The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-24
Here the curate stopped, and I thought
his story ended

Here the curate stopped, and thought
his story ended. Tt
"Weil," l said, II suppose the blind
warrior and his betrothed-still in his i'm.
agination blooming in al her youthful
charms-were speedily united ?"
"They were," he replied; ut was
who married them; but have somewhat
more to tell You Of them. Their cottage,
by the willing aid of the villagers, was soon
rebuilt, and they removed into it. Their
circumstances were very comfortable, and
Juan supported his infrmity caused, he
told me, by the explosion of . mine-with
the utmost cheerfulness. His tenderness
for his wife seemed to increase every day ;
and vet she was evidently not happy. She
became prey to constant melancholy, and
her health and strength visibly declined.
Her old friend, the doctor, visited and pre-
scribed for her, but without avail:
"My art is at fault he said to me.
Her body suffers, but the seat Of the dis
ease is her mind. Do you try to discover
what the secret is which weighs on her,
or l cannot answer for her life.
"Alas! how could I apply the consola-
tiop of religion to case Of which the
sufferer persisted in keeping me profound
" ignoranti Once she seemed on the
point of opening her mind, but Juan
entered the room and she was silent; nor
could I ever afterward induce her to speak
freely. Meantime her bodily condition be-
came very precarious, and Juan, who was
now aware of her danger, was scarcely
less anxious about her.
"One evening when I was in the cot
tage, the doctor arrived, and, having ex-
amined his patient, pronounced that unless
some powerful reaction took place she
could not long survive. How solemn were
the moments that succeeded this announce
menti Poor Juan grssped convulsively
the hand of his wife, while large tears
streamed from beneath his bsndage.
al began to exhort her on the subject OF
religion; and when spoke of the mercy
of her Maker she exclaimed: 'Oh, have
great need of mercy, for my conscience is
burdened with heavy load. Listen, she
continued, addressing US all, and tell me
whether can hope for forgiveness
"Grouped around her bed, we waited
in silent astonishment. Marguerite had
raised herself into q sitting posture, her
wasted arms, her disorderad hair, her
sunken features, her hollow eyes, cleaning
with light like that of lamp kindled
up before it is eXtinguished forever, lent
an air of indescribeble solemnity to the
scene. Placing her hand in her hus-
bands she said: Juan, you remember
when we separated the promise which we
made of mutual fidelity? My heart was
yours and yours was mine. Well, the ter
TOR of losing that heart caused me to COM
NIT grievous sin. pictured you to my
self with shocked, averted looks, at the
first sight of her who was once named the
Pearl and in the agony, the delirium of
the moment, cried to Heaven: Oh, God!
either give me back my beauty or take
from him his eyesight! The moment the
selfish, impious prayer was uttered bit
terly repented, and would fain have recalled
it; but too late. Juan, the wish was
granted, and have never known since
one moments happiness
"Whatr cried her husband, and is
this the secret, Marguerite, which is kill
ing yous''
"Then live, dearest and be happy; your
prayer was not answered.
"And tearing off the bandage which
covered his eyes, he fell on his wifes
bosom and clasped her in long embrace.
at appeared that the blindness which
had fallen on Juan was only of tempo
rary nature Under the skillful treatment
of our friend the surgeon, whom he pri-
yately consulted, the power of vision be-
gan slowly but surely to return. Having,
however, heard from his grandmother, the
whole history of Harguerite's horror at
the idea of his beholding her disfigured
face, he generously determined to conceal
from her his cure, at least for q time.
Now, however, it was suddenly revealed,
and was it too late? The doctor motioned
us all:away from thu. bed, took his patients
hand and felt her pulse hopeful smile
played on his benevolent lips.
Z" Ny FRIEND said he, turning to me,
the age of miracles has not ceased-Mar-
guerite is cured y"
Here the good man ceased, and after a
pause, asked: "And was Marguerite
in reality so much disfguredi"
"You shall Judge for yourself"
We walked on and soon reached q neat
and pretty cottage, covered in front with
luxuriant vine An old woman sat near
the doorway spinning, and placed on q
low chair by her side young woman vas
nursing an infant. Her figure was re-
markably graceful, and her face, although
certainly not handsome, was, by no means
repulsive. 1t was even easy to Distinguish
amid the seams and SCARS which marked
it, the vestige of great beauty. There wss
q touching expression of extreme tender.
ness shed over her features q she looked
on her child, which in my eyes amply
compensated for the want Of regular
comeliness.
The curate advanced. "Good morning,
Marguerite" he said.
"Good morning, sir" she answered
looking up with beaming smile.
"How is baby to-dsy!"
"As well Is possible, said the happy
mother, holding up and showing her nurs
Ing's rosy, dimpled cheeks:
%Well, Marguerite" said the good ole
man, taking the innocent little creature
| in his arms and kissing its tender forehead
~ could fancy this yourself - remem
Der you on the day baptized you. Come
the Valley of Csmpan has not lost it
Pearl-it is restored in the person of oul
little daughter"