Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-11-11

tionalist, and few men could be more iascin
ating than he, for he had travelled extensive
" in his own and foreign lands, and when
he chose to exert himself to please, his dark
eloquent eyes, pure classic language and
high.bred elegance ofmanners were irresist'
IDLY charming. He evidently desired to
please Mira, as his manner towards her lul'
piled as much.
Mira listened spell-bound to bis beautiful
conversations thereby awaking the jealous
Indignation of dozen other less fortunate
admirers. They felt themselves aggrieved,
for she always treated them with such cool
Indifference. One lady, resplendent in bro
cadc and diamonds, nuttered through her
teeth. 1.-THE marble. hearted is warming at
last"
Mira cared little for admiration and less
for the opinion of her fashionable friends so
freely expressed. She was walking in the
cool piazza in the moonlight with young
Dagon, listening to his musical voice, whose
low, sweet tones were stirring u strange wild
melody in heart that never before vibiated
with love. She was listening to the thrill
ing description of Rome. the Eternal City,
enshrined on her seven hills. lie delinea-
ted with an artists enthusiasm, her grand
old marbles and INSPIRED paintings, over
which the dust and decay Of ages rest like
the gray slroud on the bosom of tbs dead.
In elegant language he described the wol'-
ders Of disentonbed Pompcii. He pictur-
ed the temples, theatres and dwellings,
where lived and loved the people Of two
thousand years ago. lie told her in glow
ing language, Of the graceful minarets,
feathery palms and grand and solemn pyra-
mids, and while listening she seemed to
scale with him the dangerous passes Of the
Alps and stood in breathless awe looking up
the dizzy heights crowned with ice and
snow. And in imagination she wandered
down the golden Nile and admired the rich
beauty of its fertile valleys, rendered glori-
ously beautiful by its frequent inundations.
His voice took deeper and sweeter tone
when he described the ruined cities Of the
far East, the iretted arches and vast cathe-
dral aislcs of the Old World made grand by
the work of art, and rainbow painted win
dows, whose artists dying left immortal
names behind them, way-narks for other
gifted spirits, who are destined to follow
them down the broad aisle ofcoming ages.
She drank in the tones of his softly modu-
lated voice. taking no note of time Wheu
supper was announced he led her to the
table. During the repast she watched him
narrowly, and when wine was served her
face became pale with excitement She Of
ferod him a glass with smile he gave her
a searching look and refused it, calling for
water in its stead. Turning to her he said:
81 cannot pledge you in wine for do not
drink it but with this glass Of water, Ma
ture's purcst beverage, | drink to you.-
May love and happiness be your portion in
lilc.'
"Thank YOU" 1t was all she said, but
bright smile rewarded him better than
words. Mira had indeed met her affinity.
Love budded in their hearts that night and
ere the year had passed it blossomed int n
hymcnial wreath.
1t was moonlight upon the Hudson. The
home to which Warren Dagon took his
young bride was beautiful with vines and
summer blossoms. He and Mira were walk
ing arm in arm on the cool piazza, convers-
ing of the past and dreaming bright dreams
of the future-long years to come, crowned
with earthly happiness.
II never could comprehend the reason
that your friends called you marble-hearted.
You were never cold to me, darling said
he, drawing her down to a seat by his side.
ut is sad story dear husband; let us sit
here in the moonlight and will tell you Of
my fair young sister who died three years
ago. / shall never again meet spirit like
hers, so proud, so pure and free. Elsie was
but seventeen when she gave her heart to
Atwcll Chandler. He loved the wine cup
better. He was no ordinary man, many and
rich were the gifts bestowed upon him by
nature. lie was dark haired man, with
eyes of rare depth and feeling. lie was
very handsome in manner he was gentle
manly and pleasing. We all loved him
father loved him like son, and so gave him
Elsie. They were married and went to
dwell in his beautiful home in the South,
and for few years they were very happy
''Then Atwcll began to neglect his busi-
ness for q downward path which ended in
drunkard's grave. Five years from her bri-
dal day Elsie CANA home heart broken Wild
ow; still young, but broken.hearted. At
well died by his own hand, for they found
him in tho summer house with his brains
blown out by pistol shot; and my dear
beautiful sister came to her girlhood's home
broken hearted came home to die.
"It was just such night as this, beau
tiful night in midsummer, when Elsie died.
She lay upon her pillow looking so white
and fair. She was so perfectly calm; no
fear of death thrilled her pure spirit her
face would have charmed Raphael, 1t was
SO spiritual in its childliSo beauty. If the
angels on tho other shore are tairer than