The New York herald., 1863-11-01
going to jump over into the pit Her face was as

going TO jump over into the pit. Her face was as
white as q sheet"
At that moment Emily entered. She could not
have slept all the long night through. Her young
face wore a haggard look, and her usually slow,
graceful step, seemed languid now. She took her
accustomed place beside her mother, who spoke
to her tenderly, but when she answered her lip
quivered. Frank Appleby saw IT, and made q
hasty br eakfast, excusing himself sooner than was
his wont. ], too, went, but not before saw
Lottie, with look of great concern on her fea-
lures, go up to her sister and whisper to her.
Oh, the hearteaches I had to gaze upon after
that that marble face, so colorless $50 wan
with the beautiful hope-light blotted out! She
now seemed uneasy and unhappy if she knew Frank
was near, and equally unhappy if he was absent.
At last she did not come down to her meals.
Her strength seemed to desert her, and mutely,
uncomplainingly and sightless, she was going
down to the tomb. Every day she grew more
sanity. every day more inexpressbly dear to me-
who knew the cause of her malady.
Que evening noticed peculiar expression on
the countenance of Charlotte Houston Her face
was very stern, and I surmsed that there had
been some misunderstanding between Frank Ap-
pieby and herself and / was right.
During Emily's childhood she had learned to
write, guided of course by an implement to which
the blind have recourse and she wrote with aston
ishing accuracy. It seems that Emily had asked
her sister to bring her certain little box from
her private drawer. Charlotte complied but
finding some papers which had been left, and also
some scraps of poetry of q peculiar character
which had been read to her sister, Charlotte felt
herself justified in opening the box, and there she
learned the secret of Emily's sorrow.
At first resentment filed her soul, and then
osme anguish. Had the man whom she had loved
and honored with her confidence done this thing!
Would any man. possessing spark of principle,
deliberately win the affections Of helpless blind
girl?
Slowly passed the agonizing days and weeks.
Frank and scarcely spoke to each other; could
not act the hypocrite. They told me Emily was
growing worse; that there was no hope of her re-
covery. ! saw the Doctors brongham at the door
early every morning Frank Appleby ceased to
to take his meals with us.
One beautiful summers day was called from
my office. Emily was dying, the messenger said,
and had requested to see me. ! entered the sacred
chamber. She lay like fair marble image, color
less, yet serenely beautiful. They stood around
her. mother, sister, two or three friends, and her
kind physician. They told her had come, and
she held ont her hand. Oh, that moment! threw
myself by the bedside of the dear angel-the only
woman had ever loved. She whispered few
sweet words, very family, "Tf could live, would
live for you!'' Then sudden light, like glory,
played round her pale features, and che cred--"I
see-I see!'
Wonderful! she turned to each Of US with dying
recognition. In that last hour the Almighty had
opened her eyes!
Well, there is q grave in the cemetery visit
sometmes-she sleeps there Charlotte never
married Frank Appleby. He became an inveterate
gambler, and an outcast and wanderer about
town. You now know why, with all my wealth, I
live in state Of single blessedness, as you are
pleased to call it. am blessed in being SINGLE for
am welded to the memory Of Emily Houston, the
poor blind girl. -