The weekly Sierra citizen., 1857-08-15
AN ORIGINAL TALE:
Written for the Sierra Citiseh.
THE ORDEAL.

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Written for the Sierra Citisen
THE ORDEAL.
BY LEILA.
todscnbDso,
Etl5 On the evening Of the ball. when Nina len Aunt
Amy n the nressng-room the good old lady was bewi
dered and distressed ut the sudden change in her, who
until that dhy had seemed So happy. There was no ap
parent cause she we'll knew that some deep grief had
fallen upon her heart SHE concluded not to go to her
own apartment, but to Wait ID small anteroon next TO
the dressing and Nina again before she retired
Feeling soewbat weary she threw herself upon the sofa
and fell asleep Strange dtehas visited her slumoers
brink Of precipice, and She parsySed with terror,
thought The child lost forever, when the
peerng through he mist caught her to her breast and
stored her to Aunt Amys Again, Nina was drown
ing and she stood aar poweress to aid her, The feeble
tones of the little strugger fell upon her ear and
the mother came, and wildly mplored her to save
her child. She started up trembling in every limb, and
scarce knowing what shc did, rushed to the dressing
r6om and the next instant that enzied cry went ring
ing through the house, and Nina all unconscious fell at
her feet
It was but the work Of moment to send for Dr. Ash
ley who instantly obeyed the summons and every
that skill could devise was resorted to- restore her
consciousness but without avail and tears fell from the
old mans eyes he became convinced that all his efforts
were vain,-that life had fled forever.
In his youth Dr. Ashley had been the devoted admrer
of Ninas mother and she returned His affection with all
the ardor of heart but he poor, and when
ne S0eQ ner parents tney rejecteu
Maddened and goaded almost to frenzy. he wrote wild
FAREWELL assuring her that his truth and constancy
should undergone change from time and distance,-im-
ploring continuance Of her love and remen pro-
missing to write frequenty-and saying that he would
return at the expiration Of Eve years. at arthes
pared to claim her as his own,-sailed for Brazil.
For six long years she heard word from Ashley and
resisted alike the opportunities of those who sought her
hand and the entreates and commands of her parents
and then, with whom they had long wished for
alliance, solicited their consent given, and the we'd
ding day announced She appealed to his generosity
told him how deeply she loved another image
and must be- enshrned within her heart but despite
her entreates he led her to the altar In less than
years, and when Nina only three months DID, her
mother died of consumpontoo often but another name
for broken heart
At the expiration of the term he had allotted Ashley
whose letters had been invariably intercepted by the
eminent officials set out upon his return home his heart
bounding with joyful ancipatons for his efforts had
been crowned with success and he rich beyond
haildest hopes but the journey he seized with
malignant fever and left with his physician and atten-
dants upon an island that seldom visited by any
sell He recovered but it eighteen months before
ship stopped there again. and he gladly avaed himself
of the first opportunity to resume his journey Looking
over file of papers which the Captain hadbrought with
him. his eye accidentally fell upon the annuuncement OF
the marriage of his betrohed the shock nearly depr
we'd him Of reason he landed at the first port and find
ing vessel there bound for Rio Janero he again en-
barked with wthered and blighted heart Five years
afterwards he arrived at hora tc find hct tenant Of the
tomb and then he learned all from letter written
the of her marriage and blistered with tears which
she had entrusted to Aunt Amy to be delivered to him in
case of her DEATH He found the little Nina miniature
picture OF her whose she BORE and whom he had
SO ondy loved and became deeply attached TO her. and
when her father died few years afterwards he became
her Guardian. He had her affection for Clarence
before she dared to acknowledge it to herself and
although he admired his genius yet he felt that Clarence
did not return the intense love she lavished upon him
but she had seemed happy since her marriage that
began to hope that his apprehensons in regard to her
had u6oIh horr
night and when he left her, but hour before she
the centre of an admrng group of delighted guests and
now he found her cold and pale in the embrace of DEATH
Aunt Amy handed him paper that had dropped from
Nnas hand she had fallen upon the floor It was the
letter and horror and indignation filled his mind as he
read it. He instantly despatched messenger to seek
Clarence nee out, and bear the sad tidings to him.
1t had always been Nnas desire to be laid beside her
mother in the garden of ivy DELL the old homestead
of which years before the Doctor had become the pur
chaser and it was now decided that the day but one
following Aunt Amy and himself should 60 on with her
among Nna's large circle of acdiantances when the
announcement of her sudden death made and there
was mournfu contrast presented in the few real friends
who gathered around to hear the lat solemn words
nounced and all the gittering pomp and gayety that
crowded that very only the night beure Late On
up at "Ivy DELL"
then and amidst the unaffected gtie of the humble de-
pendants the coffin was conveyed into the house. twas
lovely and retired place on the hank of the Hudson
the same spot where Ashley had wooed the gentle being
CYPRESS that dropped over it the same spot where
Aunt Amy had wept her early sorrows and watched
over the first sunny years b her child Old
crowded upon their minds till each ogetful of the pre-
aence of the 6het yielded to the violence Of feelings
that could not be controlled Aunt ANY sobbed aloud
while the strong frame of Ashley quivered with emotion
The lid OF the coffin had been removed that all might
look for the last time upon that beloved face SO start
ngy natural in its serene beauty, that all aston
shed and none more SO than Ashley whose professional
experience well taught him the change that should
have taken place. When all had retired for the night
and he had even prevailed upon Aunt Amy seek some
repose ne stood mournfully viewing the features that
recalled SO tivdy to his memory the only happy period
Of his lfewhen in youth and in hope he gazed with
kindng and throbbng heart upon that
whose image was n0M before him. and dreamed Of the
Heaven he SO fondly deemed was in The futurethat
future which was never to be his,that Heaven which
was to be to him drear aud barren waste unreey
BY one green shrub blooming flower through all its
vast extent.
The tears were slowly coursing down the siight fnt
rows 0f his mild and benevolent face as bending over
nc imprinted kiss of parental tenderness upon her
brow suddenly thrill Of lightning ran throu Is bis
veins the pulsatons Of his heart quickened he easpe
for breath something Of life seemed still to
struggling though faint effort respiration he bent
eagerly over hefhe nof-he could not be deceiv
Cd ms very sou painted with trembling hope Heawoke
intently-and ct last feeble sigh gently hesyed the
cheek. = -
Aunt Amy almost deliriods With JOY mechanically but
with trembling hands, obeye the D0ctors Instructions
while he, subduine his own wild emotion, seemed Is.
stintt With Godike resources Nina was tx1en from the
CONN sced hhon couch, and all the baraphernalia
Of death teu6ved from the room some gently stinula-
ting rsstcsatives wsfe Men sdminsiered and fr many
slowly ohened her and ened With fld i;e rsll.