True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-10
" Raglan, Editor and Proprietor.

than sister to me. i might have loved
him had his heart been free to offer me,
but now, that he is the affianced husband
of. another, | can love him only as a
friend" Ha0.G a ,"3i a t'.
A thrill Of disappointment passed over
me, las | listened. could not but fear that
sorrow was in store for that guIeless,
trusting heart, and 50 | venlured 10 tell
her. .s"- sHl ''r
"Nellie, will you listen to me for a
few moments I" Twas on this same
messy bench we sat. &" I know more Of
the world than you. Do not be too much
in Harry's company. Not that doubt
his honor; it is your strength for which
I tremble. You cannot be with him
without learning to love him. You will
not realize that he belongs to another
His very nobleness of heart in telling you
all, will only the more endear him to you.
You will fancy that he is only friend,
but soon will learn, Too late perhaps, a
friend whose presence is essential to your
happiness. BE not harsh or cold. Only
take care, for I tremble for his power over
one so easily moved to love. nay, do not
frown, when the object is as worthy as
he" g-# l.
She needed not my warning. She
could not think as | did. Even now, her
shvery laugh is echoing in my ear, as
she answered,
Never fear, my heart will be never
given until called for" ."
1 saw them together. I saw the truant
blush recalled at his hghtest word knew
too well of the hours of anguish when
she thought none were aear; heard the
words of agonizing prayer for strength
strength to help her bear the load which
was crushingher heartbeneath its weight,
She had learned, alas, too late, the bitter
lesson, and now she must hide it from
him; and she did; he never dream ed
she loved him. Had even the thought
passed his mind, he would have torn
himself away from all so dear to him in
friends and associations, rather than add
one bitter drop 10 her cup. He loved her
as friepd. and thought it was returned
as such; and was it strange, when she
would listen with so much interest as he
revealed to her all his hopes Of the future!
Could he believe that so much strength
was hidden in that fragile form! Her
sympathy was given to him. and as she
spoke with him Of his own pathway
strewn with flowers. could he believe
that even then the though. of hers that
he had made desolate. was fast wearing
her strength away! She thought her fee
lings hid from all but there wero those
less blinded than her, who saw with an.
guish too deep for utterance, the fading
Of the flower so dear 10 their hearts, |,
was too late for warning. They could on.
ly watch with painful interest new charms
unfolding every hour, and feel that with
the falling leaves Of Autumn she too
would pass away. 1-'''" '"L
1t was just such an hour as this that we
wandered here together for the last time.
Her step was feeble. but her eye beamed
with an almost unearthly light. She
spoke Of him. He had left to return
with his bride to their happy home.
Mary" she said, "you know it all
why hide it longer! l deemed myself
myself strong enough to bear it alone,
but i. eoulG not be. I feel that l shall
never see him again. I wondered at my
self as his parting sounded in my ears
'Nellie, ! will soon reian; you alone
must be first 10 welcome Annie to hel
home, heneeforth yours, forI mean no,
to surrender my sister again until s,ron.
ger love thsn mine calls her away. will
you not love Annie for my sake. until
you learn 10 love her for her own! 3
"My answer satisfied even him, and
then we parted. I.knew it was the last.
My strength is failing fast, yet I would
not wish it otherwise. I could not love
another, and dared not love him as The
husband of another. Ere he shall return
I shall be sleeping under the sod, and he
will not know Of the shaft that has laid
me low. He will, perhaps, in days tc
come, bring his Annie to weep beside my
grave, for the friend she was to love, SC
early lost. Breathe not this tale to ano'
ther. meant it should be buried will
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