Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-02-22

now, torn up by the roots, its buds blighted,
| its fair blossom withered z
Blind, helpless idiot So the voice in my
heart had called me. Ayl but the blind
idiot could lore Who else could pour such
W nalth of tenderness on one who could never
gr)w old to his sightless eyes-whose brow
would always be smooth---whose hair would
never loose its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. eyes would
never grow dim, because forever he could
clothe her with the fair garment Of his fancy
And a new voice in my heart answered: :"
am worthy, for love" rt5 r...
With those words strength came to me,
and rose up, and stood erect in my dark
ened world, lonely and grief-stricken, but
still man. ... u
was not one to infict my sorrow upon
others. strove to go out into the world
with cheerful face. But listened with
trcmulous eagerness to every infection Of
LeOna's voice when she talked with my
brother. knew she must love him; but
there was curious fascination in watching
how this passion would spring up in her pure
heart-how tie tenderness which could new
er be for me, would grow into her beloved
voice. Day after day it seemed to me to
become full of a sweeter pathos. Richard
was constantly by her side. Often they
roamed together over the fields. Sometimes
they asked me to go with them, but was
too sensitive to intrudc always refused.
Once or twice. when had declined going,
Leona insisted on remaining with me- Then
she would be so cruelty kind to me, read to
me, talk to me, bewldcr me with torturing
glimpses Of an impossible happiness Then
Richard would come back with floral offer
ing--a spray of honey-suckle, ,.or bunch of
wild roses and sitting beside her afterwards,
I smelt all day the fragrance of his flowers
upon her bosom. ~. a.t..
One night she asked me If she might 60
along with me to evening prayers, as she used
to before Richard came. 1t was a pleasant
walk, that half-mile between our house and
the church, in the summer sunset, with the
trees over our heads, all odorous with bloom
There was curious Joy which was more
than half compound Of pain, in knowing that
she was by my side in feeling the light
pressure of her hand upon my arm.
! When the services were over she asked
me to stay little longer, and play for her,
as I had often done before. Hitherto, at
such tines she had chosen the tunes but
now the fever fit of inspiration was upon me.
poured forth the story OF my hopeless love.
used no words, but the music explained
itself 1t struggled, it hoped then, as if for
the dead, it walled, and died out, at last, in
long, helpless cry Of sorrow. | heard Leona
sobbing Size stood at a little distance. alone,
in the darkness. left my seat. went to
her, and took her hands. In the darkness
she laid her tender, pitying arms around my
neck fel. her wet cheek against my own.
, Alas! knew the language of that silent ca
ress. She loved Richard, but with all the
fulness of her angelic nature she pitied me.
She would be my sister.
No word was spoken by either Of us. We
, went out Of the church, and went home ln.
der the night and the trees.
Soon after this Richard had to leave us for
two or three weeks, on some business for
my father did not know whether he de-
cared his love previous to his departure
watched Leona's voice jealously for signs Of
sorrow; but it was clear, and full of music
as ever Indeed thought it more JOYOUS
than was its wont. said to myself: =" How
certain she must be of his love, to bear his
absence so calmly The joy of knowing that
, he is her own forever, makes her insensible
to SORROW"
Oh, how kind she was to me during those
two weeks !! 1t was almost like the old days
before Richard came, save that barbed mr.
row was ranking in my heart. The uncon-
. scious hope had cherished in those other
, days could never come back again.
At last the time came for Richards return.
Leona was with us. Frankly, as one who
has nothing to conceal, she talked Of the
pleasure there would be in having him back
again. At noon he came. With eager step
he entered the room, but his voice trembled
when he spoke 70 Lcona. | could only tell
by that token how his heart thrilled to be
? once more by her side. She was not demon
stratiye. The voice with which she replied
to his greeting was very quiet but | had
never known Richards manner SO eager, so
restless, as that afternoon.
t In the evening we three were alone in the
long parlor. | sat at one end among the
shadows. Richard and Leona were at the
other where the moon--for | heard them
talking Of it--shone in at the open window
) Perhaps Richard thought could not hear,
or that ! slept. He did not know what a
t second sight hearing is to the blind. Not a
murmur, not a quver Of their voices escaped
me. 1t seems that he had never told her OF
his love before. He poured it forth now with
passionate, ,fervid eloquencc. listened breath.
t lessly for her answer; held tight to the
, chair where l was sitting; commanded
, every nerve to do its duty; | bade my self
control be viglant at its post; would bear
the torture without a moan. waited to
hear her low words Of love. Her voice fell
on my ear. Hush, rebellious heart! thou
hadst no business to throb SO wildly.
g can not" she says; "oh, can not I
, thought you knew" And here the tender,
t troubled voice breaks up into pitiful sobs as
she beseeches him to leave her--orly to leave
, her. Richard makes 10 attempt to comfort
!, her. hear him go out. Then cross the
room; knecl at her feet; tell her have
heard all. and then mad impulse seizes me
Il pour out at her feet the libation Of my love-
, I can NOT help it. Blind, and poor, and help
less as was, ] had hared to love her. did
: not mean to tell her. knew she could never
t return it. But when had heard her grieve
T had longed so to comfort her had want
ed her to know how gladly ! would die to
, give her peace.
: Oh! how can tell the story? She did not
, sp,,rn me. Once more, in the darkness, her
|, tender arms were laid about my neck For
the first time felt upon my mouth the kisses
of her fresh pure lipS Her words were sol