Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-20

1 uduu MulCA GtCBSt4OICO S11O sup
ported her, would cause the clouds that
obscured her sky to disappear, and she
would again enjoy the blessed sunlight of
love and happiness. She suffered, it is
true, but it was the suffering of meek,
patient, hopeful, trusting spirit, which
not even long years of agony could
break.
The first faint tinge of autumnal color
began to relieve the vivid green of the
summer foliage, and the signing winds
sung the requiem of departed hopes.
The treachery of Maud had had its effect
upon its victims, as has been shown, and
| Claude's face mirrored forth the anxiety
to which he was prey.
'tAunt Hamilton" maliciously remark
ed Maud, as they met, at the breakfast
table one morning, ''Don't you think
Claude has worn the willow sufficiently
long for his pretty village maid2 1t is
certainly not improving to his looks"
And indeed he was looking haggard
and worn, as sleepless nights and an ach-
| ing heart are not calculated to improve
ones appearance.
'Indeed, Maud" responded her aunt,
81 do not wish you to jest on that sub
| ject, as l can never believe that Claude
| Hamilton, g7ly son, would ever be Tilted
by an uncouth, country maiden. He for
whose smiles the best of our city bellies
would give half of their fortunes, and
their pretty selves beside. 1t grieves me,
indeed it does Claude, to behold you pin
| ing for one who has proved how utterly
unworthy she is of even passing regret,
and is even now, perhaps, recounting to
some rustic admirer, her easy conquest
and dispatch of her elegant city lover.
so, do look at Claude, Aunt" ejacu-
lated Maud, with assumed gaiety, for
her guilty conscience feared the storm
her levity had evoked; ''his face rivals the
| rainbow in its varying hues, but now the
lowering cloud, that portends tempest,
has arisen, and l intend to effect my es-
cape ere the storm bursts" and rising
from her seat, she tripped, in mock
alarm, from the room.
'Mother," angrily replied Caude, 'this
| is unbearable. l cannot nor will not brook
| such badinage, such circumstances. The
hottest feelings of my heart have been
trampled upon and made the theme of
| idle Jest by those from whom l should
expect sympathy. | know how earnestly
| you desire a union between Maud and
myself, but believe me, it can never be.
l will never bestow my hand unaccom-
panied by my heart. am no believer III
such hollow mockery. have borne the
raillery of yourself ard Maud until my
torn spirit cries out against it, and / in
tend to seek relief, if not forgetfulness, in
a foreign cline"
'Forgive me, my son," exclaimed Mrs.
Hamilton, but he had hastily left the
room, and ahe gazed tearfully after him,
conscience smitlen with the thought that
she had withheld that sympathy, the
want of which was driving him in exile
from her side.
In spite of her prOtestations, Claude
began his preparations for an early de-
psrtuTe, while Maud looked on in vain re
greet "Perhaps it is best" she thought.
In distant land he will forget his in
fatuation, and hope whispered, he may
yet be mine; surely he cannot withstand
such love as mine,n and gazing at the
glorious image reflected in her mirror, a
pang rent her heart at the thought
that such loneliness had failed to accom-
plish what the simple prettiness of an
artless village girl had so readily achieved.
The thought was CALLING to her pride.
With a word she could stay his departure,
but her heart hardened towards her gen.
tie rival, and she quietly babe him adieu,
when the mOmentOus hour of his de-
parture had come. But in the solitude
of their chambers, two aching hearts gave
vent TO the emotions with which they
were surcharged.
Standing upon the deck of the steamer,
gazing sadly upon the rapidly receding
land, Claude gave himself up to the IN
tensity of the feelings which 9wayed him,
aud above all, a conviction that one inter-
view with her he loved so truly, would
have resulted in iheT mutual happiness.
He would, cen now have Tetrsced his
steps,, but alas it was forever too late.
The golden opportunity was lost, and
months must elapse ere he would behold
her again. In this sorrowful mood he re-
tired to his state room, as the last faint
line of the distant coast was lost in the
gathering twilight.
The voyage was calm and unmoment-
Gus until, as they neared the coast of Ire
land, a tempest, that scOurge of the
ocean, burst forth in all its fury, and
after breasting the battling waves for many
hours with signing, sOughing sound, as
Of soul in mortal agony, the devoted
vessel sank beneath the waves and all On
board were lost, for who could success
fully resist the power of the mighty bill
lows piled mountain high With the
name of ''Grace" On his lips, and prayer
for her happiness in his heart, Claude
sank to the depths below, and found
Lethe from all his sorrows.
Weeks passed by, and at last it was
| known that the i'll fated steamer with her
precious cargo of human freight was lost.
The news was conveyed to Mrs. Hamil-
| ton, and ah, who can depict the anguish
of that mothers heart when she knew
! that her son, the idol of her existence,
would gladden. her sight no mors2 In an
agony too great for tears, she sought
Maud's side for sympathy; bat on learn
ing the dread intelligence, tie conscience
stricken girl, with a wailing cry of 'sMy
heart is broken; / have killed him!" sank
insensible. Hours elapsed ere she was
aroused from her death-like stupor, only
to sink from one fainting spell into
another. Mrs. Hamilton aroused herself
from the despair which was settling
around her to minister TO the one object
| of her love left to her; and this new anx-
iety drew her mind, in a measure, from
her own deep grief and eased her break
| ing heart.
For days Maui's life hung by thread,
and the constant theme of her rawlings
was, 81 bave killed him." Atlast reason
reclaimed its deserted throne, but her
sands of life were numbered. When told
of her early doom, she exclaimed:
81 care not, if l could but die in the
hope of forgiveness. Aunt Hamilton"
she feebly continued, ''you have cherish
ed viper in you bosom which has turned
and stung you. Behold me, the muir
| deress of your son"
''You rave, Maud, my darling; you
must not exert yourself to speak.
81 must speak, ere it is too late. Re-
morse is killing me, and in feeble, dis
| jointed sentences she rehearsed the story
of her love and dupicity.
Anger, girl # and despair we're conflict
| ing emotions in Mrs. Hamilton's breast.
| While the feeble tones plead for forgive
ness, the mothers heart rebelled against
! the voice IF conscience that WHISPERED,
Forgive, as We would be forgiven" But
! grief had brought her to the Throne of
| Grace, and her heart was prepared for
the entrance of the blessed precepts of
/ religion.
~ forgive you, my child, even as too
hope for pardon, "she brokenly exclaimed
'EBut Grace, Aunt, she can never for
/ give me, for l know how truly she loved
/ him. You will find the letters in yonder
! cabinet. Send them to her when l am no
! more. It may be some consolation fer
! her to know that he died loving her to the
1 l.. nrA LII LII. tho dr-inrr Maud rnlnads