The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-10-14

| Tor, leaning out 10 feel the cool, fresh
nightwind, as it tossed the long, unbound
, hair from my fevered cheeks. Every
! thing seemed to me like confused dream
and when the door at the further extrem
ity Of the apartment was opened softly
, felt, rather than saw, that Richard Vine
ly stood upon the threshold. 4
+" What all empty. all dark - heard
! him cry, and turned to 60, but the iutter
of my white dress must have attracted
J his attention, for he stopped and came
, back few steps into the ROOM 3!
cousin Amy" he called, in a low
voice, is that you :" / did not answer,
but drew the window curtains closely
about my face. Don't be trifling," lie
said impatiently, :" have something that
| wish to--semething that / must tell
you'-he came along, and drew an otto
man to my side.
That he should have mistaken me for
another person, even in the dark, seemed
strange to me then, although / see
now how easily in his great agitation it
could be. But | was glad to escape de-
lection, for it seemed as though | could
suffer any torment rather than make N.Y.
self known to him. lest he should triumph
over me again in my more womanly and
less defiant mood Besides thought j
should like to hear him speak once more
kindly and without irony, as he had been
want to speak before that terrible hour
| NIL ha al, IA
cruel words. So | schooled myself for
the deception was about to practise,
and told him in a whisper lest he should
recognize me, that | was ready to hear
him. aij af ugt
90, i am wretched, Amy, so utterly
wretched ~ he commenced. Bt
Fierce as was the exultation with
which heard this confession, there was
something SO touching and withal so earn
est in his manner, that for moment |
pitied more than despised him. Since
he suffered | thought | had right to
partially forgive him the terrible wrong
he had done me. l
Listen" continued he, seeing made
no answer, /" let me tell you what an idiot,
what wretch have been. You know,
Amy" | imagined his voice quivered a
little" what my feelings have been to-
wards Helen Read /; to you, and to you
only have confded the love which has
been my inspiration for six long years.
You know, too, that long time ago,
when she was very young and foolish, |
offered myself to her and was rejected
Since then she has learned to look upon
me in different light need say what
happiness it has given me to know it
Today, Amy, when knew that single
word of mine would have opened the in.
nermost recess of her proud heart to me,
and make her mine forever, some evil de.
mon put it in my heart to try her as l
had been tried. taunted her with the
very love / eraved so blindly, and told
her l had sought it but for revenge
Fool that | was so to tempt woman's
pride Fool to think | could put her from
me with affected contempt, and gather her
all the more closely to my bosom; to
imagine | might shock, startle, terrify
her, and then soften her bal into forgive
ness, by the same tenderness / had out
ragged. Oh, the regal Indignation with
which she seorned me, and flung my in
suits back into my teeth l quailed be-
fore her, astonished, ashamed and baffled, |
| trembled at the storm had invoked
With rash hand dared disturb the
sweet channel of maiden love and it turn
ed into river of gall, whose bitterness
shall hencetorth be over all my life.
feel that no explanation, no apology no
plea for forgiveness, can be powerful
enough to counteract the great unuttera-
Bile hatred with which have inspired her.
Pity me, dear Amy, pity me One mad,
unmanly freak has cost me the happiness
of a whole lifetime
He paused, and could hear his proud
form shaking with strong passionate sobs
of grief. 1t was well that he was thus
agitated or the loud beatings Of my heart
would have betrayed me.
Richard" said softly, through my
binding tears, after had time to control,
the rapturous feeling that had nearly
overwhelmed me. a}
He turned his head quickly, and ex-
claimed, in a voice, scarcely above
whisper: iAt
/" Hark, Amy! Am I drcaming-doI
hear her call me r. sa ~ o's~
Il put Tiny hands QUITO him, as had
done before that day, and drawing his
head forward with the same quick, i'm
petuons movement, let my lips cling once
mere to his white forehead. just then
the moon came over the tops of the trees,
and broad beam Of light dropped in at
the window like torch of silver. He
caught me by the soulders and turned
me about till I faced The light, and | saw
asN .Ga. SO aEB Asswass ST Ee I