Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-10

At any other time the very complimentary
comparison would have made Reuben smile,
but he only answered, while the color deePened
IDS ii became of my early life? Myfathsr
was OF good family. Bat 1t may be, you would
blush ~ remember that your daughters hus-
band servedin a BARRIERS shop"
MY dear SIR said Mr.. Dacres, "yoU rget
our only aristocracy. The first You undoubted-
ly possess. hut without the second you cannot
marry Cora; and there is no chance of your
becoming a rich man -
"Win you let me try ?" eagerly inquired Van
drest.
at would be of no use. You could not sue
ceed.'
II could could :" exclaimed the Young man
impetuously. comfy let me hope. 1 would try
anything TO win Cora 20
And in this earnestness of love did Reuben
pledged his word that he would not try to win
her-this her father impeTatively demanded
but Mr.. Dacres also promised that he would
leave his daughter free. nor would he urge her
to accept any other other husband during the
three years of absence which he required of
Reuben Nandrest. They parted-Reuben aud
COra-with the outward seeming of ordinary
acquaintance; but was 1t likely that love 50
deep as that of the young musician should have
been entirely suppressed by him, or unappre-
ciated by her who was its object?
but ds hot Csras hssp follow ss vsndsssr
he sailed towards England?-did she not call
up his image, and repeat his unmuslcal name
as though 1t had contained q world Of melody In
ltself?-and did she not feel As certain In her
heart that he loved her, as if he had told her 80
a hundred times?
As Vandrest was preparing for the voyage, he
accidentally found the l0ng-fOrgotten note OF
the stranger musician. 1t directed him to Paris
and to Paris he determined to proceed, as ali
Europe was alike to one who knew not single
:onl in the thew wide expsnss Of the old world: He
the kind-hearted and talented Swede, who, on
the death of Paganini, had become the first
vi0lnist In the world-Ole Bull.
The success Of the young American was now
made sure. The great viOlinist had too much
true genius to fear competitors, and no mean
jealousy kept him from advancing the fortunes
Reuben traversed Europe, going from CAPITAL 10
capital, everywhere making friends, and what
was still more important to him money. He al.
lowed himself no assures only the necessaries
of life, and laid up his gains for the grand oh.
Cora.
He rarely heard of her; he knew not but that
OF the utter wildness Of bis project came upon
him with freezing reality.
But intense love like his, in an otherw calm
and unimpassioned nature, acquires a strength
unknown TO those who are not stirred BY eyery
passing impulse: And Reuben's love "by its
own energy fulfilled itself"
Ere the three years had expired he returned
TO America, having realized q competence.
With beating heart the young musician stood
before his mistress, told her an his love. and
knew that he was loved. 1t was very sweet TO
hear Cora reveal in the frankness Of her true
heart, which felt no shame with having loved
one so worthy, how her thoughts had contin-
ually followed him in his wanderings, and no "
every success of his had been doubly sweet to
her. But human happiness is never unmixed
with pain; and when Cora looked at the altered
form OF her betrOthed, his sunken and colorIess
race and his large bright eyes, a dreadful fear
took possession of her, and she felt that low
Itself might be purchased with too dear q price.
1t was so, indeed.
Reuben's energy had sustained him until the
reaction Of hope fulfilled came and then his
health failed. A long illness followed. But he
had one blessing-his affianced wife was near
him. Amid all her anguish Cora felt thankful
that he had come home first, and that il was her
hand and her voice which now brought comfort
to her beloved, and that she could pray he
might live for her.
And Reuben did live. Love struggled with
death, and won the victory. In the next year,
III the lovely season Of an American spring the
musician welded his betrOthed, and took her
to sweet country home, such as he had often
dreamed OF when he used to sit on summer eve
niDgs on the house top in New York, looking AT
the blue sky, and Turing sweet music from his
rude violin. And in Reuben's pleas ant home
there was no relic more treasured than this
same violin, which had first taught him how
much can be done with brave heart