The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-25
THE Way or THE WORLD.

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"And 50, Amy dear AMY, I have
come to you, and revealed all this
hopeless love, knowing your good, kind
heart, aud ready sympathy. Already
doesmy pain seem lessened, and my
burden lightened, and Won, when one
/ day another comics 10 interest your
heart, more deserving than yourad0pt
ed brother, will confide in me. so that
by my sorrow and my experience I
may guide and direct, YOU Promise
me, dear sister, that you will have no
secret grief from, will youia' And
Robert Mason looked tenderiy on Amy.
as she stood on the river bank beside
him. In her rustic gart.cn hat and
light evening dress, With the rich
brown hair clustering abont her fair
temples, and her truthful eyes raised
to his, she made a fair picture indeed.
+ A country scene it was, with broad,
green meadows and peaceful valleys, a
giant range ofmOuntaius and a flow ing
river. with the light from the dying
sim trembling upon its bosom. These
two were adopted brother and sister,
land had travelled thus far in life to-
gether, sliaring each others joys and
griefs until a, SORROW had come to ous,s
the existence of which the other must
never know. n0i.aiiiaM "a rai
Ea"You will not have a secret grief
from ME. Amy, will you And when
p go back to- tile dull countingshouse in
the city, aud my thoughts shall turn.
nightly to- yoi', Il can picture to myself
fair little girl with heart as light rs.
air, and eyes in whose depths shade.
Ofsadness never sits. Cheer nb,5 and
don't let the thought Of my misfortune
grievelyOu. Promise, Amy, to tell all
the future may bring yOn, either d por-
ton of gladness or of sorrow, and when
the time comes that your heart shall go
forth to meet it's destiny let un1e know
of 1t. 8 1, have the right to claim this
from yon. Will you promise m 81, 81
q Amy looked ont apon the, flowing
river aud saw the sunset fading away
from Its bos0mj then beyond tire pur-
pie mountain top, where,,a tiny star
had flashed into being. Her eyes fell
again to the river, where a handful Of
wild flowers, which she5 had gathered,
on the way, and thrown idly into the
stream, were floating far down to the,
great ocean and SO, she thought, is
my life, like the river, ever sweeping
onward to the eternal sea, and bearing
the roses of love on it's bosom, never
enjoying their perfume, going relent-
lessly on to its course, never coming
hack. but ever going forward. The
flowers drifted out of sight, and Amy
gave her answer with trembling lips:
perhaps" she said, Hmine may he
different from woman's usual lot 1.
may never ,lovcy si.a 52ia = n
41"No,' replied Robert, tenderly strok-
ing her hair, s'if do not mistake,
yours is nature that could not exist
without bestowing its wealth Of love
on some worthy object. Believe me,
You will love; but God help you from
knowing the bitter pang Of loving, and
not meeting with a return .
OH ifhe only knew how She loved
him! If he only knew the. deep Pain
he was causing her faithful heart. But
woman must bury her love from sight,
and with her own hands press the sod
deep into the grave.
Eyes repeated Amy, "God keep alt
from that bitter, bitter pang but, if it
is may fate, viii submit calmly No
man suffers for having woman, to
love him; and what If his happiness
will come to cast its reflection upon
me; what his sorrow will be mine also;
even to love him would be more,
great deal more, than l deserve"
He noted the thrill in her voice, the
wondrous light in her eyes and the
trembling hands that were clasped
nervously together, and yet never
guessed the truth.
Once again Amy looked out npon the
flowing river, bit the light had gone
from its breast, and in darkness and
silence it passed on. Then her glance
went upward where the stars were shi-
ming in regal state; and again she
thought is my life like the river when
the sunshine has fed from its BOSOM.
hiding all in darkness and silence,
even the, roses that have drifted far
away.
Silent and thoughtful the tNo turned
their steps homewatd, and that night
before separating, said farewell, for
early the next morning Robert was to
return to the city. Two or three even
ings after found Amy on the same spot,
by the river, when the sun was bidding
it farewell She was walking sadly
along WREN her foot struck against
something hard, aud, stopping dewn to
pick it up, she found that it was a lit
tie gold locket, out of which, looked a.
her face as fair and fresh as q spring
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