The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1868-09-05
vEor one, should never naSc des

= As'iy answs
fsrySior one, should never haSc de1eck.
fss it.
! Dupleisis colored at this, and mutter-
ed something about his life being one OF
secresy. Mile Milan feigned interest,
and at length insisted on knowing its
history.
" Do you truly wish to hear the VERT
able details?'' ai 2.
The lady nodded E9tl i9f
I" was ushered into this land of hope
and sunny smiles with scarcely any other
patrlmony than name. While blush
! ing with the consciousness of my virgin
cravat, went to Paris, that sacred ark
that saves from shipwreck all the wretch
ed of the provinces, if they be but gifted
with a rayoof intellect Through the
influence of my friends, l entered the
Ecole Polytechnique, and after gradu-
ating, cut the army and cast my fate, for
better or worse In the fowery paths of
literature. 1t proved to be for worse.
The Bourbons had treated my family
stability" the muse is maiden of
good memory" My satiric efforts pro-
cured me letter of banishment At the
accession of the Emperor / returned a
prodigal son of Mars, and now manage
to sustain myself by
By writing sonnets TO Brazilian
hospitality, interrupted Mademoiselle.
Dupleisis bowed gravely +" Anxious
to do so, Mademoiselle, but have not
yet collected sufficient material 5l
The railler was becoming too earnest,
and Dupleisis remarked in an apologetic
tone But, Mademoiselle, while l am
entertaining you with philosophic dis
cussions of the world in general, with
touch of fautobiographical reminiscence
in particular, l have neglected the boon
L came to crave. Could you be persuad-
ed to favor me with a song?p
What will you say to me when you
speak of yourself as though you were a
block of wood?''
The prosy geologist, who talks ped
antically of the division of a granite rock
is astonished and mute when he sees the
flower that blooms above it"
Mon Dieu! Mons. Dupleisis, can
not conscienticusly sit by and bear Com
fort SO ruthlessly robbed of his laurels.n
= Mademoiselle, you are unkind. |
say nothing complimentary, but you cry
stop thief" iJa
The lady played few sparkling bars
and sang. She had magnificent voice,
but her music, like herself, though
studied, faultless, was chilling as the
north wind. 1t swelled deep and full, in
rich hute-like tones, now ringing clear
and sweet in pure ripping notes now
quivering low in waves of enchanting
melody. There we're soft gurgling sounds
that flowed wild and free as mountain
rivulet. Tt was brilliant. bewildering
but the dazzle was like the frozen glitter
of an icicle. Suddenly look of unmiti-
gated scorn swept across her face and the
music ceased. She eyed Dupleisis for a
moment half defiantly and asked, "would
you really like to hear me sing ?" and
he answered earnestly, Yes
A plaintive prelude followed, and her
voice mingled with it almost impercepti-
bly,. 1t was one of those gloomy Spanish
ballads, dramatic rather than harmon
ious, that poured forth its mournful
strains in the fitful measure ofan Kolian
harp. There were bursts of pathos that
seemed to echo from her very soul. 1t
was fierce, mocking, passionate; tender,
wicked; Terrible 1t sank in sobs Of
melting compassion it implered pity
and sympathy in words Of thrilling en-
treaty and then it rose, cold and calm,
in sounds of whitening derision and inn
placable hate. 1t trembled, it scorned,
it pleaded, it taunted, it struggled, it
despaired, and then, as if for the dead,
it walled and died in long, helpless cry
of sorrow Eiiasgsans b bgi af
Dupleisis sat listening to the dreary
history entranced There was love, and
feeling, and fond womanly devotion
there was refined thought, gentle pity,
and warm generous charity and there
was neglected heart, gloomy embit-
tered mind, life lost in utter desolation.
The glorious creature whom God had
created to cheer and encourage man was
beautiful statue. Who would teach
that heart to feel again? Who turn to
quivering flesh that rigid marble?
He could realize now the crime of
scoff. He could understand now how
men had gone through poverty and priva-
ton, sickness and distress uncompiain-
ingly. Oh, womanl With all the neglect
you suffer from carelessness, inconsider-
ate, reckless men, know, that if ever we
arrive at any goodness, or greatness, or
purity, it will be through your tender
ness. Pity our mistakes, be patient with
our harshness. You are nearer Heaven
than we.. If strong man has some
times an intense desire to draw q child
to his heart, to lean its soft cheek against
his rough face, and feel the cooling
sweetness of its breath (and we all do,
surely there must be some good in him.
Yet the man of iron. sat masking his
features, controlling his emotions, with
every muscle under his command. One
remark Of raillery or. compliment, and
the doors of his heart, with all its won
derful machinery, would have closed with
a spring, to remain shut forever, The
most finished speech of the most con-
summate actress would have passed
lightly as snow drift on frozen river
One fash of real feeling from a proud
sensitive woman, stirred him to his vEyI
soul.