The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-11-25

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unkempt hair fell like veil over her
shoulders. She was still beautiful, al
though distress had quenched the fire
in her eyes and whitened into lilies
the roses on her cheek.
You wish to see me, sir?" she
said, scanning me curiously and with
troubled expression, as if she was
conscious of having seen me before,
but where she could not remember.
eyes, madame" 1 frejoined q have
travelled good ways Tor this inter-
view, and trust you will not disap-
point me-"
You are Mr.. E, are you not p
eyes, Madame, that's my name," 1
replied, "and bring you message
from your family" asaE.
"Come in.'' a s.s4--v
The room was poorly furnished, and
wore faded air, as if sympathizing
in the condition of its occupants, but
this would not be noticed while re-
,ceiving the courtesies of the lady,
given, it is true, with weary air and
a heart sickness that no effort of the
poor girl could disguise.
"You see me sadly changed sir"
she said with a weary smile. HE
"Indeed, do, Madame, am sorry
it is so. 1t is of that wish to speak
with you, and to prevail on you to re-
turn with me-"
q 1t is too late"
You are mistaken; your friends
grieve at your absence, and would
gladly welcome your return"
"You do not know all! ="
"I know that you have been de-
ceived, but that is not criminal. The
baseness is with the betrayer, not the
betrayed"
know that; have tried to de-
lude my own mind and heart with
the sophistry that l am only victim ;
but it is not so. Listen, and l will
tell you!'
"I was infatuated with that man.
His hold Old my affections was not
such as young girls usually give to q
lover. There must have been some
strange affinity in our natures, for
knowing his guilt, L still loved him.
1 saw him not as he was. | put be-
hind me all his evil, was si.so!utely
blind to his criminal practices and his
utter dishonor. l thought of him on
ly as the brilliant man in the world,
his graceful courtesy and brilliant
wit. / have seen him the admired of
all our cicrle, the courted, fascinating
Critoliton of society. thought he
was honorable and good; my am BIZ
ton was fixed to become a countess.
Like poor Pauline, listened to his
stories of castle and wide domains, OF
lordships and principalities, until
sense and honor faded in the glowing
visions he had created. l had then
become fit instrument to help him
in his evil deeds. l became criminal
too. li
"Many of the jewels were stolen by
me. Together we piled our vicious
calling until discovered and exposed
by you. Why should L remain be-
hind when he has gone? My
peace was destroyed, my reputation
would soon follow it. What should
T lo2 II eaar,ad oe ;f ,1,yy hpo; N
would madden. could not confess
my crimes. 1t would kill my parents.
Oh! if you only knew how often in
the visions of the night 1 have seen
their plying glances, their love, re-
proachful words, their sorrow and
distress, and then awaken with bitter
sobs to find it all dream, you would
pardon me that feel unable to endure
any longer the position so full of hui
initiation. l determined to seek my
partner in iniquity. came here and
found him.
The story of the poor girl was told
with many broken sob and tears that
came from the heart. My own fell
fast as listened. l thought of the
grieving parents far away: of her
clouded life, with every hope and
blessing wrecked before the blossoms
of her youth were gone how. could l
help but pity them and her? 1 could
not hope now to take her back. Their
paths in life divided from that fatal
night; and sin and shame forbade
them to meet. 1 told her why 1 had
come to see her-told her all.
"Tell them you saw me-" she said.
"Stay! take this picture with you,
but say died." and the sad smile
grew wintery, the lilies crept back
into the cheek which thoughts OF
home had flushed, and binding tears
shut me out from sight.
left her alone in her despair.
Yes, alone! to look back on the
sunlight fyouth-looking up to the
clouds and despair. The hopes of her
youth were gone, and joyless, futur-
leSS, Inc VlSlOIS Oi lllc HUI laueu anu
fled.
GooD-BYE.-It is a hard word to
speak. Some may laugh that it should
be, but let them. Icy hearts are nev-
er kind. 1t is word that has choked
many an utterance, and started many
tear. The hand IS clasped, the word
spoken, we part, and are out upon the
ocean of ime-we go to meet again,
!, where God only knows. 1t may be
, soon; it may be never. Take care
that your good bye be not cold one
it may be the last that you can give
Ere you can meet your friend again
deaths cold hand may have
closed his eyes and chained hi:
, lips forever. All! he may have
, died in thinking you loved him
not. Again, it may be a long
, separation, Friends crowd onward