Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-01
NIGHT AND MORN ING.
From Titan1

L broke the seal, and read, with astonlsn-
ment:
.sM,. Edrc1rl Uorthiugto,s-Sir Pardon
these intrusive lines, and rest assured that they
are from one who shall ever be proud to call
himself your sincere friend. Lucy Ames Is not
faithful TO you do not write this to you for
any base purpose for since L know so well
Your generous and noble nature, i cannot hesi-
tate when / see that nature become the dupe OF
vile dissimulatiOn. Nor have | been too hast Y
in communicating to you this knowledge L only
fear il 10 too late, but rest assured that all
have said il true, and can be attested by one
who has an undoubted personal knowledge of all
the facts. Arther Wesley, our village seOol-
master, is your too fortunate rival.
"YOurs, FRIEND"
This was the first intimation had had of
Lucy's Inconsistency. 1 had seen things with
my own eyes that made me doubt her sinceri-
ty. For long time the unwelcOme suspicion
had been preying upon me, and this fatal let
ter had come to bring cOnviction-stern, ire
yOcable, hopeless conviction.
/ did not doubt the truth oft; and yet how
il writhed my soul to think of it, to admit it.
Ii did not, il could not crush me- braved it
to the last had been less than a man to do
otherwise. L re-perused the letter calmly-no
not calmly-not indifferenty, but sternly, as
though il were dscreed Of Fate that / should
not only drain the bitter cup, but should swal
low the very dregs.
And yet loved that wayward girl and glad
ly, oh, how gladly, would have forgiven her
imprudence. To her first OF all I went to seek
an interview. Lucy was proud, too proud to
be just to herself yet she was generous and
noble, in spite of all her fckleness.
Obstinately convinced that she had preferred
another to me, l did not ask nor expect any ex-
plantations from her showed her the letter
had just received and requested her to return
me such letters as had previously written to
Lar rvhi oh ipbt
In future only prove annoying to her She be-
slowed on me look shall never forget
Do you believe this, Edward ?'
L do ~ L replied without hesitation.
What unimpeachable evidence ~ she re-
tOrted, with tho first impulse of pride
do not rely on the information contained
in this letter. / have seen enough myself with
out asking any persons advice or opinion"
She Immediately left the room, aud returned
In few minutes with package of letters and
a small box Of jewels, my former presents, say
ing gaily, as she placed them in my hands
BY these tokens, then, since it is your will,
i absOlve you,''
In spite of the smile that played around
her mouth, 1 thought L could detect traces of
recent tears, hastily brushed away from her r
cheeks.
In a moment the thought flashed upon my
mind that after all she might be true. Impui-
sively 1 was about to speak to her and ask her
L
gone too far, and il was too late to retreat
But as the thought had come upon me like
flash, it vanished as it had come, leaving no al
formative but to pursue the course / had
adopted.
:. Farewell, then!'' said with apparent in
difference. May your future life be ever
lighted by the sunshine of happiness
Thank you, l trust no act of mine will
ever bring misey upon me-"
Conscience, Miss Ames-eOnscience -
Will never reprOach me 80
God grant it. The step which You have
taken may, IN your opinion. be just, but let me
assure you, others do not think so We do NOT
see ourselves others see US"
have done nothing, Mr. WOrthington. to
merit tins. lnu are not only deceived but i'm
pertinent, sir; and cautiously avoid any aues-
tions that might lead to an explanation-t
ask no explanation hurriedIy replied:
and immediately took my departure i'm no yery
sniable mood, nor did L wish To humble myself
I" ASK her any questions that might, as che sus-
gested, lead To n satisfactory explanatio0
" hat a victory pride had won! How perfect
and complete was its ultimate success on both
sides,
| hurried from the door AZ turned NV stans
homeward again InstnctyeIy | took the
usual course in returning to the village. (for
Lucy hyed nearly mile from town. and
walked down the railway track so busy with
my thoughts a. to be utterly unconscious Of
anything and everything else There was n
high bridge between Inc and the village lust
VIDE enough for the track, the middle Of which
was pianked over for the Convenience of pedes-
trlans Outside Of the track it was impossible
10 walk.
One Of the planks, which was very thick and
heavy, had been partly raised for some purpose,
ana lett IN that position. In endeavourins to
pass H. struck my foot against it, stumbled
ana, IN recovering yself, forced one ley through
the aperture. and striking my other foot with
all the force required to regain my equilibrium
replaced the plank in such a manner "a not
ohiy leit my foot protruding through the mar
TO" crack, but promised to present a difficulty
In removing the plank
smiled to think how curiOusly had been
entrapped, and stopped down to remove the
plank, and free myself from so dangerous a DO
sIuOn- The task was not So easilV performed
az had imagined. The plank was wedsed in
such manner that effort of mine could re-
move H. stroye with more than mortal power.
but II was In vain; nor could / extricate mn
foot, which was lacerated and smarting vitb
the pam In Its close confinement
At nlst DID not consider the extent of NV
peru put soon began to perceive the danger
oil my situation, and L shuddered with horror
10 think that L should be obliged TO remain
there and be crushed by the train 1t was a
eOld DAY IN December, and yet the beaded drons
DuIst iron every pore. A moment OF frenzied
Gsilrium succeeded, and when, / rallied again.
foand myself sitting between the rails INV
1901 sun prisoner, and no prospect of delivery
iOoked al my watch; il was half past three
AT i've the down train would pass. or. if that
snouid be late, the express would go up at half
past i've, and at half-past four it would be dark
Ii was possible, nay, probable, that some one
would pass by before it should be too late
LUIS way was nearer to the village than the
road, though always regarded as more danger
GUS on account ofthe narrowness Of the bri5ga
from which there would be no possibility of G.
cape IN case train should come in sight while
passing over 1t. Already one had been kiiIa5
hy endeaVOrIng TO cross at a time when tba
train was due; and should | be the second ~
perish there How the thought tortured me
and once again L tugged at the resisting plank
With all my strength 1 tried To Withdraw INV
Loot, and leave the boot but impossible.
IL was four o clOck-in half an hour it would
be dark-anOther half hour, and death would
be certain 1 shouted for aid but no habita
ton was within half mile and no answer wn,
Isterhed TO my cries. Again and again
snneEed' while the despairing echoes reyerber