Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-05-21

constant struggle between pride and tho
energy of n strong passion. 1t is between
the ages of thirty and forty that the pas
sions have most empire over us. At that
period of life the character is completely
formed; and as we well know that We de-
sire, so do we strive to attain our end with
all the energy of perfect organization.
Werter was little more than nineteen
years old. He was tall, fair, and melan-
choly. ! am persuaded that love had re-
vealed itself to the young student by the
intermediation ofthe musical sense. had
more than once watched him when Ellen
sang. A sort Of fever agitated him: he is
olated himself in corner of the room and
there, in mute ecstacy, the poor boy in.
hailed the poison Of love.
The pretensions of Ellen's two admir-
ers manifested themselves by attentions
of very different kinds, in which were dis
played their different natures. The Baron
brought Mrs. Muller tickets for concerts
and theatres. Often, at the dessert, he
would send for delicious Hungarian wine,
in which he drank the health OF the ladies'.
slightly inclining his head TO Ellen, as ii
he would have said-I bow to you alone.
Werter would stealthily place upon the
piano new ballad, or volume OF poet
ry; and when the young girl took it up,
his face flushed and frightened. as if the
blood were about to burst from it. Ellen
smiled modestly at the Baron, or grace
fully thanked the Student; but she SEEM
ed not to suspect that which neither Of
them dared to tell her.
An attentive observer of all that passed,
1 did my utmost TO read Ellen's heart, and
to decide as to the future chances of the
Baron's or the Students loves. She was
passionately fond of narratives of adven.
ture, and, thanks to the wandering lie |
had led, was able to gratify this taste.
l noticed that traits of generosity and no.
bic devotion produced An extraordinary
effect upon her. Her eyes sparkled as
though she would fain have distinguished
through time and space the hero of ano-
bleaction then tears moisteaed her beaut;
ful lashes, as reelection recalled her to the
realities of life. understood that neither
the Baron nor Werter was the man to win
her heart they were neither of them equsi
TO her. Had l been ten years younger,
/ think should have been vain enough 10
enter the lists. Bnt another person, whom,
none would at first have taken for man
capable of feeling and inspiring strong
passion, was destined to carry of the prize.
One night, that we were assembled in
the drawing-room, one of the habitual
visitors to the house presented to us a
jew, who had just arrived from Lemberg,
and whom business was TO detain for some
months at Vienna. In few words, Mr..
Muller made the stranger acquaint cd with
the rules and customs Of the house. The
jew replied by monosyllables, as ii he
disdained to expend more words and in
telligence upon details so entirely ma
terial. He bowed politely to the ladies,
glanced smilingly at the furniture of the
room, round which he twice walked, as
if in token Of taking possession, and then
installed himself in an armchair. This
pantomime might have been translated
thus Here l am look at me once for
all, and then heed me no more Mr..
Malthus-that was the Jews name-had
a decided limp in his gait he was man
of the middle height, and of decent
bearing his hair was neglected; but a
phrenologist would have read world OF
things in the magnificent development OF
his forehead.
The conversation became general. Mr..
Malthus spoke little. but as soon us he
opened his mouth everybody was silent.
This apparent Difference proceeded per-
haps as much from desire to discover
his weak points rs from politeness
towards the new conner.
The Jew had one of those penetrating
and sonorous voices, whose tones seemto
reach the very soul, and which impart to
words inflexions not less varied than the
forms of thought. He summed up the
discussion logically and lucidly; but it
was easy TO see that, out of consideration
for his interlocutors he abs:ained from
putting forth his whole strength.
The conversation was Intentionally led
to religious prejudices at the first words
spoken on this subject, the Jews counte-
nance assumed sublime expression. He
rose at once to the most elevated con-
siderations: it was easy to see that his
imagination found itself in familiar
sphere. He wound up with so pathetic
and powerful peroration, that Ellen,
yielding to sympathetic impulse, made
an abrupt movementtowardsh him. Their
two souls had met, and were destined
mutually to complete each other.
said to myself, that Jew will be Ellen's
husband
Then I applied myself to observe him
more attentively. When Mr.. Nautilus
was not strongly moved and animated,
he was butan ordinary man nevertheless.
by the expression of his eyes, which
seemed to look within himself, one could
discern thathe was internally preoccupied
with some of those lofty thoughts identi.
faJ with s,,neriOr mipdo C,,p,a calah,-at