The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1858-12-23

cry arDOr Wnere & eY had rested, every tree
under whose shades he had walked, and ev
cry object associated with her name, all re-
ceiyed a farewell look
How can part with you, dearest?" he
would ask. after his painful journey around
the rooms and garden.
Eugene. do not mention it, she said
You will break my heart
But you must hear it, Hortensc. | can
not stay with you long Thank heaven that
leave you above want. Promise me, dear. that
you never will leave this home. Trust me,
| will be "; III you in spirit when the form is
laid in the earfh-watching, guarding, if pos
sible speaking to YOU"
It was his last night on earth. When the
morn broke, his eyes We're closed in the slum-
Der of death.
Hortense wandered for months about her
beautiful home like perterbed spirit There
was nothing that had been touched by Eu-
gene that had not solemn and sacred value
in her eyes. The trees he had planted. the
bowers he had formed-all had a meaning 10
her that no one else could understand; and
Yet upon each one OF these and upon her
whole heart and life. seemed written, ''the
glory has departed"
It is time to go back to N. Vslcntin, and
see what became of the fond husband = the
courageous adventurer. At first he was al
most distracted at the thought of parting
from Hortense, but once the kubicon passed,
he became more calm. A few years, he
thought. woul bring them together never to
part; and perhaps they would be all the hap
pier for the separation.
Full of lope he went to the gold mines of
Australia. Day after day he wrought there,
enduring The hardships never heard of be-
fore; but bearing them with the courage and
fortitude of hero Ever before him was
the image of Hortense. 1t nerved his arm
in the rough mines when he struck his iron
into the gold yielding soil; it soothed him
when he lay burning with fever, in rude
shanty in the mountain. His thoughts by
day and his dreams by night were of Hor-
tense. Not word. however, reached him
from her, and often lie shuddered at the fear
ful probabilities that ar ose to his mind. Hor-
tense might be sck-sutfering light deem
him dead or unfai hfrl; no, that could never
be; she would not be shaken in her
trust But as he lay in the miserable sked
which held his sick bed he would have given
worlds for one glance from her eyes. one
pressure of her hand to know that he was
not forgotten; and as he watched the stars
overhead shining in the crevice Of the low
would appear to him then in his need.
The rude miners were too intent upon gain
to watch beside his bed and many the long
days and nights in which he lay unattended.
Aid came at last in the shape Of child -
young boy whose father was at work in the
mines. and whose mother supported herself
and child by washing Hours did little Ben
Cole sit beside him. watching every movement
aud striving TO give him ease; or bringing
water from the spring, he would battle his
fevered forehead with his little hands, A ten
der nurse, indeed, was the little B n, and on
his recovery, NJ Valentin made the laundress
happy by providing for the boy.
VI Valentin had been richly rewarded for
his enterprise. Gold had showered in upon
him in almost fabulous profusion, and now he
seriously thought # returning home. Some
what en- eebled by his late illness, he was
struck with dismay at being again Frustrated
and to find tha, his disorder was the dread
ed smallpox. That he lived through tins was
because his constitution was 50 excellent that
even this enemy could not vanquish it. He
did live, an his owa mother would not have
known him, 50 deeply Scared aad isfyured
had he become. With his first returning
Strength, he set out for home. Hortense.
VI ,n:reaN we're now the beginning and end
OF his aspirations. One thing only marred
his iov on t'.c homeward route Would Hor-
tense love the SCARED and disfgured face
that booked AZ him from the little glass in his
cabin Would she endure the long shaggy
beard which he WAS enabled to cover a part
of the deep sears"
H had taken passage in an American yes
sci bound for New York. He arrived safe
". and the mex, hour found him on his way
To- Montreal. H bent I1s course in the
neiL Lhborhood where iEortense proposed go
irs after his departure. He enquired every
w er. for NJ 4dsme Valentin- No ona knew
her. He himself was not recognized even
when lie hunted the oil place of business
Another name. Of course. was upon the IA
miiisr door; and hither be turned his steps 10
see ii happily some old friend OF former DAYS
might not have heard Of her. Even the name
was unfamiliar. OF pretended to be; and yet
the person he asked was one whom He re-
membered a. plotting zsalou<fy TO Be invited
to his dinner parties
They will remember me when they find
that am rich a gain" said Valentin 10 him
self, bitterly.
H turned into By street. and saw beg
gar sitting in the sunshine. Il was the most
cordial and happy face that had met his gaze
since he came back. The man djl no. ask
for anything either, but showed him the with
cred arm that hung loosely under his coat;
and hopeless the question seemed, he tho't
he would ask it. As he dropped the money
into the ragged hat that lay on The ground
beside the beygar, he earelsssly asked:
d" Can YOU tell me where Madame Ealentin
lives now, my mani
Il used 10 know her when she lived in
Queen street: was that the one9''
|. was the street where ". Valentin's grand
house stood.
'She is gone from tia. house but she did mt
forget old Jack. aud mauys the penny she
has given me since Glad enough vas when
| heard she was married again
Married. exclaimed NJ Valentiu
Bless you. sir. YES: married 10 Mr.. Stan
bury: but poor man, be died a year ago
do YOU know where she lives nowes