The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-25

ing to complete my misery, but your curse, Ed
gar! and she sank, sobbing wildly, at his feet. 4
Edgar lifted the Ipallid form and dropping
head, that in the white evening dress resembled
a crushed and broken lily. 8
This marriage is sacrilege, Alicela mere
bargain to retrieve fallen fortune. You are
not this old mans bride; you were mine before
you ever saw himl claim you; and away
from those that would seize you from me, /
will bear you-I have not now that wealth to
gain which had when left you. To some
far of, distant isle, to some villa on the shores
Of France / shall take you, where you will
forget that you were but mine, wholly mine!'
These words, like poison to the taste, came
sweefto Alice's wounded spirit; and thatnight
and through the long hours Of the next day,
she counted the minutes as they dragged along.
Her courage rose as the midnight, the hour
Of escape drew near! 's-
~ Alice sat waiting at the curtained window
on that easement hewas 10 tap when all was
ready. aa @E5a ssa "
Tie full moon looked calmly down upon the
scene; the young wife sat there holding in her
arms child-like form.
Minnie, my little sister, Tam about to leave
You; the happy moments you aud have pass
ed together will never come again; another's
hand will smooth your pillow; at another's
knee you will lisp your evening prayer. Will
you always remember me when l am gomez
why do you go?' wondered the child, clasp
ing her arms around her neck, as if that hold
could retain her. s.s.e s.srsze .s.-.,
What if you were in loathsome prison,
Minnie, Shut out from life and happiness, and
there were two ways Of escape offered. IT. you
chose the first, freedom was immediate; but
though the way, when you entered, would be
beautiful and inviting, as years past 1t would
darken, the flowers would fade, the sunshine
change to gloom, and at last you would fall in
darker dungeon than the first @ "~e " S.r
But if you remained long in that prison,
ruin would prey upon its walls, loose its corro-
ded bars, your chains would drop off, you
would be free, with life, love before you. Love!
loved better for the suffering you had endured
1 would be loved forever, repeated the
wife; she heard a tread upon the gravel path
without. 1t was Edgars step. She glanced
at the clock--the hands pointed to that fatal
hour In moment she would hear his sig
nal. in a moment it would be too late, all would
be lost. Vs. %@- % .4
Alice turned from the window; chill ter
ror seized her quivering limbs. -.s. ......-
I must fly from this happy present, to avoid
future gloom
She hurried from the apartment and sought
her husbands room; he was not there; she
went into the library; there he sat in his ac-
cusomed place, and next it was the low seat
where she had passed SO many quiet evenings.
Judge Harcourt did not move as his wife
entered Of turn his eyes to meet hers, though
her quickened breathing and tostering step
must have reached his ear.
I A dimly lighted candle burned on the table,
the lurd fame cast pale, wan-light on his
/ calm face; his eyes were open, but seemed ga
present, as if, in dream, another scene had
| opened before and entranced The sleeper.
Alice took his hand in hers. Why did she
drop it SO suddenly?' Why did she tremble
so, as the blood recoed to her very heart?
He was dead. ~.......
On the table was an open book upon the
white paper was dropped the ink-6led pen, a:
if that dread messenger, death, had come steal
ing on, and had sprung from ambuscade upor
the unwarned victim! zN.
Alice bent oyeri it; it was diary Of the Ole
mans Iife-quite ordinary, yet she read will
avidity:
I thought, when mine, I could by kindness
rouse her dropping spirit, by untring love rem
der her life endurable but no. / was a fool
worse than fool As we'll light winter lhinl
to WOO to his chill embrace bright and fowery
May, as l, an old man, to become the HUSBAND
of that young girl. no "~ y- -E
She wilksoon be free! this pain that chill
my limbs, stagnates my blood and palsies my
strength, will soon release her. have knowI
it long, yet / would not tell her, for fear with
the view Of freedom before her, the few months
| she will yet be captive, will seem years! tha
the few DAYS that are mine will be counted az
they pass! She loves another, yet when an
dead, she will remember my love, and drop {
tear on the old mans coffin. l bless her!-
ma these months of suffering be requitted BY
years Of happiness with him she oves!' r~s
Alice dropped the leaf and sank upon he1
knees before the corpse, as il its spirit still ye
haunted the room, and stopped over her.
| An arm was passed around her waist; hel
head leaned on her lovers shoulder.
Edgar, she said, the hour of temptation i:
passed. | was about to commit sin. flee
| from evil. sought refuge here; death had
entered before me. am free." ss~@ q %Fs
| The morning light streamed in through the
window; the gray beams rested on two kneel
ing forms, and il seemed, as when the shade:
Of the night fled from the earth, voice came
from the gloom: .,......,.....z s..
I bless her! may these months Of suffering
be requitted by years Of happiness with hin
she lovesp Hs asl a-0 g~- "t s-r "
The sun dawned again on Aice's wedding
day; she was again decked with orange flow
ers and the mystic veil, and as she gazed at hel
happy self in the mirror, the phantom bride
Of years gone by, hoated past with noiseless
tread and death-lke brow. Alice did not turn
away, for that mournful spirit of the past only
rendered the reality Of the present more de-
lightfuI. ea@ 'a4fis5s isE@1. 7"' @' 81, sa.F.1s
s-g.E " ----9~~4~~>~-~--~---7-~---- zs--..f.-k
We know of many who suffer much with the
headache The Ohio Cultivator offers RENE
dy, and desires to give it a wide circulation
We transfer it to our columns. The Cutiva-
tor says: / have known the severest head
ache to be helped, and the nervous headache
cured, by some sympathising person rubbing
with the hands from the top Of the head down
and off the shoulders after the mesmerc man
ner. The most intense pain can be soothed in
a few minutes by this simple remedy, remem-