Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-22

''Since you will have it, 1 said.
600 oni'
~ do not love you-not as You meanr
There was dead silence in the room as
the lying words left my lips, aud she grew SO
white, and gave me such a look of anguish
that l repented of my cruelty, and forgot my
anger.
Il do not mean that, Alice" | cried. ''You
look i'll and pale. Believe me, was only
jesting."
Il can bear it, Francis. There is nothing
on this earth that cannot be borne in one way
or other" as
She turned and left the room. quietly and
sadly. The sunshine faded just then, and
only white, pale light came through the
window. | so connected it with her sorrow,
that to this day | can never see the golden
radiance come and go across my path, with
out the same sharp, knife-like pang that felt
then, as the door closed behind her.
CHAPTER THE FOURTH.
ALICE became weaker and grew really i'll.
A tour on the continent was strongly recon-
mended by the doctors as the likeliest means
of restoration. 1t was impossible Cor me to
go; but some friends of ours, one Mr.. and Mrs.
Warrener, with young daughter were going
TO Italy for six months, and it was arranged
that Alice should accompany them.
They remained abroad. nine months instead
wife's dcserting me; but | only laughed, and
said, i should soon go after her if she re-
manned away much longer; and they thought
we were still model couple. But, bad they
seen me sitting in my office, at night, over
Alce's letters from abroad, they would have
known what a gulf had opened between us
two. read those letters over and over again,
with aching throbs going through and
through my heart, at every word. They were
f1Il of int L
led them beautiful. who had not seen the
mixture of womanly passion and child)ike
playfulness in her character that had seen,
and which | was to see no more.
At last she returned. / came home tired
enough. one evening, to find letter lying on
my table. informing me that she would cross
to Dover on the morrow. went down to
Dover to meet her. Our arrangement had
worn deep into my heart. She had loved me
once; she should love me again!
| was worn, haggard. | took bath and
made a careful toilet after my hurried jour
ney. AS was taking my last look in the
glass, the hotel-waiter came to tell me they
had arrived.
i followed him, more nervous than / bad
ever been before in my life. Warrener grasped
my hands as | opened the door, and Mrs. War
rener-bless her kind heart!-burst out CRYING
''Oh, my dear Frank! l am so glad to see
you. And we have brought you your Alice
home so we'll"
Next moment she entered, little King
Charlcs's spaniel frisking about her feet.
had her in my arms at once, but it was not
until she kissed me that knew how cold and
pale she was.
'Alice, are you ill?'' l asked, holding her
away from me, and looking into her face.
Her eyes met mine, but their old light was
quite gone.
'Not in the least i'll, Frank" she said quiet
ly. ''But you must remember | have not
seen YOU for nine months and you startled me
a little"
Ny household fairy had fed and 1 could
only mourn that l should never look upon
her sweet, young face again. 1t was another
Alice, this. l had slain my own Alice, and
nothing could reanimate her.
| was like one in dream all through the
day and, when we came home, could not
wake | had made many changes in the house,
and all for her. | took her through the
rooms on the day after our return, and showed
r the improvements She was pleased with
the furniture she admired the pictures and
the conservatory aud seemed delighted with
the little gem of a boudoir which had pleas
cd myself by designing expressly for her. She
thanked me, too. No longer ago than year.
she would have danced through the rooms
uttering 4 thousand pretty little ordinations
of wonder and delight and | should have been
smothered with kisses. and called a dear old
bear" or some such fit name at the end /; all
of which would have been very silly, but al
so very delightful.
think | bore it for month but one
morning. as | sat at my solitary breakfast
for Alice took that meal in her room now
the bitter sense of wrong and unhappiness
and desertion came over me SO strongly that
went up to her room.
Are you busy ~ | asked, as she laid down
her pen and looked around.
Not too busy to talk to you" she said.
Alice how long are we to live this life ~
She changed colour.
''What life, Frank ~
.The one we are living now. 1t is not the
happy, loving life we used TO live. You are
no. mine entirely and lovingly as you once
were.'
Il know it, And she sighed and looked
drearily at me,
why cannot the old days come back again.
If made terrible mistake, can you never
forgive it? | thought il was foolish for us to
love each other as we did least, to show
it as we debut have found now, that love
is earth's only true wisdom
She smiled ss lily.
.'Give me back that love, Alice, which /
would not have. oh, give me back the lost
sunshine
rose from my seat and stood beside her,
hut she drew back and shook her head.
Frank. don't ask me Tor that"
Il shall know how TO value it now, Alice.n
THAT may be ; but have il not 10 give
you, my poor Frank"
clasped her To my heart. The passion in
that heart might almost have brought back
life to the dead; but she did not move. She
was like statue in my arms, and only looked
at me and sighed.
TOO latel Too late Frankri
"Will you never forgive me!i
Forgive! Do you think / have one I'M
kind thought or feeling towards you, Frank
All, no! But | am chilled through and
through. Ny love is dead aud buried. Stand
away from It's grave, and let us meet the
world rs we best may.n
leaned my head upon my hands, and my
tears fell, and ! was not ashamed Of them.
But they seemed to ronse her into a kind OF
frenzy.
Your she exclaimed suddenly. "You,
who a year ago sowed the seed which has
borne this fruit, can You weep over your
hasbandry now. Don't, Frank Take what
/ can give yoa-take my earn, st friendship
and tiVd grant Ne may never part, here or in
heayca-n
'.Ahl In heaven-if we ever get there
you will love me again"
She quoted those sad words which poor ST.
Pierre uttered on his dying bed:
"Qae fsrait nne aIne isolee dams ls eiel menes''
What would Isolated soul do, even IN HeAvea
itscf!)
and laid her hand gently on mine.
Heaven knows, dear Alice. that as loved
you when We first met. | loved you on that
unhappy day, aud love you stillln
81 am glad To hear il, &c said hurriedly.
Heaven only knows what days and nights
were mine at first. For my fife had been
wrapped up Ia yours, Frank, and Ii was
IeTr. bic 10 separate them. ! thought at first
hat could not live. l suppose every one
thinks 90, when heavy blow falls. But
strength was given me, and by-and- by, peace.
"a aa.sss. h. ezEa esraw ah.a..,.~ l.