Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-26
CLEVELAND WEDNESDAY MORNING. JANUARY 26. 1859

memories, never, never to be blOtted out this
side the gate of DEATH -t.-
God forgive me, if in my feelings of despera-
ton, hard, unkind thoughts towards the euing
took Christian charity from my soul could
only think of the evil they had done-not what
they might suffer through the tortures of re-
morse. 1t was some time before the seducer
came into the room where sat with the child,
determined to meet him once more before left
the house.
o how guilty how heart stricken his ap-
Pearance Remorse sat on his forehead-lOoked
out from his eyes-spoke when he was silent
"Will you come to dinner 9" he asked
hesitated. Should Partake of his hospi-
taHty; the hospitality of one of those fends in
human shape whose steps take hold on hell! /
knew his guilt-why delay to declare it, Why
not at once, in burning words upbraid him for
his villany, and flee as from pestience mis- sin
cursed house! The man noticed my hesitation.
He could not, Of course, .interpretits cause. As
he repeated his request, the look of distress
upon his face, exciting feeling of pity, which
for the moment slightly disarmed my resent
ment, and under the influence of this feeling,
almost unconsciously passed into the dining
room.
"I am sorry little Nelly's mamma" q was
glad he did not dare to use the sacred name of
wife (-'is not able to sit down with us, he said
"a 1t is many months since we have had her pres
| ence at our meals She is suffering from the
effects of slow fever induced by the climate"
he added, gravely, as he motioned me to a seat
before him.
The table glittered with silver plate Obe-
dent servants brought on the most costly
servers, delicacies such as had never seen be-
fore. ... ~
But, the skeleton sat at the feast
7 II
host ate hasGily-almost carelessly-waiting
upon me with many abrupt starts and apollo
gies. @
Wine came. He drank freely Soon he sent
the little girl and the servants from the room,
and seemed striving to nerve himself to conver-
| sation: -s --r
You are from city, believe" he
! said, nervously.
l answered in the affirmative
Did you ever know gentleman there by
the name-of H. Z. F-!" @ .....
al knew him, sir" l said looking the man
sternIy in the face, "and knew him also as a
ruined, heart broken man." --
With an ejaculation of anguish he put his
handkerchief to his eyes. It would have seemed
hypocritieal, but the suffering on his face was
unmistakable ...
Perhaps you have suspected, them '--he be-
gan in quiveriug tone.
Not calmly, but with the words of an accuser,
| told him what had seen, and thought, and
felt l-a
Sir,'' said he, in tones which / shall never
| forget, cit | have sinned, God in Heaven knows
| have suffered; and if in F.'s Bereavement he
has cursed me, that curse is fearfully fulfilled
Poor Mary is dying-has been dying for
months, and l have known it. 1t has been for
me to see the falling step, the dimming eye; it
is for me, now, TO see the terrible struggles of
her woru-out frame it is for me tollsten to
her language of remorse, that sometimes al
most drives me mad Yes, mad-mad- mad, ("
he said in frenzy, rising and crossing the floor
with long, hasty strides. Then burying his
face in his hands, he exclaimed" Too late
/ too late have repented" There was a long
panion. Her moral sensibilities become more
and more acute as she fails in strength, so that
she reprOsches herself constantly"
a weary, mournful sigh broke from his lips,
as if his heart would break.
"Oh! if he knew" he exclaimed again,
"if he knew how bitter penalty she is pay
ing for the outrage she has committed upon
him, he would pity her-and if it could be, tor
give" 81.
Will you see her, sir %
shrank from the very thought.
f "She has asked for you, sir; do not deny hel
request. Hearing that you came from America
she entreated me to bring you to her. l prom
, sed that l would. >
J II will go, then"
Up the cool, wide, matted stairs he led ms
into chamber oriental in its beautiful furnish
. ing, its chaste magnifcence.
, There, half-reclining in wide, easy chair
. costly shawl of lace thrown over her attenuate
# shoulders; the rich dressing gown, inging an
followed to the ravages sickness had made; he
thin, transparent fingers ,clasped and interclasp
q ed; sat one whose great beauty and once gentl
2 gifts had made the light and lOveliness of a sa
o cred home. .
f But noD.-O pity pity!
4 The eyes only retained their lustTe; they wer
wofulIy sunken. The blazing fire kindled q
70 the vitals, burned upon her sharPened cheeks
10 burned more fiercely, more hotly as she locke
= upon my face could think no more of ar
ger-I could only say to myself
40 how sorry am for your
;s She knew probably, by her husband manner
a that was aware of their circumstances.
70 Her first question was,
"Are you going back to America, Siri'
oil The hollow voice startled me. / seemed
es see an open sepulchre.
n told her that it was not my intention to IT
turn at present.
~ 40 then, who will take my little child bac
~ to her father !" she Cried the tears falling.
am dying, and she must go back to him 1t
"A the only reparation / can make-and lit
enough, o little enough for the bitter wrong
of have done them"
,d 81 hoped, Sir, you might see him." she adde
8 moment after, checking her sobs; 'f hope
f-you might tell him that his image is before m
from morning till night, as know he must haV
i i Il n I,
: him my story--warn, o, warn everybody. TIE
him 1 have suffered through the long, Ion
10 hours these many weary years ah, God Onl
SO knows how deeply"
IL "Mary, you must control your feelings" sal
u my host, gently. -....-.. ...-
o5d ''Let me say that since left my home hav
- not seen single hour of happiness. 1t was a
ways to come-always Just ahead-and here
n what has eome-the grave is just opening and
al must 90 to Judgment. o, how bitterly have
an paid for my sin. Forgive me-0, my God
a. forgive"
It was solemn hour, that which spent
lie that dying penitent. Prayer she listened to-
: she did not seem to join-or, if she did she ga'
20 no outward sign. Remorse bad worn away a
a. her beauty, even more than illness. She lookt
to the future with despairing kind of hope, al
cd but feeble faith. 1-aa f-. --r. p iii H
- "Resder, the misguided woman of Ceylon, Ii
in beneath the stately branches of the Palm-tre
he Her sweet child never met her father, in her n
SIS tive land. She sleeps under the troubled waite
# | of the great wide sea. Where the betrayer wa
IN ders cannot tell, but wherever it is, there
ds no peace for him. How often rings that houo
Ior voice in my ear-"Tell him my story! War
art o warn everybody" l"
7 go All ! it is true, that so certainly as the wi
m forsakes the duty that she has with sacred voV