Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-03-05
THE SAD EYES.

painful, but tender sadness tnat lay ike
a thin veil over their brightness You hard
y noticed it at first, but the shadow in Mrs
Percivais eyes grew more and more appar-
ent the oftener you looked into them. They
were full of light when she spoke-dancng,
ripping light but this faded out with q
quickness that half-surprised you, making the
shadow which came after it the more notice,
able.
What can it mean ?" said one friend to
another They were speaking of Mrs Perci-
val and her sad eyes. Is that peculiar look
hereditary-a mere transmitted impression of
the soul upon the body or is it the sign Of
an inward state? Do you know anything of
her early history 2"
Something"
Is she happy in her marriage 7"
am afraid not"
"Then it must be her own fault" was an
swered. Every one speaks we'll of Mr..
Percival. | have seen great deal Of him and
hold him in very high regard"
Ia no higher regard than he is held by
his wife, who knows, better than any ore else
can know, his worth as a mau"
And yet you said just now, that you did
not think her married ille happy one"
There is shadow upon it. As the wife
Of Mr.. PercjVaI, she is not fear, in her true
place. Hence the sad eyes that look into
the world so hopsIessly."
This was said of Alr and Mrs PerciVal -
Let US 60 back few years aud come near
them in the time when this union was formed
There had teen too great ardor Of pursuit
on the side of Mr.. PerciyaI Tho beautiful
girl WHO flashed 4cross his way in life, so daZ
zled him by her mental and personal charms,
that he resolved TO secure her hand, 10 mat
ter what difficulties might intervene. and he
soon found un obstruction 10 the way. AH
artist named Liston, q young man of genius,
but modest aud shrinking, as such men Usual
ly are, had already been attracted by this
lovely girl, and She was meeting his slow aud
tImid approaches with such tender invitations
as maiden delIcacy would permit.
The quick eyes Of Heury Prrciyal soon dis
covered the truth. He saw that the maiden
was deeply Interested iu the young artist !;
and also that Liston worShipped her at &
distance, fearing to approach, lest the heauti
fal star in whose light bis soul found light
should veil itself as rebuke to his advances.
And seeing this. he resolved to press in bold
ly to win the maiden for himself TO carry
of the prize another was reaching out to
grasp.
She shall be mine I" So be declared in
his heart, though he fully understood the re
lation which Ljston aud the maiden bore to
each other So resolved, when be knew that
love had grown up between them, aud that
she was, to the young artist, as the apple Of
lis eye.
II happened in this case as it happened in
many others As the bold lover advanced
the less c0uGicnt one retired. The ardour of
Percival had no abatement, He pressed his
case with an impetuoSity that bore down all
distractions, almost eX' 0rting fron the doubt
ing and bewIdered girl promise to become
his wife. II LlStcn had not shown apparent
indifference-hed not held himself aloof-this
promise, repented of almost as soon as made,
would never have btcn given. Had she known
that her image was in his heart, treasured
and precious, Percival's suit would have been
idle. But she Gid not know it and, in her
blindness, she went astray-iosing herself in
labyrinth from which she never escaped.
The effect OH Lision, when it was known
that Percral and the maiden were engaged,
was very sad. lie lost, .pfor time, all heart
in his work-all interest in life. An intimate
friend, who knew of his attachment, and uu-
derstood the meaning of bis altered state, d
rulged the secret, aud 50 became public prop
erty, finding its way to the maidens ear.
Did you know" said gay friend, " that
you are charged with serious crime ,"
have net heard of that accuSation.-
What is the crime p she answered, smiling
The crime of breaking heart"
"Ah ! Whose heartw There was chahge
in tho expression of her face the suile dy-
ing out.
Lstou'S."
Why do you say that ?" she asked, catch
ing her breath, and showing pallor Of couute,
nance.
"Ah haven't you heard anything ahoat it?
Why, it's the talk all around. He was dead
in love with you, it seems, bnt hadn't the
courage to say so proving the truth of the
old adage that Faint heart never won fair
lady" And now he's moping about, and
looking SO woe-begone, that everybody is pity
ing him"
" am sorry that he should have pain on
my account" was answered, with as much in.
difference as could be assumed. Not very
serious case, imagine"
Oh, but it is he fairly worshipped you, ,
replied the friend. " Do you know that a lu
natic asylum is talked of ?'
Don't. don't say anything more, if you
please! It's all gossip and exaggeraton o.
course-but still of kind must not hear
You forgot that am to be married in few
weeks"
The laughing light went out of the gay
friends countenance, for she saw more than
she expected to see.
A few weeks passed, and the wedding day
arrived, true to her promise, but false to her
heart, took up the burden of wifehood. stag
gerDg under the weight as it came down upor
her STOPPING shoulders The young husband
when be kissed her almost colorless lips and
gazing upou her pure face, said Mine !" look
ed into sad eyes and felt that his ardent word
bnt half exnressed the truth-that she was