The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-31

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that contryed it was Jasper's father, and he
did it partly for love of me-let us repect his
memory, and forget all else. Suffice it to say,
he it was that had managed to convince Gilbert
| was false, vile, shameless he offered such
such proofs that Gilbert was forced to believe
them. And thus we two were wrecked for life.
Now you understand why Gilbert said: Trust
and Hope putting such warning emphasis
upon Trust For, not trusting, we lost hope,
and drained the cup of despair. Ruined by
pride, Ruth. Yes, ruined. His ambitious soul
withered and shrunk within him he had moth
ing to strive for, and he ceased to struggle, be-
coming the moody recluse, with a sad present,
bitter past and clouded future He, that
with me by his side would have had the world
at his beck, and the fortunes of the world with
in the sweep of his handl And ], so capable
of affection, so competent to mount with him,
l forsooth shrowded myself in pride, and led
the fashions-led the fashions ha, ha how
bitter thought it is, that l, who had aspired
to be Queen of hearts, should have been com
PEELED TO content myself with being Queen of
ton, and Empress of the modes! And became
so, not to please myself but to gall him--to
show him that l could do without him, and
stand alone. All, his was far the nobler course,
Ruth, and mine far the wretchedest of any
swell, need not dwell upon it. Ny hus-
band loved me, and did all he could to make
me happy, but had no heart till Jasper came.
When felt his wee hand on my breast, and his
wee face cuddled close to mine, / was saved. /
had still something to love and to live for, else
| should have died miserably. And then, soon
AFTER my husband died, telling me that what he
had done was for love of me, but would not
hear him condemn himself for our ehilds sake.
Still | might have been happy, Ruth, but
for my pride. When Jasper's father died, Gill
bert sent old Richard to me-he was married
| then, to your mOther-to implore my forgive
ness I; to be permitted only once to see me,
and tell me how much he had suffered, how
much and how cruelty he had been deceived
/ was aware, before that that my husband must
have practiced some deceit, but that made no
difference. / scorned him, and would not listen
to Richard, though the faithful old soul implored
me. l hated Gilbert too much then, for chafed
under the aching consciousness of what void
he had caused in my heart, and the black
shadow he had thrown over my life. knew
nothing of him, would know nothing of him,
save where he lived and, Ruth, one motive of
my sending Jasper to Mr.. Classics was, that
my lovely boy might be a taunt to your father,
| and remind him constantly of the woman he
had wronged. guessed not the future, then,
the future l so rejoice in now, my hearts dar-
| ling. l did not even know he had a child. |
| only knew that there he was, and that there he
would see my handsome son, and hoped the
| sight would be an eternal goad and torture to
him. See, Ruth, how God turns our wicked
| purposes into instruments wherewith we shall
work out our best good. For this reason also
moved in society, its proudest, its wretchedest,
content if now and then he might read my name
at the head of fashionable intelligence, and be
reminded of what he had lost. Oh the agony
lCff hat / l. Al
the daughter of the man who had put such
foul wrong upon me, the man whom / so hated
had won my son, my pride, my darling, from
me. Then l knew that Gilbert was revenged,
and that the keenest shafts had aimed at him
were returning upon me with two-fold force,
newly barbed and newly envenomed. Oh Ruth,
the agony of that moment / could not Weld
dtsrecI not 1t would have killed me- then
must go on and conquer my son, as had con-
quered all else. / saw the alternative, knew
that he would hate me, but calmly and DELHI
erately resolved that it was better to be hated
by all whom loved, than to be humbled before
all whom l hated. And so / drove Jasper
from me, and murdered myself, in trying to
crush your father, and break your own heart"
| "Poor mother!" said Ruth with a compass
sionate voice, and tenderly putting her arm
about Mrs. Fleming's neck, poor mother you
have suffered more than any of u.s."
But, oh, Ruth, Ruth, answered Mrs Elem
ing, growing pale, " fear, l so much fear, that
| am not yet enough punished, that / have not
yet enough suffered"
oh, yes, more than enough, mother. See
how the moon makes the little anchor-twigs to
shine and glisten Dear anchor Thou hast
saved my heart from breaking often give also
to my mother more confidence, and teach her
how her daughter loves her F"
| A little pause followed this pretty heather
prayer of Ruth's, and then she resumed, reflect
| lively:
| Mother, do you not think that this little
symbol here has been to Jasper as much
| friend and an amulet as it has been to me? Did
not God inspire him to carve it here, that, when
sorrow and pain were conquered by us, at last
we should be reminded that His Providence su.
pervised us through all, and that He was watch
ing over us as much in the dark hour of despair
when we thought He had forgotten us, as in the
bright hour of eliminating bliss, when we are
too apt TO forget Him ~
Mrs. Fleming did not reply but clasped
Ruth tightly in her arms. They sat there, while
the calm moon shone overhead, and the
mocker sang his liveliest vespers; sat there,
communing with their own thoughts, fearful,
yet cheerful. Then, at last they rose to go to
the house, for it was late, and had already moved
on'some steps, when they heard quick tread
in the bushes behind them, and turning, saw a
tall man approach the trysting tree, without
looking towards them, and fling himself upon
his knees before it, as, by Italian roadsides the
traveller sees the peasant kneel before Madon-
mas shrine. He was tall man, they could
see, as they stood there, in silence and trem-
bling-a tall man, young and travel-stained,
broad and strong, bearded to his waist, and
bronzed to his brow. He knelt there before the
anchor; not seeing them, not thinking of aught,
perhaps, save that craven anchor and its augury;
knelt, rose, kissed it, and knott again. Ruth
was about to spring forward, trembling, eager,
but her mother held her firmly back, and wits
pered in her ear:
son who was lost, and whom God has given
back to me again but we must not disturb him
noc."
throbbing hearts, looking through their tears at
that lost Jasper, who was dead to them, but
now lived again; the long absent one; the des-
paired of; the loved loved Jasper-watched
him at his prayers.
Aye, that is what he kneels for; that is what
he has come to Sorrow sin, grief, despair, the
present aspect of horrible death, all had failed
to bring him to this, this to which perfected hap.
piness now compelled him.
At lastl
Humbled now art thou, oh Jasper All the
proud egoism of woe that thou vert 50 blatant
about, is put to shame, and vanishes, we hope
forever, perhaps with suspicious smell of sui
phur in its train. Continue to cast it behind
thee, this dismal Satan that has haunted thee
cast it behind thee, for the bread it offered thee
was the veriest stone of any,
Apage Sathanasl
Cast it behind thee, this impatient rebellious