The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-02-11

masemeut. SO | went into the large par
lors that bad been crowded with compa-
ny all the afternoon; sang, jested, and
played. scarcely knowing aud little caring
what | did, yet dimly conscious that once
the tail figure of Richard Vinel ) came in
to the room, fingered moment as 1t
watching me, and then disappeared.
do not remember how thst afternoon
aud evening wore away. But know the
great, noisy, brilliant rooms we're silent
,l last; the guest, had departed, the II .ht1
were extinguished, and faint with the
misery had kept in check 50 long, | was
sitting on broad, low windo seat at enc
end of the desolated parlors, leaning out
to feel the cool, fresh, night wind, as it
tossed the long, unbound hair, from my
fevered cheeks. Everything seemed to
me like confused dream, aud when the
door at the at the further extremity OF
the apartment was opened softly, felt
rather than saw, that Richard Fioely,
stood upon the threshold.
"What, all empty, all dark" l heard
him say, and then be tarned to 60; but
the fiutter OF my white dress u,u-t have
attracted his notice, for be stopped and
came back fcw steps into tue ROOM
"Corsiu Any" be called, ia low voice,
sis that you'll did Dot answer. but
drev the window curtain closely about
my face. Don't he triHinr," he said i'm
patiently, 81 have something that | wish
to-somethipg that nu,t tell you. -
And he came along, and drew an ottoman
to ny ,ide.
That be should have mistaken me for
another person, even in the dark, seemed
strange to me then, although | see nov
how easily in bis great agitation it could
be. But was glad to escape detection,
for it seemed as though could suffer a
By torture rather than make myself known
to him, lest he should triumph over Me a
gain in my more womanl y and less d. H.
ant mood Besides | thought | should
like to hear Tim speak once more, kindly
and without irony, as he had been won't
to speak before that terrible hour when
be almost sIcte ne mad. with bis cruel
words. SO schooIed myself for the de-
ception | vas abovt to practice, and told
him in hi-rer, that was ready to hear
him.
30. am wretebed, Amy, so utterly
wrctcbed!'' be comuenced.
F,eree a. was the exuitat;o1 with which
| heard this confession, there was some
thing so touching, and wtbal SO earnest,
that for moment pitied more than de-
spised him. Since he suffered | thought
| had a right to partially forgive hin the
terrible wrong be bad done ne.
"Li-ten," be continued, seeing I did
rot speak; "let me tell you what an idot,
what wretch | have been. Yon known
Amy. 81 imagined his voice quyered a
little "what my feelings have been to-
wards Helen ReaIe; to you, and 10 YOU
only have con6ded the love which has
been my Inspiration for six long years.
Y on know, too that long time ago,
when she vas very young and | was foot
ish offered myself to her and was re-
ieeted. Since then she ba- learned 10
look upon me in a different light; need |
say what happiness it has given me to
known it! TO day, Amy, when L knew
that single word Of niue would have o.
pened the iucrmost door of her proud
heart to nc and made her mine foreser,
some evil demon put il IN my heart to try
her even a. had been tried. 1 taunted
her with the very love cravcd so madly,
and told her | had sought it but for re-
veuce. Fool that | was so to tempt a NO.
mans pride! Fool to tbiuk could put
her from me with affected contempt, AM
gather her all the more closely to my bos-
ON; to imagine | mi : ht -hock. startlc, ter
rify her, and then soften her back into
forgiveness, by the same tenderness | bad
outraged. Oh. the real indignation With
which she scorncd ne and flung my in
suits back into my teeth! | quailed be-
fore her, astonishcd, ashamed, bati1rd;
trembied at the storm | had invoked.
With rash hand dared disturb the
sweet chanel of her maidenly lose, aud
it turned into a river of gall, whose bitter
ness shall henceforth be over all my life.
feel that no explanation, mo apology,
no pea IOf IofEifcDtS-, eau pe poHeii vi
enough to couuteract the great, unuttera'
bic harted with which have in, ,pired
her. Pity me dear Amy, pity me! \
mad, unmanIy freak has cost NE the hap.
piness of lifetime"
He paused, and could hear hiSproud
form shaking with strong, passionate sob:
of grief. 1t was we'll that he was thus
agitated or the loud beating of ny heart
would have betrayed me.
"Richard!' | whispered softly through
uy binding tears, after | bad time tc
control the rapturous feeling that bad
nearly overwhelmed me.
He turned his head quickly, and ex
claimed, in voice scarcely above a whis
per. "Hark, Amy! Am dreaming
or did | hear her call mel"
I put my hands out to him, as I had
done before that day, and drawing his
head forward with the same quick, impet
uous movement, let my lips cling once
more to bis white fore ebead. just ther
the moon came over the tops of th'
on1 - lam of licht Il