Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-09

and fee from the presence Of the beloved one
Because human passion Is strong and human
resolution weak. Already we hear the nut
teFing of the coming storm. Hearts are yOun1
and passionate, temptation strong and power
fuI, and no God Is called upon outOf the depths
to succOr and to save. Heaven help them
without religion, with weak principles, they
must sink and perish in the rushing waves
The night was serene and lovely, the moon
floating calmly in the heavens, silvering the
earth with prOdigaIity Of light No sound
broke the deep stiffness; not even the rust
ling Of leaf stirred the quiet air. Annie
Mauric paced the balcony with unQuiet steps
She felt restless; the moonlight saddcned her,
the deep silence oppressed her. She was
club. He had married late in life, and could
not be expected to rcsigh his old ways, his old
haunts, and his old companions.
You have your piano, my dear-youI
books; artd you may have company whcnev.
or you arc in the mood; but it is most un.
reasonable to ask inc to stay at home with
you" The young wife did not ask It; so far
from that, she did not desire it. 1t was one
Of those cases where absence is "Lethes qui.
Ct" but not its "glOOm." -.
Then, you see, my dear, at the club
meet our best men,"
"YOu mean the wOrst!"
"Mind comes in contact with mind, he
continued, not noticing the interruption, land
-"
80, pray offer no apologies" sharply inter.
rupted Annie; ''yOu arc pleased to 20, and
am pleased that you are pleased. The club
house was built by men, for men; let men
frequent it, Let the married ignore domestic
life, and find their chief delight away from
home; but do not let them embarrass them.
selves with excuses, and plead a necessity
that does not exist. Go where you please,
when you please, and stay just as long a. you
please; there IL cGrte.6LGnche for you "
And Annie Maurie picked up 9 book, which
implied that the audience was at an end.
"My dear, really your kind permission
amounts to positive indifference" and Mr..
Maurie walked uneasiy out of the room.-
Thus it was Annie Maurie was left alone ev-
cry evening. Eve wandered solitary thro'
the lonely walks Of her garden, the tcmpter
stole In, persuaded, and
Annie Mauric at length ceased her weary
pacing, and leaned sadly over the balustradc.
What would bring her pcaceH-what quiet
the restless ycarnngs Of her hearty The
tears rose to her eyes, then fell in slow drops.
She was miscrnblc-uttcrly, hopclcssly miser-
ble. A voice said beside her: "AlOne, and in
tears, idle tcars?" She started not-shc was
not surprised-She knew that he would come;
and she answered, quietly dashing away her
tears:
idle tears! Let her finish your quotation:
~ know not what they mean:
Tears nom the depths Of some divine despair
Rise In the heart, and gather TO the eyes,
In looking on the happy autumn fields,
And thinking OF the days that are no more
o, death in life the days that are no InOre!'
She clasped her hands upon her aching
heart, and murmured again and again" The
days that are no more. no more"
And those days are no more. Whose years
are without them !-whO has not jOyed even
unto ecstacy in them l-who has not mourn.
ed them even unto despairP Yet who, who
would blot them out forever from the tablets
Of memory? Oh, no; let them stay, even
though, like Annie Mauric, we press our hands
upon our aching hearts, and cry, with bitter
cry, "thC days that are no more.
And what made tho happiness Of those
days,"
"Lovc and YOUTH" she answered.
Nothing elsey"
"Yes, truth"
"Aye, TRUTH When yon banished her
from your heart, you lost peace and happiness
was it not so, Annie ="
"YCs," she said, in voice almost inaudibie
from emotion.
"Ah, Annie" was the mournful reproof !;
why did you not speak of all this sooner p
Wealth Is the cruel Moloch to whom you have
sacrifced love, happiness, and truth. What
peace now remains for usi We are both
made miserable by the unrighteOus act Of one" I"
"Oh, hushl" said Annie Maurie, imploring-
ly; "reproach me not could weep away
my life, am SO utterly, hopelessly wretched." !"
"Then why didsyOu marry him, Anniel
You knew you did not, could not hope to love
him."
She answered sadly married him be.
cause knew not the strength Of love. was
but child. They laughed at my affection; !;
they called it childish fancy; they said il
was like the silver-tinged clouds of summer,
but fceting." Her voice trembled,
her slight frame quivercd with emotion.-
" Yes, was but child, and they treated me
as child. They lurcd me with golden bau.
blcs whose wOrthessness knew not. They
told me could not marry Charles Lawrence;
he was poor, it was madness to think about it.
But, said, love him. My father laughed,
and answered with trite prOverb, when
poverty comes in the door, love flies out Of the
window 20, NOT said, love clasps love
the closer Live longer and grow wiser,
Annie he replied, coldly. Poverty is the
dark magician, whose wand changes love into
WEAKNESS, disgust--nay, even dislike. Im.
possible; believe it not. That is the creed
Of the money grasping world, but not of the
loving human heart 'HushP you arc silly
girl, my child. have wOmara,s heart, nv
father, l said, bursting into passionate tit Of
weeping. Wen not discuss the matter any
longer that is enOugh-gOr and l went to
my room to weep, oh what bitter tears
Day by day was urged to do what every
feeling in my heart protested against. The
horrors of poverty were held before my gaze
its repinings, its sacrifices, its tolls, its hope.
less despair. was told to contrast il with
the charms Of wealth, with its ease, its luxury,
its importance. listened, l wavered, and
then l consented. l was . mere child-a
weak child. I had not sounded the depths Of
my heart knew not the love Of which Il
was capable. married. was surrounded
by wealth. At first was dazzled, amazed.
1t seemed as If some generous fairy went be-
fore me to pour gems and gold upon my path.
Possession sickcned into safety. had rich
furniture. costly plate, and rich equipage.-