Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-08


took place shortly before death hurried away the
mother and the child whom she had made the
companion of her wanderngs. The subject is
painful one, but the writer describes so teellngly
and truthfully the selfinhicted misery of Case
and his partner in guilt, that we reproduce hi
narrative:-
'What though the spicy breezes
Blow soft Ger Ceylon's Isle,
Though every prospect pieases,
And only man is vle?"
Curious enough, l was just repeating this
stanza when my new acquaintance called 1ol
me had met him while on business visit
to Oeylon, as oountryman OF mine, ana was
pleased with the opportunity that afforded me
of more intimate personal knowledge.
| thought myself fortunate in falling in Will
so agreeable a gentleman, and considered his
face and manners peculiarly refined. On oul
second meeting noticed singular restessness
OF the handsome dark eyes, an irritable bitter
ness of the lips, and a disposition to be constant
lly on the move, shown in the tapping OF llgh'
bamboo cane, or the motion of the foot or hand
These things, however, did not strike me a:
singular at the time, bat coupled with what
afterwards learned, was evidence that the man
felt-already felt-that gnawng OF the worm
thst never dies
One forenoon we left little seaport town
where | was soiournng and rode short dis
tance into the interior of the gorgeous Island
Most glorious were the surroundings on every
hand. With prodigality quite undreamed ol
by inhabitants of colder cline, nature had
showered her most exquisite floral gifts every
where. Trees loaded with sweet smelling flow
ers. their intense colors veing with the foliage
Of richer green, from out of which they smiled
tall cactus plants, with crimson, goblet shaped
blossoms lilies, gorgeous in the queenly unfold
ing of form and color-everyth rich, lavish
wonderful meet our eyes, feasted to fullness with
this tropical luyuriance. :,
"Tbat is my house." said my new friend
pointing to low w-roofed cottage, surrounded BY
wide verandah, from whose clinging vines
sweet odors were flung upon the soft atmosphere
but from the moment the words were utter
ed his sociability departed.
Within the cottage enclosure were walks
bowers and fountains. Chaste statuary was dis
persed over the grounds with the most charming
effect. The house seemed almost fairy struc
ture. rising in the midst of flowers aud foliage
And the man who sat beside me, whose smile
mounted no higher than his lips-the dreamy
tar.loooking discomfort in his eye growing every
moment more perceptible-was the owner o.
this Eden.li like home.
We were met on the threshold by lovely
child of some eleven summers. Her hair hung il
curls. Her eyes particularly lustrous yet mourn
ful in beauty, and on the young brow | seemec
TO see a something's shadow OF sadness-ar
unchildlike quiet, as she greeted my new friend
Dressed in pure white, she gded in before Us
and to her was left the duty of entertaining me
while Mr.. c., excusing himself in the remark
that sickness necessarily called him away, for q
half hour or so, left the room.
SIS YOUR mother very unwell z" | asked of the
little girl, who, with those shallow-tilled eyes OF
hers was regarding me gently, but attentivsly',
"Yes sir mamma has been sick long time,
replied she, dropping her eyes, while her lips
trembed.
"Did You come from America" she asked
timidly, after a long silence.
"Yes my dear Do you know anything OF
that country?" returned growing more ano
more pleased with her expressive face
"Onlv that mamma came from there, and
think" she added hesitatiDgly, "that | did. But
Mr.. @. will never let Inc talk about it"
"Are you then not the little daughter of Mr.
C?n asked somewhat astonshed.
81 am my mothers daughter" answered the
child. with grave dignity in one so young
and o minute after she arose and quietly lef
the room
sat watching her white robes fitting through
the long shady walk opposite my window, anc
knew that the child brooded over some darR
sorrow. her eyes We're filled with tears.
Why was it, questioned myself that painful
thought took possession of me as | sat there p
1t seemed as if were sojourning in an enchant'
ed spot. and that some horror was suddenly to
break upon me.
At my side, nearly covering beautiful table
of letter wood, were several costly gift books
| took them carefully, for have reverence tol
books-and turning to the fly leaf of a splendidly
bound copy of Shakespeare, read
''To Mary Frances F., from her devoted
husband-Henry E. F."
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran from vein
to vein. Ny thoughts seemed para!yzed. The
ruth had burst upon me with such suddenness
that the blood rushed with shock to my heart
l knew Henry E. =, had known him
intimately for years. He was friend towards
whom all my sympathies had been drawn, fol
he had seen such sorrow as makes the heart
grow old before its time.
His wife, whom he loved, had deserted HIM
She had taken with her his only child. She
had desolated a household; and forgetting hon
or, shame, everything that pertains to virtue
and to God, had fled from the country with the
man whose arts had won her wanton love.
How could remain under this roof that now
seemed accursed? How meet the destroyer o.
virtue--the fiend who had reveled in such &
conquest9
could only think of the evil they had done
not what they might suffer through the tor
tnra of remorSe. 1t was some time before the
seducer came into the room where still So