The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-03-12

"a swift, dark river now; and We could
no longer see each other, and so were
lost.
Willie on the other bank, followed its
winding TO the sea, and white winged
ship bore bin afar across its broad bos'
ON to foreign shores.
Blu, our parting words-thank God
we're words of love and fidelity, cfProm,
ises to meet again some time and fulfil
our VOWS. To meet asOin-O God!-
and how?
Fate carried him to a largo village.
Norman Willard was schoolmaie Of
mine, and he loved me. When he tOld
me his love, frankly said TO him l had
no heart to give him-lhat | loved Will
lie, and that when he came home, rich
and great, we were to be married, He
said Willie would never come back-he
would soon forget me; and he should al.
ways love me should never marry any
other, and could afford to wait until |
grew tired Of looking for Willie.
did not believe his wcrds, but my
heart stood still in my bosom a terrible
fear. No doubt of Willie had ever
found place in my heart, but not the
frs: bitter drops Of the flood Of sorrow
which was soon 10 OverwheIm me, fell
upon me.
Days and weeks slipped by, aqd no
letter came. Weeks lengIhend into
months, and. still blank silence, worse to
be borne than dread certainty.
Mr.. Willard, Norma g.; father, kept
the village store, and. was also tho'p post
master; and wien 1 daily sought the
postollice. and with Hurierug voice in
quired for letters, Norman shook his
headih silence, with look of ender
pity on his lace. And when, al length,
heart and. courage failed me, and
long, severe illness followed, and he was
untpingin his devotion, what Ronder
that, When T9coaao cOnvalesceu,. and
he renewed his sui,l that l should an,
swor. 'Yss!' s - ''
Itoli hin | dpot love hinas !, had
loved Willie. aud nsssI-ceuld.
sham conten. 10 take you. s.ilI,' no
answered. You wiz leasn % love me
yet
Learn 10 loucL What mockerjl Boil
dill not know il then. | have since
learned that lis possible TO leaxn aot'to
love.
The days went on. There were times
when my soul bpde me be true to vii
lies memory; but what could dc-n
poor bewildered child. without homo or
fortune, with neither strength nor tact
10 cope with the world in the desperate
struggle for subsistence? Besides, il WIS
womuns lot 10 be married. Almost ev-
cry one was married sometime. 1t was
natural tha, l should be- Ii seemed 10
be expected Of me too Every one said
it was good offer, and one which any
one would be glad 10 accept.
So smouldered my old love, and dug
grave deep in my heart and buried it,
aud rolled stone against the door of
the sopulcbre. And put on my white
garments and welded Norman Willard.
In my waking hours was ever true
TO my husband. But who can reign alb
solute over the realm Of sleep? -
Nightly there came 10 me vision of
Willie, sitting meath strange looking
tree (for which knew no name) with
folded arms and bowed head. And l
heard him calling, in tones Of piteous
entreaty-
'Louisel o Louisel come 10 mel
And always answered:
Il will as soon as can cross the deep
waters!'
The vision always faded before Etho
morning light
My husbands bearing towards me be-
came ftrul and capriciOus in the ex'
trems, one moment repulsing me with
harshuessr and the next throwing him.
self at my feet in an agony Of remorse,
and roverinO nv hands with kisses.