The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-17
NUMBER /.

!, pcssfor his wife seemed to increase ev.
cry day. and yet she was evideuil,
!, not liappy. She became prey to con
slant melancholy, and her health and
e strength visihly declined. Her old
friend, the doctor, visited and prcscrib-
: ed for her, bnt without avail.
s.af s art is at fault he said to me.
Her body suffers, but the seat of the
disease is her mind. Do you try to
discover what the secret is which
weighs on her, may be, or cannot an
lswer for her life.'
!" Alas! how could I apply the conso-
lation of religion to case of which the
sufferer persisted in keeping me- pro-
fonndly ignorant? Once she seemed
on tho point of opening her mind, but
Juan entered the room, and she was ST.
lent; nor could ever afterwards in
fdnce her to speak freely. Meantime
her bodily condition became very pre-
carious; and Juan, who was now
aware of her danger, scarcely ever STIR
red from her side. Old Gertrude, as
you may suppose, was scarcely Icssanx-
ious about her.
"One evening, when I was in tho
cottage, the doctor arrived, and having
examined his patient, pronounced that,
unless some powerful reaction took
iplace sho could not long survive. How
solemn were the moments that succeed
ed this announcement! Poor Juan
grasped convulsively the hand of his
wife, while large tears strcamed from
beneath his 5andages.
ri began to exhort her on the subject
of religion; and when / spoke of the
mercy of her Maker, she exclaimed,
Oh, / have great need Of mercy, for
my conscience is burdened with heavy
load. Listen,' she continued, address
ing us all, land tell me whether l can
hope for forgiveness
Grouped around her bed, we wait
ed in silent establishment. Marguerite
had raised herself into sitting pos
ture; her wasted arms, her disordered
hair, her sunken features, her hollow
eyes, cleaning with a light like that of
a lamp kindling up before it is extn-
gnished forever, lent an air of indescri-
bable solemnity to the scene. Placing
her hand in her husbands, she said
Juan, yon remember, when We sepe-
rated, the promise we made of mutual
fidelitya Ny heart was yours, and
yours was mine. Well, the terror of
losing that heart caused me to commit
a grevious sin. Ipictured you to my
self with shocked, ayerted looks at the
first sight of her who was once named
tile Pearl; and in the agony--the de-
lirium of the moment, cried to Heav-
en-: ooh, God either give me back my
beauty or take from him his eyesight =
The moment the selfish, ,impious pray
or was uttered, / bitterly repented,
and would fain have recalled it but
too late! Juan, the wish was granted,
and have never known since one mo-
ment's happiness
What! cried her husband, land is
this tho secret, Marguerite, which is
killing yonp
"sIt is.' ~
"9Then live, dearest, and be happy;
your prayer was not answered.
"Anl tearing off the bandase which
covered his eyes, he fell on his wife's
bosom, and clasped her in long en-
brace.
1t appeared that the blindness which
had fallen on Juan was of only a tenn
porary nature. Undcr the skilifui
treatment of our friend, the surgeon,
whom he privately consulted, the pow
or of vision began slowly, but surely,
to return. Having, however, heard
from his grandmother the whole histo-
ry of Marguerite's horror at the idea
of his beholding her disfgured face. Ito
generously determined to conceal from
her his cure, at least for time. Now
however it was suddenly revealed
and was it too late? The doctor, mo.
tioning us all away from the bed, took
his patients hand, and felt her pulse;
q hopeful smile played on his bcncyo-
/ lent lips.
"!My friend, said he, turning to me,
the age of miracles has not ceascd-
Marguerite is cured!'
Here the good man ceased, and after
a pause, asked-tAnd was Margucr-
tie in reality SO very much disfigured p,
HsYou shall judge for yourself
| We walked on, and soon reached a
neat and pretty cottage, covered in
front with a luzuriant vine. An old
woman sat near the doorway spinning.
land placed on low chair by her side.
q young woman was nursing an infant.
Her figure was remarkably graceful;
and her face, although certainly not
handsome, was by no means repulsiye.
1t was even easy to distinguish, amid
the seams and scars which marked it.
the yestiges of great beauty. There
was a touching expression of serene
tenderness shed over her features, as
| she looked on her child, which i'm nv
| eyes amply compensated for the want
of regular comcliness.
/ The curate advanced. "Good morn.
ing, Marguerite, he said.
NGoCd morning, sir,n she answered