Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-01-07

For an instant she was blind with an
guish-her hands fell powerlessly at her
side, and she would have fallen, had n OF
her mother caught her in her arms
And shall we dwell upon the scene pre-
sented here? Shall we describe the in
expressible agony Ellen endured that
day, as she lay almost unconscious. up
on her couch? Oh ! shall we portray
the heavings of her bosom, as it swell
ed with emotions which threatened to
break her heart? Shall we tell of the
dcsolation of the once happy heart OF
Ellen Legare? Shall We picture the
gloom of her heart as the last ray OF
hope fled? No, no! Let the veil con-
ccal the scene.
Harry returned to his hopesFeseived
seyer again to copfde IN woman, and
TO strive to forget, partially at least, one
whom he believed had so basely deceiv-
ed him. That he might better succeed,
he determined to settle up his business
and leave forever the scenes of his child
hood.
Time rolled on, and the canker-worm
was faithful in its workings upon the
lovely Ellen Legarc. The deep: untold
anguish of her heart soon imprinted
in legible characters, upon the form OF
that fair girl, the sorrows within. The
rose upon her check had faded-the fire
had left her eye-the cheerful look
which beamed from her eountenancc
had fed, and all without that lovely one,
showed plainly the wreck within None,
save her pare nts, knew why this change
had taken place in Ellen; and all but
them supposed it to be the silent work
ings of disease. Of all this, Harry was
ignorant, for he acted and spoke as
though he never knew hcr-he never
breathed her name.
The summer waned-autumn passed
the SHOWS of winter fell and melted,
and spring in her beauty appeared 1t
was a calm and pleasant morning in May
that Harry set out, dictated by his
friendship for Charles Clarence, to bid
him adieu, prior to his leaving him, no
moro to see him in the flesh. AS Har-
ry rode along. he was moved at the songs
of the spring birds as mcrily they chant
ed their innocent lays. All, all, thought
he, seems happy, and l am not. Why?
And that single monosylable brought to
his mind the scenes which had been en-
acted upon the very spot he was so soon
again to tread upon. Gladly would he
have turned his horses head and fore
gone an adieu to his friends but mon
itor within whispered to him to pro-
:eed. e : :. :.
1t was an evening in May. Il was
calm evening-not breeze disturbed
the rich foliage of the trees. Oh there
was enough to be seen, above, beneath,
around, to fill the heart of the creature
with gratitude, sincere and deep. as he
the works of the Creator
The last rays of the setting sun were
gliding the Western horizon. On such
an evening as we have described, par
ty of some half dozen girls were enter
ing a boat to take pleasure ride upon
the bosom of the Shenandoah.
Il declare, Mary, we should have
brought beau or two, at least, with us
to row the boat said one of the party
Yes said another, Il am almost
afraid to go without 4 gentleman to
guide the boat"
'Fie, tie upon your cowardice. girls,
replied bright-eyed fair one, "a beau
with us to-day would only be in the
way. Have l not many time steered
this little bark? Come, Ellen, get in,
and then merrily DER the sea shall we
glide, light hearted and free The one
addressed entered the boat, and being
seated, after a few strokes Of the pad
die, the light bark was soon in the mid
die of the stream.
"There, now, Mary" said one of the
party, "drop your oar and let the boat
glide itself down the river to town. 4
valuable cargo, is it not, to set on shore?
Plenty of customers We shall find"
She was interrupted in her merry talk
by shrek at the other end of the bark,
where two of the girls were sitting. On
looking round, the girls had just time
to see the form of one Of the party sink
beneath the bosom of the water. Susan
Howard and another were sitting to-
gethcr engaged in low conversation.
'Ellen, why do you seem so very sad
to-day? know you are gloomy enough:
you have enough to make you sorrow
full: but why are you SO chccrless to-
day p Susan" replied the other as
she played involuntarily with a minia
ture which she held in her hand, 'tSu-
san, it was just two years ago, this even
ing, when Harry Huger placed this
miniature round my neck. Before an
other year believe l shall be no more.
l wish you to put this picture on my
heart, when in my coffin just then it
slipped through her hands, she grasped
after it, and in doing so lost her balance
and was precipitatei into the river.
In moment every one that was in
the boat filed with terror. Mechanical
ly they all looked towards the bank,
where single traveller was slowly wend-
ing his way along the road which ran
by the bank of the stream. The girls
would have called to him, but they were
petrifed with dismay. 1t would have
been unnecessary, for the movements of
the traveller evinced that he had wit
messed the unhappy accident. 1t was
the work of moment, only, for him to
turn his horses head, who at a single
bound placed himself at the margin of
the river. In moment the rider had
dismounted, and plunged into the wa