The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-06-25
original Story.
FOR THE COLUMBIAN.
WHO WAS TO BLAME.
BY PEARL CLIFFORD.

Twenty.seven years old, was my he.
roinc, and still unwedded. Dire fate had
done its worst, mcthinks l hear some
young girl say with scorn and contempt,
for an old maid is ever an object of de-
testation and scorn to young and lovely
girls. To such, who read my history of
Lena's life, I would say, even your
bright life may be wrapped in gloom;
you smile and jest now, you coquet and
shake your curls, but a worse fate may
befal you, tho not a more sorrowful
one. i.. ... ....
Lena Clare was not pretty at eighteen,
though her well shaped head was crown
ed with rcd brown braids that cleaned
like ripened chestnuts in tho sunlight I;
eyes not large and brilliant, but small
and exprt ssionless blue her admiring
friends called them-grcy Lena her.
self was wont to say. But plain as Lena
undoubtedly WIS, she was not too plain
TO possess "a lover" handsome as Apol-
10, tall and 1.-the of limb with eyes
black and brilliant, forehead broad and
high and hair as black as jet, and shining
in rings of ebon, over faultlessly chisel-
ed head, with a moustache to match.
How Lena loved him All the ardor of
her nature that had slumbered through
eighteen years of her joyous happy life,
now awoke, and she rcvellcd in her first
love dream.
Ilnat nd nat col nj hn
Charles Carol, he loved her as deeply
and as intensely. He was her constant
companion in walks and rides; would
trime fragrant blossoms amid her brown
luXuriant hair, and the next day would
place the flower next his heart, saying
"they were the swcctcr because Lena
had worn them"
How l would love to dwell ON this
episode in Lena's life, but,
"into each life some ram must fall"
And her fate, was the lot ofall
and few weeks before they were to be
one in name, as well as one i'm soul,
death stepped in and the manly form Of
Charles Carol was lying cold and rigid
in his coffin. No more would he press
warm lingering kisses of love on her
lips; never again would his glorious
eyes beam tendcrly, lovingly OH her /;
her heart seemed broken AS she gazed
on his dead white face, and in her agony,
she longed to snatch it from its satin
lined casket, and press il to her heart.
She could not say mot my will, but
thine, oh Lord be done," her anguish
must be softened ere she could utter
these words from her heart.
Years passed away, and no one had
ever taken the place of her dead Charles
many there were, who had tried to
sodnd the depths of her cold proud ma
ture, but she gave no answering smile,
no tender word in return. Strangers,
called her "cold and passiOnless," her
intimate friends knew her as "a cure
for the blues" Sunshine" and such
other merry names, for she could laugh
now with the merriest and her conver-
sation was silly and trifiing in the ex-
treme, but she wore her mask well. Let
no one say that Lena Glare. ever per-
1
mitted people to study her, she was far
Ito proud and scornful to crave pity or
sympathy, and 50 the worlds verdict
was, Elena Clare never had heart"
and LenaClare never caviled at the wis
world, but said slowly and softly to
herself. ...,- r..-.-. ~. ia- .--.
'"The heart Is like the sky. n part OF heaven,
But changes nigt and day too. like the sky.
Now over II eloude and thunder must be driven
Aud darkness and destruction as on high.
but when 1t hath been seOrched and pierced
| and riyen, KID.
And like in stooms expires In water drops, the
| eye, .If ... ..
Pours forth at last tie hearts blood turned Ia
tears" "''
1t seems to Lena oftimes, that this. was
the true state of her heart. 9. Of. ..
Time heals all wounds whether they
be Of the physical or spiritual kind, and
there came day that Lena Clare learn
ed her heart beat as restlessly as it evei
had. .. ....- ....... ...... .-
A woman's love?--tis truly said "tis
woman's whole existence"
Lena Glare met one who won the love
she had thought buried in the grave