The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-14

SOLCen MIN, ana WOulQ give Qer udnu 10
some one else ere long and she knew
what they whispered, and smiled bitterly
to herself in the silence of her own cham.
ber There is but one true love in all
woman's life, and Rose was too pure to
give her hand to one who could not
have her heart.
Yet she laughed, and sung, and danced,
and made unconscious conquests, and min
gled with gay crowds when she lOnged to
be alone and wept, and all because she
would not have the world know how her
heart ached. Had he been dead she would
have mourned him as widow might; but
he was living, and it was kindest to him
and to his wretched parents that he should
be forgotten. 1t was miserable mocking
life which she led, and she knew it well.
There came to the village at that time
strange old man, a Methodist, who wore his
long white hair upon his shoulders, and
preached in strange strong language, and
at all sorts of unusual times. Not only in
the prim, white-boarded Methodist meeting
house upon the Sabbath, but in Out-houses,
upon strips of vacant land, in the woods or
even in the open street-an ignorant man,
who spoke as laboring men, but full of zeal.
He dropped spark, and it spread like Wild
fire through the village. One of those pc
riods of religious excitements termed by
some revivals," followed quickly, and
there was camp meeting in the woods
hard by. Hundreds went thither, some
with pious intent, some for frolic, and
some from mere curiosity; and amongst
the latter Rose found herself one bright
summer morning.
She sat beneath great tree and listened
to the words of that uncOuth and ignorant
man. She saw strong men bow down in
tears, and heard the screams and sobs of
women. An electric sympathy spread
throughout that throng the veriest SCOT
fers grew mute with awe, excitable end
nervous temperaments were acted upon in
a fearful manner. With some it was an
earnest and joyful belief: with some
temporary delirium.. But for the time all
were sincere, and being sincere, sublime.
Rose had listened to some splendid SER
mons from learned lips, but nothing had
ever touched her as did the discourse Of
that untaught man. Truths were spoken
which went into her heart, and she wept
as she had not wept since that awful, nev-
er-to-be-forgotten night; and something
pure, and sweet, and holy hovered dove
like over her head, and rested at last upon
her soul; and staff was put into her
hand, and a light, of which she had never
even dreamt before, shone along the path
which led into the mystic future. She did
not fall down and weep and scream as
some did, but she bore her new-found
happiness home with her, although her
quiet step and smile gave no token of
what passed within her breast
And a new life had opened to her:
life Of self-forgetfulness, and charity, look
ing for reward and happiness in other
worlds than this.
Hallow Eve had come again, the fifth
which lay between that faded wedding
night. Still in the great press in that
which should have been the bridal cham
Der, hung the veil and wreath of orange
flowers and the robe of snowy satin. But
in the great travelling trunks piled in the
room from which it opened, lay coarse
strong garments, fitted for a sea voyage
and for long rough journey. Tomorrow
AsOoO WOu1u puG tlCu vi, UuC CO-uiSuI SlIt
stood attired in auttering gauze and rust
ling silk and cleaning jewels, waiting to
greet her guests for the last time
Tomorrow the good ship West Wind
sailed for India, with twenty missionaries
on board, and she was to be one of them.
None knew this as yet save the old
preacher and her companions. To her
friends Of tonight she would bid goodbye
as though she were going on an ordinary
journey. Her lawyer had instructions as
to the disposal of her land, and there was
nothing more to do save to take farewell
of those she had bidden as her guests on
this last evening.
Some she loved and with these she lin
gered many moments, 10th to leave them:
for the parting would be for this life, she
knew, and as she sat with her cheek upon
her hand listening to the music, one merry
voice from gay group near said with
laugh
at is Hallow-Eve-do you remember
that? Iwonder whether we should see
our lovers if we went to the old well to-
night9"
"What ofthe well ?" asked another, and
the gay girl answered.
whoever walks three times about an
old stone well on Hallow-Eve, looking all
the while over the left shoulder, will see the
figure of the person designed for them by
fate at the end of the third circle"
$50, then, and try" laughed score of
voices. But no one was willing to ven
ture the ceremony, and at last a young
girl, stranger, who knew nothing of
Roses past history, said gaily-" you
20, Miss Rose?"
Rose never knew what strange feeling
took possession Of her, making her answer,
II am very Wiling" or why she arose and
went with quick footsteps and beating heart
down the garden path to the old well.