Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-09-15
The Proud Heart Humbled.

The March night had darkcncd down
upon the little New England village OF
Ashdalc. 1t was a pretty place in sum-
mcr, lying between two hills. ,on whose
SUBMITS the ash trees lifted their green
arms to the sky. all the long bright
days. as if imploring bcncdiction, or
spread them out lovingly over the white
houses nestled round the one church in
the vale below.
But tonight it wore different as
pcct. y storm was upon the hills
\ little snow and hail were borne up
on its wings, but not much. Chiefly
it was the force of the rushing winds;
shaking the lcaiicss ash trees; hurling
against closed windows; swinging the
bell in the old church tower. till it
gave forth, now and then, a dirge-likc
peal, as If the doad were tolling their
own rcquiems.
Many homes there were where the
wild scene without seemed but to
heightcn. by the force of contrast, the
blessed calm within-homes where
smiling infants slept warm and still,
through the twilight. in the soft hush
of mother bosoms, and happy chill
drcn gathered round the knee OF father
or grandsire, 10 hear again some
simple story; or thoughtful ones look
eel into the fire, and fashioned from
tho embers brave castles, in which they
were to dwell in the coming time. with.
over all, the sunshine OF youth and
hope. Twenty years from now they
would look into the cmbcrs again, and
see those fair castles, in which they
had never come to abide, with ruined
windows and blackened walls
"The twilight Of memory over all,
And the silence OF death within"
But in one house no stories were
told to gladly listening ears-no soft
evening hymn hushcd slumbering
babes to rest; no childrcns' eager eyes
looked in the cmbers. 1t was the
stateliest house, by far, III the little
village; lofty mansion, cleaning
white in the trees, with the roof sup
ported by massive pillars. No where
did the evening fire burn brighter, but
into it looked two old people, worn and
sorrowful, with the shadows of grief
and time upon their shrivcled faces /;
two who had forgotten, long ago, their
youths fair castles who looked back
over waste fields Of memory, where
not even setting sun rays gilded the
monuments built to their dead hopes.
They sat there silently. They had
sat silently ever since the darkness
gathered. The lofty, well furnished
room was lighted only by the wood
fires glow, and in the corners strange
shadows seemed to gather bcckoning
hands and white brows cleaning
Spcctrally through the darkness. To-
ward them, now and then, the wife
looked with anxious, searching gaze;
then turned back again towards the
fire, and claspcd her hands over the
heart that had learned through many
trials the hard lesson of patience.
Judge Howard was stern. sclf-con-
ccitcd man. In his native town, where
he had passed all his life. none stood
higher in public esteem. Towards
the poor he was liberal; towards hi,
neighbors just and friendly; yet, fol
all that he was a hard man, whose
will was iron, whose habits wcr,
granite. His wife had come to know
this, even in her honeymoon. Tho
knowledge was indorscd by her sad
waiting face, her restrained manners.
His daughter Caroline. his onl,
child, had learned it early, and hel
father became to her almost as mucl
an object of fear rs of tenderness.
And yet h, loved those two with {
strength weaker nature could not have
fathomed. When his child was frs
put into his arms. when her frail
helpless hands groped blindly at hi
own, lac felt the strong thrill OF father
love come over him. For the momen
it swellel his soul, irradiated his face
flooded his heart, but did not perma
ncntly change or soften his nature
As she grew up towards womanhood
and her bright head glancing in hi
path was the faircst sight earth held
her ringing voice the sweetest music
he never gratilicd her whims, nor al
ways yielded to her reasonable wishes
At length love came to her. Sh,
gave her heart TO one whose fathe
Judge Howard had hated. Jane,
lIuntley and he had been young to
gether, and feud had arisen betwcel
them, which Rufus Howard's stern ma
ture allowed neither forget nor forgive
lie had yet to learn the lesson, holie
than philosophy, loftier than all tn
teachings of scers and sagcs, the lessor
our Saviour lived, wrought, aye, an,
died To teach, of forgivness to our en-
lemieS; prayer for those who have des
pitcfully used us and prosecuted us
Ills iormer enemy was now dead, bu
not so the Judges hate. 1t had beer
transmitted, like real estate, to til
dead mans heir; and so he forbade hi
daughter to marry him, and sternl.
babe her choose between parents an'
lover. She inherited her fathers strong
will, and she put her hand in Richar'
lluntley's and went forth; she woul'
not have been her fathers child if sh
had not-without a tear.
From that time. for ten years, he
name had been a forbidden word.--
Letters she had written at first durin,
her banishmcnt-but they had bee
sent back unopened. AMI for years n
voice or token had come to tell wheth
er she was living or dead. Therefor
the mother looked shuddcringly int
fha ShalO,V- epp.aI corpo,s ~, I'll,