Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-09-21
Your companion must be a woman, my


than all
"My mother marked my rising agitation
and glided away.
q. Whatever can relieve you, dear Luke
she said, your father shall obtain
81 now fancied that they believed me mad
and that keeper was to be introduced to me
under the guise of companion formed
MANY mental portraits of this fierce person
| and they kept me awake through the long
watches. | even meditated escape, and un-
closed nv easement with that design, but the
sunlight, the bird-8ongs, and the zephyrs
rushed into my window, and staggered ms
like so many sentinels. One day slept fit
fully. and dreamed that I was poor and or
phaned, with the alternatives Of death OF
work before me. I had wandered to a vii
lage and thrown myself beneath some elms
with horrible despair sealing my eyelids
Suddenly the grass was stirred by some hui
man footballs, and two soft voices were speak
| ing close beside me-
"'It is strange said the first voice; 'he
is pale and delicate, but with no evidences
of heavier Affections
"eYou do not know him, murmured the
other; wait and see
"a face bent down to mine, and the lips Of
a woman touched my cheek. started in my
sleep, caught my pen gaspingly, and quiv-
cred like an aspen.
"eThis is indeed terrible" said the soft
voice, compassionately but do not despair
II cannot be nature. 1t must be habit, or
bashfulness, or the effect of some childish
or forgotten fright. Cheer up, and hope"
"s Be kind to him, Heraine,' resumed the
other; you are my last resort, and becom-
ing his companion, you become my child
Do not yex, do not excite him. Be yourself
always calm, gentle, and affectionate, and
the kindness which you show my boy, may
God return to you in mercy and blessing?
81 Enclosed my eyes; the scene was re-
solved to my quiet library. Something Gid
ed through the door, but a form from the
other side flung shadow across my face
premontion of the keeper thrilled me a
moment, but L turned slowly at length, and
looked into the intruder's face.
"a woman, or, rather, girl with a wo-
mans face, serene and placid, as if never
ruffled by care or passion, sat between me
and the window, and the gloomy light soft
ened her calm countenance. As | looked
up. her lashes fell, and her blue eyes were
bent fixedly upon the floor. She seemed
| like one of my sedate portraits, which had
come down from its case. She waited, appa-
rently, for some sign of recognition, or until
my surprise should have passed away, and
| did not move while ran her over with keen
curiosity. She was, probably, Of my own
age, though her self possession might have
stamped her as much older: but the bloom
| of cheek, and her bosom just ripening were
induces of girls years. She raised her
eyes at length, and babe me good after
noon in voice which reminded me Of the
faintest lullaby The quiet tone was second
! ed by an assuring glance, and directly we
were conversing without restraint, as if
friends Of gears rather than acquaintance of
an hour
| 1" Herane was the impersonation Of COM
posure. The neutral tint of dress CORE
| sponded with the smooth tresses Of her brown
! hair. Her touch was magnetic, and petu-
| lancy vanished at her smile, as at a charm.
! Her intelligence was doubtless, the secret
of her power. She OWNED my moods with
out inquiry, and cheered them without effort.
! She led me out of the unhealthy atmosphere
| engendered by my sensitiveness, and l
sometimes forgot my disability for hours
! She was as good as she was capable, and as
amiablc as she was resolute. We fraternized
immediately and | felt all the newness Of a
regenerated life. My temperament was fit
ful as Of yore, but the gloomy spectres van
| ished and my attention being weaned from
| the slighter occurrences Of nature, l was no
| longer racked by their tremors and jars
| The soft face of Heraine seemed to hush all
! chaos, and when she smiled, | thought that
the very earth had ceased to roll. When
her large liquid eyes were fully opened upon
me, / seemed to be looking into the hungry
blue of the sky, and carried aloft by the look
| beyond the influence Of matter. For the
moment, my nerves grew numb, the compass
Of my senses narrowed to her wondrous face,
and the letters which bound me to it were
forged Of gold,
The months went by like the stars, which
wheel eternally, but seem motionless as we
watch them. Sometimes we read aloud, but
our voices wore low and lulling, as if quieter
than silence Then we talked Of my calm
paintings, shadowing deeper lonelnesses in
them But it was my highest rapture to sit
in stiffness for hours, while Heraine, cush-
Toned at my feet, made cunning embroider-
les, like some facile poet whose fingers were
dropping rhymes
! g / remarked that our conversations were
| progressive. My companion led me gradu-
en- and embolden me. We went forth, in
fancy, from our shadowy chamber, through
deep groves, into twilights, beneath soft
Skies even into the glare of the sun, and, at
last, among the storms and the seas. | may
have quivered, but / was not shocked; for
the wrack and roar of the universe were
drowned in the quietness of her voice. Then
we walked abroad a little way, and though
| I hn 1T III
these successes. She had travelled in fa1
countries, and often read me friendly letters,
which attested now well the world esteemed
her. Sometimes her acquaintance came to
the house, but never to my room, and once
or twice she was absen. a whole day, when
my nervousness returned There was one
correspondent whose missives were never
read to me fine bold hand, which al
length became familiar Theirreceipt pleased
her, | thought and once ventured to say:
Z" Heraine, you have a pleasant letter
there
"She only blushed very much, and all her
! quietness was gone for moment.
''As the months expanded into years, a
new feeling engendered from our intimacy.
| did not comprehend it at first 1t crept
upon me like the unfolding of a new sense OF
the gradual realizing of the earliest profound
thought An unexpected event gave it re
cognition.
1.-The boldly endorsed letters came twice g
month at first, afterward four times, and
finally twice, thrice, and even five times q
a week. Heraine was quick and flushed
She passed but two or three hours daily il
my apartment, and substituted for the EN-
broidery dress of such bright hues that i
dazzled my eyes One day she took her &C
customed seat. with face subdued to sad