The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-09-18

she made every eye ill yet her color rose
not, and the softening influence of the
sweet sounds never seemed to touch the
musician.
To me, this torturing coldness became,
at length, almost maddenlng. 1 dared
not speak my love, for her wit was often
sarcastic, and I dreaded a singing re-
fusal
One evening, shall ever forget it |
found her at home, alone. 1t was rare
privilege, and | was tempted to give voice
to the love filing my soul The piano
stood open, and | took the vacant stool.
"Do you play, Mr.. Lee 7" she asked.
"Only by ear. Shall I sing for you ?"
She left her seat and came slowly to
the instrument. Leaning upon it and
facing me, she said quietly, eyes, sing +"
[ remembered an old fashioned love
song that | found amongst my mothers
music, and, after a simple symphony, be-
gan to sing. My whole heart went forth
with the tender words, and | sang fer
vently, passionately. My eyes were fixed
on her face, and, for the first time, read
deep feeling there. Paler she could not
be bat the full lips became ashy white !;
the large eyes dilated with some deep ter
ror or horror and the whole frame shook
with violent emotion. flushed the first
verse before she spoke; then in hoarse
whisper she said:
"Stop do not sing any more. Stop for
PHYS sake"
Clasping her hands together she stcod
erect, and then fell forward upon her face.
l sprang to raise her, bnt she slowly rose
herself, motioning me back. Staggering
to chair, she beckoned me to come near
her. | took low seat at her side.
"You love me-" she said, in low
voice. 81 have known it for long time,
and [ have earnestly tried to chill your
unhappy passion. can never be your
wife can never, never love you. You
are wrong to let that look of grief come on
your face. Rather thank God that | am
frank with you"
ain time-"I began.
"Never Yet I will trust you as a
friend, for I know you are good and no.
bic. l will tell you the story of my life.
Two short years ago, i was the merriest,
brightest girl of my circle of friends then
[ loved -"
Her voice became firm again but oh =!
the wailing agony that. shone up in her
eyes.
II cannot trust myself to speak of Che
man [ loved" she continued, ''but gave
him all the passionate devotion of a young,
warm heart More, more! Oh how
loved that man Lawrence Lawrence
Her figure rocked back and forth, and
her hands clenched with her terrible
passion.
ave were married privately, for he
was, he said, very poor, and | knew my
father would not consent to our marriage i;
SO we were to wait till was of age before
we owned our love to him. One night,
one terrible night, We were together, and
he was singing to me, singing the song
you sang just now, when through the low
window came a crowd of men, officers of
the law, seeking my Observation-Disclosures
rlOus forqer, who had escaped tr0' he
law in his native city, after murderin. MS
own brother, whose pame he had forged
: to the amount Of his whole fortune He
resisted the men, fought desperately and
was shot dead before my face-falling at
, my feet-his death glance fastened upon
: me"
After awhile she resumed.
"Go leave me now. But when you
hear of Leonore Bache, the cold unfeel-
, ing girl, shut up her secret in your heart
6 and pity her."
tried to speak bnt she Only repeated,
I, "Go go w And [ left her.
The next day ! called. She was gone.
One year later, l saw in the paper an
obituary notice of my beautiful idol, and
| knew that the disease which carried her
:, to the grave was brought on by the con-
y cealed fire, the broken heart hidden by
' the face 'CoLD AS MARBLE.
Il