The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-03-17
MlSCELL AN EUUS.
LOVE AND REVENGE.

Oh, how l haed him-how l hated
Richard v'uely-kneeliny by my side,
with that sort Of mocking triumph
lighting up his deep eyes, aud his proud.
thin lips parted, as if in expec,a ion
that l would say something that he
might wish to check. And who would
not lave Lated him as l did? Let me
tell you how it was.
had loved him more than a year
loved him. Heaven only knows h.w
pass ionately. Not more blindly or en-
tifely does the silh worn weave itself
with lis own shroud, Than l wrapped
myself up in his pleasure. his admira-
ton, his love Not more trus ,ingy
turns the fearless eagle to its mountain
eyrie than |. foolish and confding, turn
ed to the bright, beautiful castles of
hope which had built on the rot en-
foundation of his faith. And We. Il
never thought of it till that day and
oh, with what a humiliaing weight the
knowled sc came to me he had never
asked me for my love-never asked me
for itopenly, save by tender glances and
pressure Of the hand. and those thous-
and delicate attentions which are most
precious to the jealous eyes and ears OF
affection. But did not dream that such
passion as mine could be poured forth
and bring me no return. / did not even
imagine that his apparent devotion
could be wrongly understood: and So
| blindioldei myself. and bewildered,
content. happy. rushed forward to des-
pair.
That afternoon we had been sitting in
the garden, talking to each other. rs we
had many times before, of our past lives.
The dreamy music which the wiad
made as ii Tired The trees above US
aud the fresh. sweet smell of early fl w
ers wi which the spring air was load
ed. Sc med just the outward influence
needed to soften our hearts. and draw
them most nearly into sympathy and
when in his quiet. manly wa, he told
me the s Dry of his lite-ot the f'the,
who died before his remembrance, a I'd
the sweet mother who had clos, d hel
eyes in their eternal sleep ere the < ass
had twice grown green over her Gus,
bands coffin of his desolale, fre ldless
$ rugyliny boyhood, showing me, one
by one, the weary steps he had climbed
ceiling me so gratefully how many Land
had sown roses in the steep way and
at the close saying with sucn serene
smile, "Helen. ! would suffer my lite
over again housand hines. rather than
give back his day" my heart was filed
70 overaowing. |. too, was an orphan.
and knew better than any one. l thou sht
how cruelty and grudg'ngIy the world
had laid i.s hands upon INN as he Toll.
ed onward in its service. How glai
was hat had always been kind to him
that had kept my heart free. unsullied
and womanly. as the crowning gift OF
his success and joy.
l wept. moved deeply by his elo
quence. and leaning towards him. with
a quick, impetuous movement, drew his
head forward with my hands. and press
ing my lips to his white forehead. kiss
ed him-not lightly and coquetishly-
but reverently and tearfully. For a
moment he bowed his head. and could
not sec his face; but when he looked
up It's expression startled me, the change
had been SO sudden.
"Do you know, said he, slowly.
dropping his eyes before my look ol
wondering inquiry, ''that | think the
woman VINO bestows the tokens of her
love unsought. lowers herself beneath
the respect Of him who becomes their
recipient ?"
am sure I should not have under
stood him, but for the meaning sarcas.
tic smile with which he spoke. ! saw
then, in a moment, his whole power
over me / saw how he had led me on
cautiously. artfully. through love 10
pity, and throush pity to humiliation
saw that for an ignoble triumph over
my woman's pride he had sacrificed his
truth. and would sacrifice my heart;
saw him degraded from an honest. low
ing noble heart into tend. and for my
lite ! could not have answered, save Il
strike or curse him. lie read my feel
ings in my face, suppose. for he laugh
ed ironically. He spoke again, and
was forced 70 listen.
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