The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-31

playing anu passed ITOtn inc ptaHO 70 uue
sofa, on which Sarah sat, with her head
bowed in her hands. She had stolen in
as usual, and, as she supposed, unper-
ceived. Not q sound had escaped her, yet
she was struggling against n mighty tide
Of thoughts which this sudden return had
awakened. She knew now that her hap
piness was forever linked with his, that in
love for him her soul might have full
scope, heart and hands might find the
labor they craved in ministering to him,
and her life have aim for which she long
ed. But now, when all the grandeur Of
the possible life was revealed to her, was
the veil to be forever dropped! Was she
needful to him? Did his soul thus claim
hers? And the answer was thus
Sarah, there will be ONE lOnelier to-
night than all the rest when you are gone.
You have brought light and flowers, and
beauty, where oil was darkness. You
have siilled that restless longing 10 look
upon the world, and have aided me in my
struggles with rebelliOus thoughts because
| am shut out from that life which God
has opened to other men. BY your min
istrations you have grown more into my
soul. till you stand part Of itself. There
you must always stand. Let ne tell you
this before you 60 and I may be calmcr.
The prisoned thought tears inc | love
you with all the concentrated love of years
of solitude, with all the worship proud
man once offers to the woman he believes
truest and best. love you with love
which has filled my whole being. My
conversation, my music, are iDsepnrably
connected with you. Yon must be ever
more the inspiration Of my life. God bless
yOu. Farewell"
But why farewell :" cried she, spring
ing from her seat and holding him back.
"Can there be aught clsel have al-
ways felt that could ask no woman to be
my wife. Il would only place before her
a long life Of care and devotion to blind
mans needs Least Of ell could con-
demn you, made for all that is joyous and
beautiful, 10 such q doom. You are too
precious to me. Go out into the world
and gladden. and enrich II, without com
passionate thought Of me to bring you
sadness"
~ shall not CO." said she, her eyes
flashing and herlips quivering with inten-
sity of feeling. "You would deny7-rnc
the only life to which aspire, the only
right would claim. You love me-you
need me. Your life will be brighter If
am with you. do not fear to say that !
choose life with you, for also have found
inspiration and glory in this love. You
shall not send inc away from YOU"
Sarah, dare not take the blessing
you bring to me. Beloved one, you know
not what you do-yOu have no concep.
tion Of the sacrifice your life must be-"
There IL no such thing aS q sacrifice
to woman for the one she loves. Herself
is sacrificed when she is sent out to n cold
and heartless life. If you love me do not
wrong yourself and me. would not be
unwomanly; | simply believe in your
great love md anchor my own beside it.
Will you let 1t rest or thrust II away
l shall not sue, but will speak truth"
81 believe you. You cannot know how
hard Il is to still hold you from me. Yet
again say, go out intO the world-livc
its life-tastc its sweet pleasures for a
year. II you feel then as now, that this
is your nobest work, come and crown my
life. Till then, be free. Think I shall re.
jOice if know you are blessed with an.
other 8 love, and queen in another's home.
1t is because love you that thus send
you forth. God guide you"
" II shall be As you choose. promise
nothing. | simply know that this love is
deep-thnt God has already guided me to
you"
On her return home Sarah Ind opened
her henrt to her father and mother This
was by no means their proud plan for
their daughtcr-but her reasoning and
their true regard for her happiness con-
quered. They kept her to the test. She
danced and sung and talked and laughed
as ever. She travelled and visited, but
she did not firt.
Years have glidcd away and have Just
returned from visit to the cottage on the
hillside. The April sun has oil the day
long fallen upon the brown grass before
the house, and ever since it stole so quietly
i'll the morning, has filed the sitting.roonl
with gladness. A little quiet, loving wo.
man glides about, bringing aid as 1t il
needed. The roses have gone from her
cheeks, but the calm, mildly firm blue
eyes, the fair, open brow, and the delicate
features remain. The husband still thinks
the wife he has never seen, as beautiful as
the angels; and the wife, whose eyes can
trace the wrinkles on his brow and note
the changes in the once raven locks, looks
upon her husband as one whose long i'm
prisoncd soul must in few years be freed
in that cline whose melodies he seems
even now to catch in his evening hours Of
musical dream.
She guides his steps, supplies his wants,
beautities the rooms which she believes
he enjoys, reads to him from books which
furnish food for his thought, and shields
him carefully from every danger. Her
sightless husband, with his power over
other souls, il to her the king of men:
tho purest and truest in soul, the bravest
and nOblest in act. do not say God
bless and reward her, for she has blessing
and reward daily; but I do pray that
God will be merciful to them when he
calls them from earth. Beautiful would
it be il she who has SO long lovingly guided
his steps, should 60 down to the river and
enter the stream with him. Beautiful IL
the angels meet them and welcome them
together to the city Of our God. Beauti.
ful also will it be If the voice ever sweet.
est to him on earth join with his in the
first out-guSh Of song to Him who hath
redeemed US.
We are permitted to make the following
extract from private letter, received by
a gentleman of Napa, from q correspon.