The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-14

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in silent. ast64HAm @ " eSf8 Had
raised herself ihto "a sit} q SSSstpSs3 her
wasted arms, her sdiserde Tered hair y ,r
sunken featuresG Gher hollow eyes gleaSn-
ing with light like thai 9f q lamp kin
ding up before it is extinguished forever;
lent an air Of understandable solennity to
the scene. Placing her hand timber hus-
bands, she said: Juan, you remember,
when we separated, the promise We. made
of mutual fidelity? Ny heart was yours.
and yours was mine. Well, the terror of
losing that heaft, caused me to commit
a grievous sin. I 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 deli
rium-of the moment, cried to Hea-
ven: 'Oh, Godl either give me back my
beauty, or take from him his eye-sightP
The moment the selfish, impious prayer
was uttered, I bitterly repented, and
would fain have recalled it; but too latel
Juan, the wish was granted, and I have
never known since one moments happi
ness.'
"'Whatv cried her husband, and is
this the secret, Marguerite, which is kill
ing you?
"'It is.
"'Then live, dearest, and be happy;
your prayer was not answered.
"And tearing of the bandage which
covered his eyes, he fell on his wife's
bosom, and clasped her in q long en-
brace.
cit appears that the blindness which
had fallen on Juan was of only tempo
rary nature. Under the skillful treat
ment of our friend the surgeon, whom
he privately consulted, the power of
vision began slowly, but surely, to re-
turn. Having, however, heard from his
grandmother The whole history of Mar,
guerite's horror at the idea of his be-
holding her disfgured face, he generous
ly determined to- conceal from her his
cure, at least for time. Now, however,
it was suddenly revealed; and was it too
late? The doctor, motioning us all away
from the bed, took his patients hand,
and felt her pulse; q hopeful smile played
on his benevolent lips.
"'My friend, said he, turning to me,
the age of miracles has not ceased-Mar-
guerite is curedr"
Here the good man ceased, and after q
pause, asked-''And was Marguerite in
reality SO very much disfgured?"
"You shall judge for yourself"
We walked on, and soon reached 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, n young
woman was nursing an infant. Her
figure was remarkably graceful, and her
face, although certainly not handsome,
was by no means repulsive. It was even
easy to distinguish. amid the seums and
scars which marked it, the vestiges of
great beauty. There was touching ex-
preston of serene tenderness shed over
her features, as she looked on her child.
which in my eyes amply compensated for
the want OF regular comeliness.
The curate advanced. "Good morn
ing, Marguerite, he said.
Good morning, SIR" she answered,
looking up with beaming smile.
"How is baby to -day?"
CAS- well as possible" said the happy
mother, holding up and showing her
nurseling's rosy, dimpled checks
"Well, Marguerite" said the good old
man, taking the innocent little creature
in his arms, and kissing it's tender fore
head. II could fancy this is yourself as
remember You on the day I baptized you.
Come, the Valley of Campan has not lost
its Pearl-it is restored in the person of
your lovely little daughter"