Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-21

WRITTEN FOR THE STAR
THE RROkEN TEIESIOPE


rank !uNuriance of foliage, form great natu-
raj avisry. where the mOcking- birds may sing,
with al the variety OF poem, their long
cantas and trills. to the deep bass of the re
Sounding w""als. The brilliant wsy-sdes, with
their gorgeous dresses Of every wild foyer-tbe
rose, the lily Of the valley. and a hundred
others, i"rcIbly remind US of the lost Eden
The silver bands of water unrOll themselves Ia
the gaze "f pure and uncluuded sky which
th"ngh IL has lost its gems of the night wouIj
seem to have i"und them again in the diamonds
Ut tho streams. The imagination grows will
snI confused, rs the varied sounds of hidden
nature strike upon the ear. the singing of
hIriS, the murmuring Of the winds the great
trees rust!inS their crcs:s. and the mysterious
hum ot the woods. Fancy finds matter for
speculation Shd Poeiical research. in the many
Indian mounds and sepulchrcs scattered
around Ia this grave, with its line Of pearly
shells. the beautiful legacies of many wears
RESIDES some WarlIkc brave till the Great Shirt
may take him to- the favored hunting grounds
one who perhaps once male his name the by-
word OF daring and glory amongst his tribe.
IL was near this place, on the shore of a little
inlet OF the bake. that a family with which
Vas most intimate dWclt. The residence WAS n
most beautiful country scat. / spent the sum
mer there, and found ii perfect garden It's
beautiful meadows and forests, unduiating in
the distance, lost themselves in the clouds cius-
teriug and eroWding about the setting sun
Numerous were the walks and woodland mathis
on the borders of which L so often cuIIed the
roses or gathered the boquets Of wild-fowers to
present to my kind hostess or her beautiful
daughter; and how greatly was nv Measure
enhanced when the fair girl would place nav
roses in her hair, where the long. dark braids
msde for them glossy drapery. amid which
they might hide their gentle bushes or when
she would cherish my modest violet and pale
lily on her pitying breast. -.
Gathering flowers and roamipg about the
my -
when. in my walks. found pleasant nook
would sometimes reperuse a few pages of nv
old college authors, or, when L was weary of
this, | would aniuse myself with my telescope
the valued and cherished gift of a dear friend.
With this instrument the incidents am about
to relate are intimately connected
Fresh from college. with slight knowledge
If astronomy. and love for the study of those
great mysteries of the planetary system. |
would amuse myself in the evenings for hours
AT time with my telescope. till the moments
would lmperccpubly pass away and the eve
ming would grow into midnight. had some
times fair companion, in the person of the
lovely daughter. To whom would make strange
but true comparisons between the bright Orbs
of the night and her own sparkling eyes But
was generally alone, either at the window Of
my chamber or on the broad balcony, hidden
amongst Its evergreen curtains of creeping roses
AMI honey -SucklCs.
[: was thus / amused myself one night, while
:be hours were already verging late My tele-
scope happened to bring within its range the
easement Of rural palace across the bay
was well acquainted with its proprietor: we
had been to college together. lie was a proud
but generally an agreeable and urbane gentle
maE. Himself wealthy and gifted. be had
espuHSed talented, accomplished. and beauti-
iui lady was well acquainted with her also,
Sul it was To admire her many virtues and
good qualities What WAS my astonishment.
therefore. and sorrow. t0 see a lady and gentle
Insn embracing. with the most endearinp man.
ner towards each other. My first impulse was
- turn tine instrument away; but was conf
dent had seen my friend wife, and that ;he
gentleman was in entire stranger 10 me With
The kn"Sledge that her husband was gone to
New Orleans, L knew not how To act if /
should net at all. My Indignation was aroused;
:" determined To write to him. | requested
han. BY letter, to return, giving him vague
hints. and praying him to call on me before
visiting his wife.
The next evening he was with me Ii was
late. and l sat reading. except when would
pause to listen to the soft voice uf my hOstcss's
daughter. aS IL Hoated from her chamber al,,,.,
tne gallery. III m0dUlHlionS low and sweet
She sang OK the infdeiity If CAV ladve, whose
l"rl had gone 20 Palestine. and she told how
the weary palmer hal come home after his
weary pilgrimage, exchanging his glorious sabre
for his humble staff and his harp She told
how he e1ne hnme only ~ find that all his
grief for It's loss. The romance was full of
sadness; and she sang il SO gently; and she
todd the brave KING hts sorrow tOuchingly
that 1 wept, and j thought of my absent and
unhappy friend II WAS late very late when
/ heard the tread Of horseman gaIloping up
the avenue leading to the house. As he emerged
from the gloom, 1 recognized my impatientIy
expected friend L hasteneI TO meet him. His
look was cold, and bis hand remained passively
III mine He accompanied me to my ROOM
without utterinS word or answering any of
my questions Hurt as I was by his cold de.
melnor, L silently pointed to a chair. lie seated
himself. For few moments there was n nause
lie sat gazing upon the carpet, aud felt myself
unable to disturb his reverie. Suddenly raising
his eyes 10 mine, hc gasped out, in hoarse
whisper, while the blood rushed to his face:
About bay wife '''
j; is a difficult task to relate TO an Injured
man The tale of bis own injuries / found it 81
bat proceeded, as briefly as possible To relate
To him sll / knew. lie sat for II +hOrt time
with his eyes fixed upon mine and silent. then
arose AMI Pleed tue room, and finally muttered
between his teeth
" here j. the telescope" ,"
drew ~ from my desk and handed il 70
him Taking it, he advanced to the window
and quietly arranged it. / saw his intention
There was light in his room. and the instru-
uIent Wa directed thither Several moments
passed, and he still stood gazing at the window
n though irTesolgte what TO do. Suddenly
turning around, he rushed from the room In
mOuIcnt his horses huOfs were cIatteripr ON
the pavement, and the wild horseman was i'm
mediateiy lost in the gloom Greatly disturbed.
L kne" not ho" tO act. knew not what deeds
the man might enact, IN his fury. was salts
fed that he must have seen sometime Ia have
disturbed him 81 greatly, and to have moved
"He ~ usually cold snd proud
| approached the window and looked throuvb
the instrument They were there, ss 1 had
expected his wife and the stranger [ felt
that had done wrong to open the matter 50
sudlenly and directly To The infuriate husband
Trembling for what nigh he the effects Of my
II>hness. | determined tO watch the result
The few moments Of n short half hour seemed
Z" have been leng thened into The duration Of
80 mSny hours. But the two persons Of my
glass w'Te increased to three. / SAW the hus-
band raiSe his hand, armed with the heavy
riding whip which had before observed when
he was IN my chamber The stranger fell be-
meath the heavy blow and palpable was the
scene IL which l was witness. that I almost
thought heard the blow and the crash of tho
broken skull At this moment his wife threw