, 1865-12-26

ullies about me ~ they apmoaehed. could
not only criticfse tho lover but the beloved.
Evelyn had changed. She vas older, and tho
hanghtincas, the worldllncss, had increased /;
her smile, and knew that her heart Vas
mnle engaged with the bridal fnesias, and the
city splendors about to follow, than with the
sacrcdness, The awe, tho joy Of her new Po-
sltion.
As they slowly sauntesed along, talking Of
some arrangement for The morrow, my eyes
turned from them to the young girl on tho
The trouble ont Of her 1ace, but IS regarded
hex, q burning blush swept ovez cheek and
brow.
eltlon In which my rash ayowal had placed
her. Surprising my declaration addressed to
herself, she had allowed me to 800 that 1t
would not have been dfstastetal; and nov q
terrible shame deroured her. How beautl-
full ebe looked IN that maiden shame |
Ny heart Wns touched with pity 81 deep IS
that which she had nvowcd for me-. And
when EvolJn came up and recognized me lin
my new position) With warmth she had ney-
er before shown. even going 80 far IN her vol
wanted to pair Of with pretty girl as an at
tculant at the wedding, q revolution, as curl
ou& as II was sudden and abiding, took place
In me. Explaiu It who may, It was never
theless true that in that hour my old
passion Vas as completely obliterated as Ii 1t
had never been, and there arose before my
mental vision succession Of past scenes, nov
contempt-nmost hate. My manhood bad
asserted itself over my sc1frespect-my pride,
my power oycr circumstances, asserted ITSELF
in that one moment, and confronted the
cotton-bought beauty, a5 one who had fnljy
tt1umpled orer foe too Insignificant tor my
anger.
But crcn Is stood there before the worldly
woman, the vision, sit were, lifted away the
curtnin from my own past, and looked to
behold In the past what never before had I'm.
pressed me. Oracle, little Oracle, seeking TO
soothe me In my boyish mortif1cation-beaide
me in my hour Of agony, ct my mother's
dcaihbed-waying me farewell Hhen ! started
true, ever gentle, ever good, Oracle, first to
understand me-the last to leave me. Oracle,
who, through all the long years, had been
true to my memory-faithiul to her own
pure impn!sea; for had she not, in that hour,
The vision passed 1tke hash, but Il uas
enough to leach mo new truth. An almost
inexpressible tcpdesncss--a yea1njng 10 Atone
for great wrong committed, lned my heart
a1.d 4 sudden resolution prompted me 10 &C.
cept the invitation 10 stand as eighth groou1s-
MIN. My manner was that Of one who had
deliberate; while, within, my leazt Was ter
ribly, deeply moved.
The lovers passed on, leaving us alone.
Garcie arose 10 70, 10 heavily bu1dcned With
her confusion and pain, IS mike my eyes Gil
with tears.
:"Darline Gracic-anscl Grac1e!' The
words were llttcrcd BY my lips In Tone which
for they thrilled and startled me by their In
fenss frrynr.
Grace paused like onein dream. She Eazed
intcntly Tor moment into my tear dimmed
eyes, then the crimson a1l left her face, until
she became as pale as one terror striken.
"Gracle, darlington have loved. me 80
long and so t1ly-whom have worsbIpped,
aud yet, until this moment, knew 1t not
tss ss IL as Eas e4e sls 'a ames y so Sp
offer. GfacIe, will you come here tonight,
md permit me to tel yoa Of the lore Hold
for you--for you-tor you'll"
could say no more. The pallor which
oyenpread ler face IS my words came forth,
passed AWAY, and the rich crimson came In its
sudden pang had come TO terrify her tlmid
lore agaln, and she became pale ouce more
oh, io1y pale!
Clasping ler bands over her bosom, IS if
to still Its terrible throbbing, she retrcated
backward fFum the temple. Pausing a mo-
ment In Its shadow she sobbed, Maurice,
come tonight, but oh, do not come to repeat
know-1 know II never can be-neres can
be ~ md she fed up the walk toward the
house as II pursued.
She Vas not pursued, save BY my troubled
thoughts. The cgouy imprinted On her fair,
pure face was too real, too desolating to giYe
me n much peace during the sefnainl1g hours
hours passed never knew. Only / well r.
member the keen but weighty palm which op-
pressed my heart, that seemed like heart Of
lead and heart of fire. Night found me
there, but not until the shadows had deep
ened 50 as to render the lines stamped upon
my face invisible to her before whom was
to bow In supplcatton and In worship.
entered the temple to find Oracle already
there: lmoyed to her side, took her ttemb-
ling hand In mine, and-and-well, don't
know what occurred; but when ton o'clock
came We both stood outside the temple, hand
locked In hand, as deeply, .rcse1ently happy
as two human hearts could be.
"Good night, ny Oracle, and may good
angels keep you," l said imprintlng the BE-
t1othal kiss upon her upturned forehead.
There Fns excitement orer the wedding,
next day, Ia the Ward mansion In fact, there
was sensation, for there were Two weddings,
on Of which was 20 unexpected as to amaze
even the minister. Mr.. Ward alone knew OF
the arrangement, for, hand in hand, that
morning, Gsacie md myself had asked bis
forgiveness mud consent TO our marriage on
that very day, md not aEerse to the "joke,"
as be termed IT. II vas all easily arranged.
racln thnt beam" my ~i In 'ss G.ss
which wish may be repeated BY every single
man In the land, until all the pure and good
women arc won.
ofaen and often, I say, when looking out
from my OWL experience, upon the ways Of
wedIock:
Alas, that 50 many marry the worldly,
and overlook the richness OF q lore that Ii
not at all worldlyl''
TIE ERA OF LNRETTFS N PARIS