The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-05-16

0' '"e ierisI'eSs uhuet'Curfeht-tLOre nNe
quiet, undemons ra,ive giant than n
noisy, passionate. hot Drained little dwarf.
Love will sacrifice Itself for the happiness
OF the beloved ohject-sepsralion, nay,
even death, cannot end it's life. An ever
burning lamp in the unseen nnerrnost Of
the heart, It's very existence is often un.
known save to The vestsl soul which trims
and watches il.
Stella Stella loved Of my youth and
age, lost forever here. but garnered up
for ne among the gems of heaven, dost
thou know now, in that bright sphere To
which the angels bore thee long ago, how
well loved thee!
pause and Start, TIE moon, falling
through my study window, lights up the
'mi'!"r upon the wall, and reveals to me
my own reflection. see an old man,
gray haired and care'worn; not feeble or
d'crepid yet, but past the blessed aye OF
sentiment and ro'nsnce-rhe spring and
summer time, which Byron calls ",he
passionate par, Of life" A fitting person
truly, to "iite and speaN Of Iove--"a
proper hero for love tale" Yet l. Mark
Ashford, sitting here in INV lonely study,
with law books piled alou, mo, with
nothing near which does not speak of drv
business and money transactions, couId
write love tale from the memories Of
my o.d heart, which might put to shame
tue records IN the lives Of younger men.
on whom the world looks AS heroes.
Come, old goose quill, there are no briefs
or deeds upon the desk-there is no case
Tor you TO draw up TO night Doe vs. Roe
can lay over until to morrow-iel me use
you for myself once; open for me the
closed tornls OF The past, and record ;he
dead feelings snd actions which time has
buried there. Stella, hrighi star of nv
ooyho"d! how s~eetly 70 rpicturc seems
To smile upon that autumn day when |
first met YOU. and when Won CAV. ne
your soft hand SO frankly, and called me
Cousin Mark for the frs, time.
She WAS very beautiful, no, ONLY to NV
own eyes, but 10 those Of every one who
gazed upon her; but did no, love her
tor her beauty only, it was her heart aud
soul which won me. IIeaven knows that
if every charm had vanished from her
face and form, she would still have been
as precious to me- Before she came To-
dwell among us, ! had known lha; she
WAS tetrc;hed to another, and she was
too pure and frank to make secret OF
the tact. She spoke Of Edward Warlng
an officer in the navy, aud VII" was a;
that time absent on three years crsise)
with ;he simple confidence Of child, and
would run joyousiy to tell us Of the re-
ceipt os letter frem her absen, lover; :;
aud vet, despite this knowledge, despite
the fact that she regarded me almost IA a
brother. the love / lei, for her grew.
gsIns, NY will. 10 be the master passion
Of my soul. | never hrearhed one word
Of lis intensity to living mortal; and she
lu,Ie knew, rs she leGnt in sisrerly conf
dence upon my arm. that Vas PRAYING
all the while FOR strength to hide my love
from hei sweet, truthful eyes.
Time passed on. snd the hour of Ell
ward Warng's return drew nigh. heard
from my sister that the day for the wed
ding wasalread, fixed upon-s"on visions
OF white satin and orange flowers were
often reveaied 10 me lhrnngh an accid.n
tally opened window, and knew that
beneath busy fingers and ily:ng need es,
StaIla's bridal dress vas growing TO per
lection Yet now, for the first time since
i hal known her, Stella WAS SD aid all
strscred for hours she would sit alone
watching the sky, or looking into the far
distance with something like tear upon
her face. None seem TO see the alteration
save my self; but a lovers eyes are far
seeing, and had watched her face SO
long and so fondIy. Going to her one
day, ss she fingered upon the piazza, |
spoke OF this sadness, and asked her, rs n
brother might, its cause.
Mark, You will laugh at me il tell
you, she replied. 1t is very foorish. and
! am ashamed 10 speak Of it. ii nave
had terrible dream. cousin, and can
not shake OF its influence
a dream Tell il 10 me, Stella, lha,
! may interpret it, said, IaughingIy.-
Dreams, always go 10y coutrsries. you
know n terrible dream will certainly
bring the best Of good fortune TO the
dreamer
Stella shook her head Il visa that
could think so,' she said. i know that
| AIN very childish, but since that dream.
my presenliments Of evil have been AL
most more than ] can bear. fear-ob |!
| fear, Mark, that shall never see Ell
ward again She buried her face in her
hands tor one moment, aud then raised
IL again, covered with tears. Il dreamt
that we were walking together in wood.
she SAID. speaking in a Iow, trrmulou,
tone--.you and your sister, and Edward
and land that at turning in the path
We came suddenly to the bank Of river:
a willow tree bent over the water, and
close beside it little boat WAS tied. We
we're laughing and talking merrily, when
suddenly felt my blood curding 10 my
veins. and knew that something unearthIy
was at my side. ! turned With shud.
der, and saw huge black thirg. will,
wiogs, holding long lance in bis skele
ton hand. "A good place to make a