The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-09-20

fined above the clash Of the cataract. fed
with my hands upon my ears.
"On and on! winding among boles, creep
ing beneath branches, climbing lodges, vault
ing over assures and chasms, reached the
open plain. at last, and halted unnerved upon
the brink Of the abyss.
"The glory of the prospect thrilled me
with exquisite pain. mist, arched by q
delicate rainbow, rose from the tumbling
Hood, and the sunny vale was visible, at in
tervals beyond it, inclosed by blue noun
tains, and intersected by the pale, ribbon
like Snsquchanna. It was my fate TO en-
dure, not TO enjoy; but ut this moment the
cataract was forgotten in q deeper torment;
the boughs opened, the sky split with the
shock Of feet, and man bounded from the
wood
He was tall, handsome, and athletic, and
his handsome cheeks were flushed with exer-
else. He made trumpet Of his hands, and
hallooed, long and clear:
| "Her-A-A-ine!"
"Then he whistled through his fist, till
the woods and water rang.
"Where the deuce ID the dear girl he
said, and his eyes fell upon me-
"A terrible hatred rose in my heart against
this man. II was the first great passion
had nurtured, and had received no other
provocation than the empty sound Of his
footballs. But antipathies are not accidental
merely; they are organic; and my quick
sense took alarm even from his tread Ones
character may be defined in his gait, but
knew from the tramp OF this person that his
nature was averse to mine Why had he fol-
lowed my affianced across the seas? Why
had his crashing drowned the music of her
steps! Why had he uttered her name with
an endearment! Why had he been retained
at her side, and I sent alone and wretched
before! My wrists knotted nervously ~
these accusations took shape. and my blood
became gall.
al beg PARDON he said CURLY, but are
you the young man we are looking for!
81 asked through my teeth whom he de-
| signated in the term wc.'
- Herainc, of course, he replied; give
me your hand We have followed our little
invalid-that's what we call you-over many
| a league, and may make his acquaintance at
last. Ralph Clendsnning, at your service.
II shrank menacingly from him and count
ed the dull throbs at my heart
".What timid,' he said, and with so old
n friend. never met you, indeed, but then
have talked Of you so often that you have
grown to be quite brother
81 saw that he was frank and winning,
and hated him the more.
upon my word.' he added, there was
none whom had resolved in my mind to
love 80 well, for the sake Of Heraine
"a cry escaped me, 80 bitter that ii seemed
a howl, and clenched my hands
'He still followed me along the very edge
If thu cliff avtonlin0 his hond borr;bla
impulse rushed upon me, and a thought
darker than jealousy caught it up. l hurled
| myself against him. He staggered on the
brink Of the abyss, and went down with a
sharp, half -stifled scream
MY eyes followed the dead weight, as it
rolled from ledge to ledge, accelerated each
instant by the force Of the cataract. A
world, tossed out Of gravity, and crashing
among the planets, could not have been more
awfully distinct. Down-down--down-a
| formless mass Of fibre and bone the mist
seemed to buoy it up, when it reached the
deepmost cascade, and as it disappeared
| through the tops Of the pines, heard the
coming of FOOTBALLS.
mime was q soul in torment, listening to
music in heaven. l stood, stiff and numb in
horror, staring into the gulf. The roar of
the cataract was smothered to babble.-
The rainbow vibrated TREMENDOUSLY to the
dropping harmonies. l saw the familiar
shadow as it glided to my feet A soft hand
thrilled me with its touch, and the old voice
said:
Dear Luke, am Heraine, come back
Il could not stir My eyes were forged
to the abyss.
"Why do you glare so wildly . she said
"Come, you have been brave, and must not
fail now. Have you no kind greeting for
Heraine!'
"Down in the abyss, swaying and rocking
upon tho pine bough, with the frank smile IS
when murdered him, l saw my victim in
fancy.
".Speak, Luke she repeated Il have a
dear friend here he has made the long pill
grimage with me, fondly anticipating this
meeting You will know him to-day. and
am sure you will love him.
'.Still surging upon mist, and spray, and
bough, with the halo Of the rainbow SHIN
mering above it, the noble face turned up
ward forgivingly.
1--WE have planned for your happiness
dear friend. Compared to the retreat we
have fashioned for you, Glengoyle is a Babel
But you are ill, Luke! What terrible allure
ment lies in the waterfall? Come away
from the brink! Ralph! Ralph!
..She called in clear tones. The woods
and waters answered back.
g. He is there l stanlmered, down
deep--dead-do you see him - how he
smiles and surges on the tufts Of the pines.
thrust him over-in rage-even as he
gave me his hand-I slew him.
".Merciful Godv she whispered, in hor-
ror, he was my husband
1.-THE rainbow dissolved; the waterfall
delugcd the valley the mountains were COW
cred with waves, the skies grew pitchy
dark; I say nothing more.
my sensations upon waking were those
Of diver who has risen from the tranquil
depths to the surface. Hubbub recon-
shaven close to my skull my head ached
and my eyelids were 80 weak that could
not unseal them for time.
81 was lying in my old chamber at Glen
goyle, and Heraine was sitting at my bed
side. Her garments were sable, her brown
hair thin, her face placid, Is Of yore, but
marked by deep seated grief, and the mag
netism Of will and courage was gone from it.
To the eye she was the same; to the mind.
weak and broken thing. Crime had
changed both our natures she had been
tutress and governess before, and the pas
sive, submissive creature; but sin had made
me bold, and sorrow worn her to . woman.
Luke she said in the same lullaby
tone, do you know me! do you recognize
the place are you still weak ?
.. Heraine,' said |, sternly, do not the
wrongs we have done each other forbid this
intimacy