True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-10-13

love, and yet pride KEEP, back the words
of loveI longed to pour out. | did not
wish a second place in her heart. AT
last was taken i'll. There was long
interval during which l was conscious of
pain, but did not know the faces around
me. Strange visions haunted my pillow,
and the maddening proofs of Helen's
love were always before me--always tor
:menting me. One morning awoke, af-
ter loro. dreamless slumber, in full pos
session Of my senses. heard my sis
ter Cora's voice
Helen," she said, )" ] mus! 60 down
stairs for anew moments, to see il I can
help mother to prepare something for
Stephen. Will you stay here and call
me when he wakes y
Certainly"
kept my eyes closed, but | beard my
sister leave the room. and moment later
| knew that Helen Morton stood beside
me. | did not hear her step, but / was
conscious of her presence. For mo.
ment she stood still. then heard her say
in low voice:
" Stephen, my own love. Oh, God,
spare him - and with low sobs she poured
out a fervent prayer for my life. Nine /!
| forgot Arthur, and opening my eyes,
said ~. .".f
Helen! Helen Oh, say you love
me - She started back, crimson with
confusion, and would have left me, but I
caught her dress, and in low voice i'm.
plored her to stay. l was very weak,
and this agitation, she saw, was too much
for me. She bent again over my pillow,
and said
"Hush, Stephen! You must be quiel!'
Helen, do you love me ?" / said
again.
The answer came low and sweet.
"I have loved you ever since first
saw you, Stephen -
From that hour | began to improve
Oh, how love to dwell upon The time
tina. followed. WAS very happy. Only
one thing had troubled me. had cues
toned Helen about Arthur, and she de-
MED having ever loved him, yet owned
she felt warm interest in him. She
promised when we were married to tell
me why, and l, in my perfect faith and
happiness asked for no more. Yet, when
| saw how eager she listened to the scraps
of Cora's letters which she read aloud
and how many questions she asked about
his travels, l fell the old jealousy stirring
at my heart; but one fher bright smiles
always drove away the demon. My new
happiness was oil but short duration.
One evening my mother and were
seated together before the window chat
; ting. Helen and Ella were on the bal
T cony arranging some flowers, when my
father came in.
ais Cora here ~ he asked.
"No," said my mother, rising
"What is the matter; you are pale, agi
tated =! Has anything happened, ArlhurF
My eye flew to Helen. She wa
! standing in the window, her hands clasp
, ed, her face white as ashes.
3 Arthur said in his last letter that h,
!. expected TO sail in the North Star ~
! inquired my father.
eyes! What has happened"
a "It is lost all Oh board have perish
ed!
l Heaven grant may never again hea
such cry as Helen gave, before she fe
l senseless a, my feet. ! did not-move
raise her. saw my mother and fslhel
y with wondering faces, place her upon tn
sofa, and stood as il turned 10 stone.--
n God alone knows what suffering wa
n compressed into those few moments bt
fore l turned and fed from the house.
,r wandered through the streets like a mat
d man, without any hat, unconscious of th
r. wonder Of those / passed, unconscious
9, anything but my own bitter misery. A
d night was in the street. In the morl
ing, very early, l went home, packed u
few things, wrote farewell note
,e nv mother, and then left Charleston,
fel. that / could not face Helen agai
,e. and | fled from the city.
was wealthy, and sought TO fiji
II. relief in travel. wrote to my moth
after, but never gave her any address
for | feared in any answer, she wou
to speak of Helen, and knew / could n
bear it. knew that Arthur had n
of sailed in the lost vessel, and by the pap
Al. saw the news of his arrival al HON
and his marriage to Cora.
Yet wild with jealoSy, hating wha
er thought her deceit, ! loved Helen Nj
IS ton still My dreams were always
IS, happy hours passed with her aud Ion
ed-oh with what intense longing, to 8
er her again. At last, unable to bear \
ii misery longer, turned my steps hon
. ward. I had been gone Two years, p'
he haps she had conquered her love
,ra Arthur. Even if she did not love me
ed must look upon her again, if it was or
! once more. Il
nd II was early in the evening when
Ter reached Charleston, and leaving my b;
gage al the hotel, / walked towards hon
ks There was a light in the parlor. and
ne went to the garden.gaie, climbed ov
, I aud cpoae;n0 the Garden clambered nm