Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-06-27

No searching eye can pierce the veil
That o'er ay>ccret lie 10 thrown;
NO outward signs reveal its tale,
Bu, to my bosom known.
Thus, like the spsrk whose vivid light
In ih. dark 6ini /. hid from sight,
II d~ells wiihia, alone.
Mrs.. H,maas.
'wha, have you concealed herc7" ! said,
taking hold Of the heavy silk drapery at
tached TO rosewood eorniee, and falling
in graceful folds to the door.
Lillian! Lillian. don't raise it, ex.
claimed Mrs. Thornton. springins from the
easy chair, in which che had been reclining
with the lisiles.ness oi u dreaming child.
and darting to my side 'he pressed 50 heavi'
ly ssalns, the veil iha, could discern the
outlines OF picture frame.
n pic,ure,' I exclaimed. 20. | must
SEQ 1t. for I can never res, where there Is any.
thing mysterious.
but this you canno,-m,si not .ce.'
I did no, reply. Tor having been an in.
mate Of the house only week, and this
being my fret Wei, TO the library. did no.
give utterancc TO the thoughts which rushed
through my mind. Perhaps Mrs. Thorn.
ton OWNED my thoughts, as alter moments
silence she SAID -
You are TO have access 10 this library at
oil tines; every book !. q, your service,
and You nrO q, liberty even to rammage the
drawers and pigeon holes OF my desk. II
your curiosity demands it; bu, you must
no, look beneath tho veil that hides this
picture; and her pale LIP, irembled. her
dark. expressive eyes were fixed upon mine.
jus, Que glance. I said pleadinely but
she moved her head negatively. and went
on: How can I study with that mystery
ever beiorc me. and then too shall never
sleep .oundly again, but dream the l,velong
nigh, Of thls mysterious veil, and ,ha, Il,
hides some strange weird image. or worse.
become a .omnambuli.t aud frigh,en every
servant twho happens to fear gho.,') from
the house by my miiuish, explorations and
wandcrinss.'
NO eye bu, mine ever looks uronthi.
vcilcd picture. !, Is sacred Tor /, '' the on
ly relic have preserved Of my pas, l'fo oil
,ha, | have to remind me Of happy days too
brish, TO las,-of brief period when LIES
pathway vas .trcwn with flowers, and l
dreamed no, ,ha, benOa,h ihos, tair, per.
TUNED flower. petals. sharp. piercing ,horn'
were hidden Her face was pale ~ death,
and ,ho.c deep, dark eyes moi', with pear!y
tears.
Iaw that her heart was deeply pained :
that wellipg from memOry's ioun, came
painful remembrance and truly leni'en',
said, 'rosive my ,houshtle.. wo'd'. and
promise never 90 raise the veil from ,hi.
picture. nor pain your heart by my que'-
tions.'
An intense smile stole over her pale iea-
turc,, and kissing my cheek. she murmared,
Dear child; perhap' some day may !Ilt
tho veil and tell you all Then turning
away TO hide her tears. she lei, me standing
before tue vciled picture.
II was rather curious how ! came TO be
dweller IN the homo Of Mrs. thornton.
Two wear. boforr, when but fourteen years
old, | came 10 New Haven 20 attend school {;
and soon after. my father leaving home Tor
Europe. where he expected TO remain three
year., in,rus,ed me 30 the guardianship OF
Mr.. Howe. an old friend OF his college days.
|, was a, the house Of Mr.. Howe that ! iir't
met Mrs. Thornton. She went bu, little
into society, and my guardians was one Of
,hc iew families she visit, d. Her pale, e1.
pre.s,e face attracted me. and then, too,
there was an indeGnable something IN her
dark. liquid eyes, now so sad. and now
glowing with an intense smile. that awoke
IN answering echo in my young heart. She
always called rue to her side to ask me about
nv s,udie. and when new book was an.
nounced which she thought would be suita.
ble Tor me TO read. she placed i, IN my hand
with my name engrayen upon the hy leai
IN her own handwriting. Was 1t strange
that my hear, warmed towards her; that
her coming was locked forward to with
pleasure, or I often begged for the privilege
Of visiting her in her quiet, pleAsan. home'
Ny visits there were not very frequent. and
when there we sat in her toudoir. which
was fitted up with artistic taste. and having
never been admitted to the library had
never sccn the yelled picture.
had u pleasant home with Mr.. Iowe's
family yet it wa. glad surprise when he
said that I could board with Mrs. Thornton,
II I wished. aud though, that could be
happy there. Mrs. Thornton had proposed
il, rs Mr.. Jlowe's family anticipated being
sb.en, IRON the city most Of the summer |;
and the following Saturday removed to
her home.
I. was my frat holiday in my new home'
and had gone to the library with Mrs.
Thornton to selec, book. when on passing
around. my eyes fell upon the silk drapery
shadin: the wall IN the furthercst corner.
and wss about to draw IL aside. when hsr
exclamation prevented. hsd promised not
to look beneath the mysterious folds Of that
sllken veil. ye, was not satisfied; curio'i.
ty prompted mo to try to catch hasty
glimpse. bot honor forbade.
Summer and autumn passed. and the long
winter evenings werc spent in 'hc cosy cheer
al i,h,a,v .nd ,ho,,b \ .,st ,panv n fu p.