The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-04-27

l ventnred to be wise, with wise men, and
looked ahead with perfect confidence to
happiness and prosperity. There was
nothing so high as to be beyond my reach,
and nothing good that lay SO low that |
could not get it. Oh, it is ennoblng to
love and be loved! 1t is something more
potent in mans eye to be loved by a
woman, than the sceptre of kings or the
magic lamp Of Aladdin. Aladdin, indeed
among I'll the palaces built in the night
time for him, not one is there so beaut-
ful and grand as the castle IN the air I
built for my Bella and myself.
But-a thief stole into my heart, and
bore away its happiness. 1t made only
slow progress-for | resisted all [ could
but its progress was, nevertheless, sure.
That thief! It's my ghost, haunting me
wherever [ go and whatever I do 1T will
come to me night and day. When try
to be good, it holds me back; and when
want to be bad, 1t helps me along. With
spectral hand it beckons me on to misery
and [ cannot help but follow though
know all the while, as it leads the way,
where it is taking me. I am powerless
in the grasp Of my tormentor-I suppose
l shall always be-ah, me!
That thief, my ghost, is-Prcmonition.
1t came to me and whispered, with low
ing arm about my neck: 'Frhom Thorn
pson, you will never marry Bella Lena
is yours for the asking; secure her ere
another does, and happiness is yours
was sorry the pennys head was up
when | made the resolution. thought
at last my love for Bella was all SUPPOSE
ton, while my love for Lena was deep,
and seated, and ever dying. o Bella!
Bella! had you only been cruel. and re
fused me for awhile, all might have been
well. Bnt you loved me much, too much
and yielded 70 my entreaty too easily.
l would watch for Lena every night
when Bella sat by me. l would be cold
and listless in Bella's company, because |
worshipped Lena, untiI--until dear Bella
became an object more of pity and sor-
row than of love. and | felt that | could
not marry her. And Lena fitted by me
just as calm and dignifed. but | fancicd
there was a sorrow deep at heart, because
she thought | would not marry her,
Poor Lena! Il would say with sigh for
her and for Bella, poor Lena and poor
me! And oh, how for her love my he,rt
would beat, and with sort Of brotherIy
love for Bella! L 7ursed my haste in
asking for the hand of Bella! [ cursed
at last-Heaven forgive lne-poor Bella
herself, that she yielded to me so easily,
and that she was s. glad too. And SO
soon--too soon, the gilileless, Innocent,
confding Bella grew hateful to ne, ard
she mourned over my GOODNESS, though
she knew not what it meant.
Fate ruled it so. 1t was ordained that
l should marry Lena, and l wanted to
to marry her. Signs innumerable told
me so; and I believed in signs. Premo-
milton said so; and Premonit.on was a
power ruling me in the present and mark
ing out my future.
Time passed on, and every day Lena
grew dearer, and poor Bella more hate
full. Bella, with her love and caresses
was sad, but she knew not what for; on
" that was cold while Lena looked mp
on me with wondering, inquiring chances
and trembled, | thought with hope. as
she solved the meaning Of my worship at
distance; for she dared not encourage
me to avow my love, when she knew |
had pledged myself to Bella, and that
BelIa's whole soul was wrapped up in
me. Time passed on; and premonition
-horrid ghost urged me on to speak
to Lena, and ask her to marry me, and
tell poor Bella the truth, aud nothing Dot
the truth. Time passed on; and Oh
what misery poor Thomas Thompson en-
dured, when he thought how Bella would
mourn when he told her all that he
could not love her, and therefore could
not marry her, and that he loved her SIS.
ter-the proud, queen-like Lena-and
would marry her if he could!
o Premonition But enough, my
ghost. I'll not abuse thee or it; for J.
and | alone, was to blame.
1t was a moonlight night. Dowr
through the window came the moons rays
and they lay upon the carpet, and they
PLAYED around the heads of Lena and
and they suffused the wood, and the hill
and the valley, and waterfall, and tn
plain, with hue as yellow and rich a
gold.
Lena and L! Yes. for we sat togethe
in the house of the Smiths. and there wa