Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-04-25

ou, the passionless statue ofice--you, finally, to succumb to the pale face and solemn eyes of nursery govcrness F
 "I tell you, Wilford," said Presley, in low, vehement accents, ''that woman has stolen my heart away-my whole being Land if she rejects my suit, lifes sunshine will be goue for ever, as far as I am concerned"
 He turned away and went into the house, leaving Sidney Milford to mar vel at his leisure.
 Mrs. Cameron was sitting by the shaded light of softly burning lamp, with a volume open on the table be- fore her, but she was not reading. Very tall, but perfectly nodded, with superb dark eyes, and hair whose natural wave caught ripples of light at every motion of the beautiful head.
 She looked up as Mr. Presley enter ed, and in spite of her resolute self-con- trol, scarlet tide suffused her pale, lovely face. The moment had come, to which she had looked forward for so many years She read it in his face as plainly as though he had spoken the words, q love youl"
 "Well, it was over. Maurice Presley had asked her to be his wife, and she had said "Yes." And still she shrank away from the fond clasp of his hand --the deep words of tenderness that welled spontaneously from his inmost being.
 "My love! the light has dawned at last upon my heart. Ianf happy now !"
 The wedding. was over, with it's glimmer of orange flowers and soft rustic of sunny silk. Mr. Presley was standing in the centre of group of congratulatory friends, while his wife had gone upstairs to change her bridal dress for more suitable travelling costume, when his valet brought him folded note. Excusing himself in a few brief words, he stepped into the deserted library to read the missive whose supercription sent stange thrill to his heart. It contained but a few lines, in the peculiar crampcd chiro graphy of the child he had once called wife
 "MAURIcE--I have come back to you am waiting in the little room by the south gable, for you to welcome me once more to your heart.
 AMABEL."
 As if thunderbolt had descended on his unconscious head, Maurice Presley sank white and aghast on so- ia. with both hands elasped over his eyes.
 Then he arose, and went, with the staggering, uncertain motion of a blind man. into the room indicated by the note.
 It was empty, as yet--and he leant against the mantel, sick and dizzy. Amabel alive-Amabel came back to part him from the idolized wife he had just acquired the privilege to call his own? Oh, better death and oblivion better the blessed rest of the grave!
 Maurice.'
 He started. Alice Cameron was standing before him, with her pitying eyes full upon his face.
 "Mauricc--my husband. :"
 "Not your husband, Alice. Oh, my beautiful, my beloved, must give you up now ?"
 "Maurice P She had nestled close to him, with almost passionate earnest ness. "Oh, Maurice, am so changed !? Have you forgotten Amabel! Oh, par don the stratagem by which l have at last gained your love!
 .'But-Amabel is dead"
 ''.rhe Amabel of years ago is dead but the Amabel of the present stands before you! Maurice, do you love me now ?"
 Yes, he loved her now-she saw it in every glance of his eye, every motion of his lipl
 Twice weoed--twice married--a wid- ow, yet wife--a bride, yet no bride, Amabel Presley knew that new life was opening before her whose sun shine should never know cloud nor shadow more!