The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-07-02

matter OF choice. 1t is = what shall say
It occurs to U.s. I believe more, | am sure m,
instinct tells me = that Il is not thing deliber-
ately brought into market; so much love for so
much prudence, beauty, wit, wealth. carefully
weighed out by Reason, 10 the scales of Com
mon Sense, and sent home by Hymen. No."
and her dark eyes kindled with glorious fire.
+" Live, or rather its manifestation, may be con.
troled but love, itself, can neither be found
nor avoided at will. IL is power - it seizcs
and holds Us fast with tyrannous, mercless
in passionate rebellion against it ; duty and right
may palsy the tongue, make the ear deaf, forbid
the eye to speak, bat choice is allowed only to
speak and look. Love defes IT,"
We were silent. Rnmor had coupled Paulinea
name and an ill.omened love together, and we
all felt that she had preached to us er cathedra
she had done better, and spoken to us from her
heart. Her words rung in my ear, and raised
strange echoes in my soul - echoes that dar-
I ed not listen to.
AT that moment everybody came in shivering.
The moon was quite lost in clouds - the breeze
was penetrating. Tea and lights were called
for, to bring back the bloom to faces pallid with
night.damps. Bertha made the tea there in the
drawing room, How deftly she did it ! (as she
did all things) She looked TO 10Y eyes, the i'm
personation of neatness, skill, and home com
fort. Looking away from, Ler, met strange
glance from Paul, who had been watching me
one that could not interpret, or, let me be
iuqury, eager ferce; the rest did not wish to
solve. sat silent amid all the jesting. That
one glance haunted me with wearisome persis-
tence, and raised thoughts that would be heard
Eta Marie, who shared my room, was insupport-
able to me that night. What had her slipshod
chat to do in common with the fierce war that
! ragged within me? l 1must have silence and fud-
| ing that Etta's tongue would not soon tire,
went down to the library conscious that 1t would
excite no remark, even if known. All there
were my friends, and my friends have always
been charitable enough to allow me a margin
beyond the exact limits of precedent, because of
an inexpres,ible tendency to be W at society calls
| odd
found my way along the halls, soundessly
and without difficulty. The library door stood
open; the whole low-ceed room was so dense
with shadow, that the darkness seemed almost
! palpable only a CLEAN of sickly moonlight
stole in through the recessed window (my win
dow styled it, because loved its glorious
view - the wide sweep of tranquil water, the
wooded hill, and the golden grain fields stretch
ing away beyond. laid my hand o.i the high
oaken chair in which generally sat, but recoil-
ed in alarm. A warm breath struck full on my
cheek. Even in that darkness, my eye, grown
accustomed, it could trace an outline darker yet,
because palpabe and substantial l was steal
ing away, but Os thought Quicker than my
thought), a warm hand held one of mine fast in
its vigorous clasp. 1t was Paul
/ don't know what / said. doutt if spoke
at ALL think simply obeyed my first alarm
ed instincts, and struggled mutely. Sill hold
ing me fast Paul leaned toward the table stand
| ing near, and, in an instant pale fame flashed
up from within antique vase, falling full on
my face. Profidng by my dismay, he qniety
closed the door and came back to me. l sat
down where he motioned me. 1t never occur
red to me that could disobey. He seated him
self near me, yet out Of the circle of light in
which he had placed me.
What brought you here? ?" he asked, after
moments silence.
am Yankee, and woman, Captain Et>
tricke. l shall answer your question with au-
other: What you here? And With an apology
for my intrusion, l will bid you goodnight"
He was too quick for me.
"Not yet Nina. These pretty speeches aud
evasions belong to daylight aud society. We
are both waits, strayed away from every day Life
into dreamand, where only souls wander. When
souls meet, they should speak truth. Don't
think that will let you 60 till hear it from
YOU"
Here am conscious that dignity demanded
that should have questioned his patent of in
qnistion; but l only trembled and answered
feebly:
81 don't understand you, Captain Ettricke"
=" Captain Ettrcke v he repeated impatient
ly, "down with that bar between us You
think of me Paul l of you as Nina aud you
do understand me- else why should you shrink
and tremble, if you could not guess at ths
thoughts that drove me here Would Ettl.
Marie, CHANGING on me as you did, sit there palt.
and culprit-likeg In my soul believe that the
same war RACES in your heart as in mine that
the same tormentiug demon drove you here to-
night" .. ..
Principle, Honor, Friendship. where we're you
| heard only Pauline's words "To love is al
lotted no choice, only speech and look may be
dumb" and l was dumb. answered not a
word
Nina" he went on, after waiting vainy for
an answer; "you are Bertha's friend; am her
lover. We both know her good, true, and love
ly What am about to say would strike light
from her eyes, joy from her life - but we, at
least, am only human. must speak"
He paused again, and still l was silent. My
brain was whirling. Pauline's words and his
strangely olended together, were singing in my
ears. If uttered one word; if even by look OF
sign broke the charm of the stony calm in
which held myself ] knew that should GO
mad and say what he most wished to hear, and
l most feared to utter. The derium was at my
heart, sounding in my ears, pusing in my blood
murmuring rebellion against fate and right, men,
sclng conscience and reason, threatening oper
riot and revolt.
: marble ice statue exclaimed Paul, We
hemently, :" do you hear me Must go fur
ther, or have never dreamed that love you
e and you love mes"
started to my feet; but quick as usual h,
i had anticipated me.
{ "Not yet = not yet - answer FIRST, Nina, on,
word - you must speak
: lie bent down as he spoke. till his eyes locke,
full into mine = torturDg imperative, admitting
: c..asirr, nrniun. liz. Ir..tk I'm.