that her happiness the
dearest object OF his le she resolved that for his
she would endeavor to appear cheerful and from that
day forward she was ever on her guard When Ashley
was present. the tear that to her eye was forced
back and the sigh sted ere It escaped her lips only
in the retiracy of her chamber when the day vas
.s would she give way to Asr feelings
thought she stole away alone to her mothers grave
where she found beautiful bouquet The moment she
glanced uron + sste1ge fAntnesscape her, and
she staggered TO rustic seat 1t mostly composed
OF Carenees favorite fowersmos buds and lilies
Of the valley with now and then sprg of delicate
cypress It was simple thing, yet it had myste-
ous effect upon her she knew there were none d Those
lilies upon the grounds and that Ashley had not left bis
room that morning but still he might have procured
them the night before and placed them there and thus
she tried to dismiss the subject but it would again
and again. and innate feeling of decacy prevented
her from making any inquiries OF Ashley in regard
About a week afterwards, she thrown into the
same thrilling perpexity by recurrence of the same
thing and the result was unsatisfactory before.
Nina. in looking over the daily papers one morning.
found the following announcement In this list of pas
sengers who sailed for Europe ON the last packet OBJ
served the mamie of Carence Lorraine Esq., whose aict
ing bereavement. in the death of his young beautiful
and accomplished bride, with whom he had just returned
from wedding tour through Italy chronicled few
months SINCE" nina pale death, handed the paper
to Ashley and left the and it was weeks before
she could even affect cheerulness At length the de-
preston Of the Dr. spirits convinced her that it
generous to yield to dependency that rendered him
almost as unhappy as herself and again she seemed to
evInce an interest in all that pleased him.
The garden and grounds of Ivy Dell had long been
neglected, and now Nna with the Dr.s assistance,
deavored to restore them to something of their former
beauty Once the fragrant breath of the lily, the
jassamine, the egantne. and the camilla like in
cense from the little garden while crimson honeysuck
les mutdoras and pomas wreahed their rich blossoms
amid the glossy leaves of the old ivy" that cambered
the balconies up to the very roof and here and
there upon the lawn the delicate syrnga and the fragrant
orange tree scattered their snowy petals upon the mosy
green beneath.
A year had passed by in this lovely little Edeu and
Nina appeGYed calm and serenc Pride forbade that she
should speak of Clarence but pride could not ubdue the
deep love that still fingered in her heart, which would
at times be heard despite her remembrance of oil his
wrongs Only when fancy held The reins in the profound
sleep that fell upon her after long hours of intense de-
her SIDE and visions Of joy cleaned upon her to mock
her waking hours with their bitter unrealities
There began to appear about this time in of the
popular magazines of the day series of letters from
the East, written by an American Tie first from
Italy, and gave vivid and glowing description of tile
very scenes Nina had visited with Clarence There was
deep vein OF sadness breathing in every line, if he
was haunted BY painful memory of the past which
would not be forgotten In describing vesnvius just
after eruption be compared the scared and desolate
channel which the burning lava had passed. to the
human breast which had been swept by the scorching
tide of mighty grief that after rendered i'm
pervious to the impression of either JOY woe. He
wandered amid the ruins of Egypt whose grand and
dark sublimty seemed to harmoniZe with the gloom of
his thoughts and feelings and here the fire that had
previously been Suppressed burst forth in burning eo
quent that gowed alike with
the poets genius and the painters vivid fancy. He
spoke of its antiquity prnging did into existence
with the first dawn of civilization and Of the long ages
it had slunbeted like its own sarccphaghi, and then
seemed to revel in delightful anticipation Of the time
when it should be re-touchcd and reawakened by the
magic wand of progress
! He travelled all Europe and still continued to
write: and STILL even in the midst Of glowing pas
sage, where it least expected the same melancholy
tone would glide but it melancholy that tingcd
all he touched with beauty-a melancholy that facina
ted while it saddened his readers and all eager
know who Orestcs" was To Nina, who read them
with thrilling interest, they seemed but echoes from her
sad hesrt ind she 5ften found herself lost in
of vain iaginihgs to what blight could have fallen
upon this gifted child of genius Perhaps bis heart like
her own had been wrecked upon the qucksands of u-
requed love- perhaps DEATH more kind had snatched
the loved one from his ere any change had
upon their hearts and she wondered that all the paata
pomp and grandeur by which be was tbustea and ca
ressed and all the glorious works Of art and nature he
eoquently described had alike failed to win him to for
getfuness For nearly years the letters continued,
mystery still unsolved Then they suddenly ceased and
short time afterwards Nina read the following in the
| paper:
Clarence Lorraine Esq, gifted townsman. whose
de plume of Orestes,' have attracted so much aten-
ton, arrived on the last steamer"
A rush Of contending emotions thronged to Nna's
heart she read this that rendered her for time
capable of thinking Clarence and !" Orestes' = were
the This then, the spell that whisper
ed to her heart in all he wrote but what the
OF the sadness and gloom that had evidently become
part of his naturef Was it for her supposed
CLEAN Of joy thrilled through her heart at the
Thought. Why had he attempted to marry Edith
Had he ceased to love her afs4f
It was lovely moonlight night in early Summer and
sea OF perfume foated from the garden through the
open window. She passed out upon the balcony, and
resting her burning brow against the cool eatesof
OF the vine-wreathed columns she ihurthufed: q Oh
Clarence why is it that despite Of oil your scot and
outrage. and my own despair, this wild worship still
ilngers!" There was rusting among the orange
bcughs beside her. dark form prang upon the balcony
and Clarence at her feet. "Oh God! y he gasped
is this but vision that comes to mock me for mo-
ment?v
For one brief nsant, Nina extended her arms as If to
to his breast and cling there foreyer and the next
some strange retulsi0n Of feeling seemed sweep
her the tenderness that had filed her soul only the
ment before, replaced by bitter memories and with
pride and scorn quvering in every accent she replied
MOL it ia vision! that wife whom SOU Supposed
you had 80 cruelty and basely sacrificed Was it not
enough that you deprived of all that made life
durable, hut you must coneto exult the ago
nies of your victim7u $500 s
II deserve it ALL Nina but oh implorc you to listen
to ME for short hour and then Danish Il you
will and will go blessed in having once more looked
/ upon your face" -
Go on" said Nina 8; : but think not Chat fsw idle
NordScan obliterate tke memory Of years Of wrongv
When rst bcheld you Nina loved another but it
was wild and stormy passion forever alternating be-
tween hope and fearone hour my whole soul lled