National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-03-19
Only One Fault.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

"
Ruth HOlly-though that is the
name under which you shall know
heI-but a prouder name, and one
you may have heard. Flowers grow
about her tomb and the turf lies
softly over it. You would scarcely
guess her life and its sad end as you
stood there. Rather would you
fancy that love and tenderness sur
rounded one, over whom such costly
piles of sculptured marble rears it
self. from her birth unto her death.
1t is a story such us | seldom
write-this life of her's-one that
cannot be ended by happy reunion
and the sweet sound of marriage
bells: but there are too many such
stores in the world to be quietly
passed over, if haply, there be any
warning in them. The lives of 9th
ers are, if we reld them rightly, the
best sermons ever preached, and
this ofRuth llolly's is only too true.
Vt it began very sweetly, like some
old pastoral poem. She loved and
was beloved gain, and the man she
loved had but one fault. He was
Young, he was brave, he was witty,
he was handsome, he was generous :
his loTe was devotion, his friendship
no lukcWarm thing of words; he
had great talent and great power
His eloqucncc had thrilled many an
audience worth the thrilling. What
he wrote touched the soul to the
very quick. He was an amatc0r
painter and musician, and every
where was loved aad honorcd AND
admired. He had only one fault IN
the vorld-hc drank too much wine
at times. When he did so he turn.
ed. 50 said conviyjal friends, into a
very demi god. 1t was wrong. but
not 50 bad as might have been, and
he would SOW his wild oats some day
they said. loving him as his friends
all loved him; and SO Rnth thought
| Sweet. loving, beautiful Ruth, tc
whom he had plighted his troth,
and woopd in verse and song. and
with his most eloquent eyes, long
I before he put his passion into words
/ hut so did not think Ruth Martins
/ Athrr. This one iault OF Edward
IIolly's ovcrshadowcd his virtue ii
! his eyes. and he refused him his
daughters hand, giving him his rca
son why plainly and not kindly.
'You'n he Il drunkard yet, Nee
Uollv.' said the old man, shaking
/ his head stcrniN. I've seen men o
genius 30 the same road before
I've often said Id rather have nC
/ talent in my family, since 1t seem
50 surely to lead to dissipation
Nv sons are not too brilliant to b'
sober men. thank hcavcn, and as to
my daughter, only a sober gentle
man shall have her fora wife; You,
break her heart Ned Holly.
So the dashing man OF Letters
felt himself insultcd. and rctortc,
hotlv. and the two were enemies.
Ruth suffered bitterly; she loved
her father. and she loved Edward
10 di~ohey her parent, or to hrcaI
her lovers heart seemed the oni,
choice offered her. She had othc
lovers. she han seen much society
and had hccn introduced to tn
, highest circles in France as well a
i'm En.laud: but amongst all III
men ; had known none please
her aS Edward Holly did. Ne
, What one styles an intellectual We
mau herself. She rvNrrcnccd mtcIlcc
and hey affections were ntcn>e.-
The struggle ia her heart WAS tcm
bic.
She met her lover by stcalt
against her fathers will; but for
'lIue while she resented his cntrca
les to marry linn in defiance OF Il
old mans refusal. At last, angcrC
.. hy ter persistence in obedience, Fl
i. ward accused her of fearing to Sha
Z the fortunes of one comparative
poor-onr who must carve his oN
e. way M lifr'S steep hill without a
sistaucc. The unmcritcd rcproa'
sunk deeply into her warm heal
and in n sudden impulse of tend'
ness aad sympathy she gave hlm Il
promise he had 50 long sought
vain. They were married that eN
ming, and before morning were ''p'
their way to far off city, wine
Edward, sanguinc and conscious
power, believed that he should ma
himself aname and position of viii
any woman might he proud.
her father Ruth wrote long a
!. loving letter, imploiing his iorgl'
" ness, but the answer crushed
hope within her bosom.
AS YOU SOW, so must YOU rca
- were the words the old man wro
Il have no longer n daughtcr,' Il
Ruth knew that hencetorth-(
she had been motherless for yeai
- she had in all the world only I
husband FOR whom she had sacliii,
fortune, and what is worth far mo
the tender protection of u father
In those early days Edward
his best to make amends for
y" n1 and she was SO proud OF him, Il
' 40 fond of him that she soon iort
to gricvc. 49,,
- She heard his name uttered
praise by all. She knew that
/. had but to keep steadily on,
mount 10 the highest seats in IAN
- high temple, and Tor II year she
no fear of his tailoring. NOW
Il, then icvcrish something IN