Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1869-10-23
THE LOST BRIDE.

My own lot in life, once happy and pros.
porous enough to have left me no reason
able wish ungratifed, had been sadly
changed. A young widow, poor and with
two tiny children almost solely dependent
upon my exertions for support, it may be
supposed that had little leisure, and By
some, but little heart to feel for others un
happiness. But / was not unieeling in
my days Of prosperity, and always tried "a
relieve the sorrows could not compre
hend. And suffering had not hardened
melt had taught me sympathy. could
suffer ,oith the afflicted, now, for had mol
| / drained the bitter cupf
was new to boarding houses, and tim
idly scrutinized the persons with whom
was brought into contact. in that which
was now my home. Very few Of them
suited me. may have been fastidious
but there were certain undefnable attrac
tions and repulsons, intuitions perhaps it
were well to call them in the absence ol
all reliable knowledge oil the laws that
govern that intangible part Of our being
which we call spirit which had ever been
my guide in my intercourse with my fel-
lows. ! found the repulsions very active
when first entered upon my new mode
of life, though experience has taught me
many lessons since, and ! do not 80 read.
lily yield to first Impressions.
Among all who surrounded me there
was but one person who awakened any in
terest in my mind. He was young man
apparently about twenty two years of age
--or rather might more properly call
him the wreck Of man. His dress indi
Gated either poverty or the extreme OF
| careIessness. and his attenuated form and
palld face. betrayed the ravages Of disease
That FACET can never be forgotten i
Pale and sunken as it was there were ira
ces of the fine lines Of former beauty. Its
outlines was massive. and the grand head
with its coronet Of thin brown hair, was
noble as that Of yourg Apollo.
There was q strange, sad sweetness
about the mouth, shaded only with a del
icate moustache, and beneath the brows
finely arched, that overhung the caverns
into which his eyes had retreated, they
CLEANED, at times, with dark fires that
made one shudder with dread Of incipi
ent insanity. but oftener were melted In
sorrowful light as OF arrested tears.
He mingled scarcely at all with his fel
low. .boarders, and never entered into the
conversation at table, or in the parlor ol
evenings. When addressed he answered
courteously. in the iewest possible words
always well chosen. and then relapsed IN
to the sad silence that seemed to be peo
pied by so many bitter thoughts.
Very innocently watched this man
/ had loved but one--no other had evei
awakened an emotion akin to that 10 my
heart-and he, iE dying, had robbed me oI
the capability Of love. At least ! believ
ed so then.
Just as innocently mentioned to some
OF the women whom met there, the in
terest he excited in me. They jeered al
me, and instead of sympathy in my feel
ings, or with him, they spoke OF him as
dull, i'll natured person, whom it was an
noyng to be Obliged to see constantly with
his unsmiling face, and pre- occupied air
| said no more, but heard afterwards
these very women exercising their small
malicious wit upon me, and jesting about
the widows" liking for the pale faced
boy
learned two lessons from this nevel
to cast my pearls Of feelings before soul
less, swinish human cretures, and never to
dare exhibit an interest Of any kind, in q
person Of the other sex. under penalty ol
being the butt OF cruel jpsts and inuendoes
like those to which l had listened. All
this, however, did net check the feeling
but only the expression.
For several months. ! met Mr.. Cameron
daily. and came. during the time, into a
measured sort Of intimacy with him. He
sometimes noticed my children, and once
or twice brought toys, and in the few con
versations we had. discovered that he
possessed warm heart, and q mind oi
more than ordinary power
When my Eddie fell i'll he came to me
with such earnestly offered service that
dared not refuse, and II was by the bed
side Of the little convelescent, after we two
had watched for hours there. waiting in
trembling for the turning Of the scale
which was to be life or death for the child,
that he told me the history Of his life, and
of those events that had stricken him in
his early prime.
Egbert Cameron's father was sea cap
tain. He had accumulated considerable
wealth, daring his many voyages, and was
enabled to bestow upon his only son an
excellent education. and the advantages
Of travel. The boys mother must have
been one Of those sweet. gentle natures,
whose whole life is a benediction to all
who come within its influence. Her son
almost worshipped her, he never mention
ed her without thrill OF deep feeling in
his voice, and beautiful kindling OF the
face that told how sacredly shrined was
her memory in his heart Of hearts.
Mrs. Cameron had an adopted daughter
the child of friend. who had commen.
ded her infant to Egbertis mother Just as
she was drifting away from the shores Of
Time--a sacred charge. whom she made
in all respects as the sister Of her son.
The boy aud girl grew up together mutu
ally acknowledging this implied relation,
until Egbert went to school. He was ab
sent from home several years, portion Of
the time in Germany. At eighteen he re-
turned home finally. Returned 10 receive
his mothers dying blessing, and to find
in the lovely yourg creature who had