The Shasta courier., 1866-09-01

ing dawn the lamp and sword, and covering
his face with his hands. Why didst thou
not intimate thy heroic resolve, and the pos
session of worlds would not have made US
ruin that loveliness which kingdoms cannot
repair"
You would have called it maid-sick
martyrdom. or coquetry run mad, or epithets
equally fantastical," said she, pressing her
hand 10 her bosom.
'.Say there is yet hope. The injury thou
hast inflicted is not irreparable," cried he,
rushing to arouse the household, when she
beckoned him back.
II pray your Majesty be calm," she said,
1.-THE worst is passed"
20 heavens, how heartless | we seem to
be the cause of all this wreck. o Ellen,
canst thou forgive thy destroyer"
Indeed l can far better be thus than be
a furnished thing cast away. for maids to
loathe and man to scorn me. Now the
worst they can say of me is, that spoiled
| myself OF o questionable good to escape
evil"
And what will they say of me, Ellen p
That the good King Francis once upon
a time, meeting poor, plain girl in an OBJ,
scure town, Was so blinded with strange love,
that she saw no way to restore him to sight
than to lose her own"
"Gracious and all mysterious Godl" be
exclaimed appalled,, thou dost not say thou
art blind ~
I'm sooth, such is my fear. Give me
your hand, and I'll determine whether there
is water in the well-spring of the brain,' u
said she with touching tenderness and she
shed a tear. which he kissed away, as she
endeavored tn examine his palm.
- a.
make me happy" exclaimed the agon'zed
Lis head heavily against her breast.
''Ai's dark, my Liege."
"All, Ellen?'
"Yes, my Liege"
20, -ay not sol Say that there's yet a
little light"
And so there is, Lord Francis; little
light that mised me into"
"Love, EIlen?"
''''ris so, Lord Francis"
g For whom, Ellen? Thou tremblest, l
know all"
Then if you do why do you ask why do
you ASK Lord Francis ?''
Ellen, thou lowest him who would have
been thy base undoer."
'Tis so. my Lord"
20. torture worst of all and Ellen's
blind y and her tears fell piteously on his
upturned face, while he continued to ejacu-
late, And she is blind O, who will love
her now when she is blind ?''
Won't you, my sweet Lord Francis, love
me rs though l were dear sister long since
dead ?"
Dearest sister. I will," said he, kissing
her hands fervently. Sister Ellen, will;
and never till now knew Francis love so pure.
so lasting"
s. Eh yon keen crucible hath burned
away all drossness," said she, moving her
hand over the chatting dish. .''Tis with life
as with this short episode of an hour
Nothing in the way of virtue was ever ac-
complished without pain. To horse, Lord
Francis, and whenever you pray remember
Ellen Ingleverre.''
- And must we part thus, more dearly
loved and doubly fair?"
- Yes, and rejoice that no guilty blush
crimson my cheek, nor criminal throb up
braid my heart for beating" replied she, as
the hawk uttered such series of piercing
screams that first her attendant, and then
others, and finally retainers and jewellers
rushed into or surrounded the room, where
they discovered the sovereign surnamed
. The Restorer of Learning. and the Great"
deprived OF forethought and hrmness OF
mind.
The most skillful teaches the town or court
could afford were summoned but their aid
was only of partial avail. Facial beauty had
forever departed from her whose self control
was worthy the best days of chivalry. Eye.
brightness had forever departed, and in the
gray mists of the morn she saw her royal
lover depart never more to.return.
In after life he was wont to say that
throughout his glorious career of war and
peace he had met only two human beings
eminently great-one the famous Bayard,
the poor captain of a few lancers, the chew
alier sans reproach, from whose sword King
Francis sought and obtained Knighthood, as
earth's greatest honor, and the other the
humble and lovely Ellen, who had taught
him that love without purity is dishonor,
and charms without virtue is shame.