The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-01-07

twine;
And thou wilt meet the rocompeuss an musi
Who give TO mortai love their faith aud Trust
"It is the silent grief that kills"
These words fell from the lips Of FL
sic Neal, as she walked back and forth
beneath the elm trees, that encircled her
humble home.
ayes, Nellie Lyle, ~ she said, pausing
before her young friend, who sat on the
low porch, Eyes, it is the silent grief
that kills. I am but uttering a truth,
which has been experienced by many
Of earth's pilgrims. And alas! I must
also suffer, and be still"
Again she commenced her restless
walk, in the shadowy moonlight. The
years of her life numbered but one
score. It was the time when hopes
should be bright and the young heart
care-froe. Yet on that sweet June eve,
her eyes were misty with tears, and her
lips trembled over sorrowful words.
Intellect was traced on the fair, high
brow Of Elsie Neal; the light Of her eyes,
those "changoful, glorious orbs," some
times liquid with tenderness, dreamy
with thought, or lustrous with excite
ment, spoke Of a lofty and sensitive
soul, whose capacities were great, either
for joy or woe. She was proud, very
proud.
It was traced oftenest, in the sudden
flash of her eye, in the naughty move
ments of her slight form But despite
this fault, and the humble dress Of pow
erty, she was very beautiful to some,
in the dawn of her twentieth summer.
Beautiful to those who knew her well,
and could appreciate the riches of her
mind.
Nellie Lyle seemed borcft of her ever
ready, sweet, consoling words, when she
gazed upon her loved and cherished
friend, and thought of the cruel wound
that had pierced her heart.
Again Elsie paused in the moonlight.
Again her low, tremulous voice broke
upon the stiffness. "To think how
happy 1 might have been, Nellie. To
think, saddest and bitterest Of all, that
my mother should have been the one to
blight my hopes; just for prejudice, an
unreasonable dislike! How her crush
ing words ring in my ears now! She
knew me, Nellie. She knew what to
say, to make me yield; but she has nev-
er looked down into her childs heart
and read there its strength to love, ol
she might have paused ere she sent from
my side the one who alone could have
made this troubled life happy to mel"
"Why did you not plead with her
Elsio?"
"Nellie, if you had heard her words
you would not ask me such a question
elsie Neal, (she said) if you marry
Philip Deane, you marry without your
mothers consent. Her pride prompted
these words, but in a moment that pride
was stilled, and her voice trembIed with
tenderness, and her dimmed eyes flet
with tears. Elsie, (she coutiuued) my
only child; if you leave me alone, my
tried heart will be broken. 1t will no
be long, at the most till I shall lie dowr
by your fathers side, in the graveyard
beyond tho White Chapelr
~ might have falterod, Nellie;
might have risen up in defiance to he
will, had it not been for the vision tina
rose up before me; and the solemn
words that hoated back to me, across tn
years that have fed since he left us, mad
me dumb.
"That touching death-scene Of Ions
ago, came ike a fash to my memory
I saw the troubled look that passed owe
my dying fathers face. I heard hi
voice, pleading that / and my mothe
should bo all in all to each other. i
chat solemn hour, Nellie, he entroate
me never to leave or forsake her; and
answered, neverl neyerl
"My silence must have touched m
mothers heart, for she drew her arr
around me, and kissed me again an.
again; telling me that Philip Dean
could never make my life happy. III
was too proud, too stern, too reckless
she said; and / was proud and ou
pride would rise up, and darkon bot
our lives.
"NelIie, our lives are darkenod al
ready. Something is lost. Some beau
iful light has gone out ia nay hear
and It's very dark horei aud the youn
giil pressed her baud where hor hon
Twas beating wildly.