Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-01-26
goftru,
1HES ESHADoE.
ArrER A BALLAD OF HEIsE's.

-
Donna Clara, many years
Loved with hopes and loved with fears,
Willeth now my hearts undoing:
Wiiieth IL wfllfuliy and unrueingi
Donna Clara, sweet is life.
with its passion, wit b its STRIFE;
But the:grave is dark and cold
fhronged with horrors manifold
Dom Clara, spare the sorrow.
Wilt be welded on the morrow
May Ramiro come beside
Greet thee Don Fernando's bride?"
"Don Ramiro, al thy words
Piercemy heart Like poisoned swords.
Ahl shake on this passion-weakness;
Bear with manly strength and meekness.
Many fairer maids there be:
Cod has come twixt me and thee.
Don Ramiro, conqueror
Of the armies of the Moor,
Conquer thy own love.and sorrow;
See me welded on the.morrow."
Donna Clara, thou has said il;
will come 10 see thee welded;
will dance with thee rs one
Who was never heart-undone.
Till tomorrow, fare thee wellr'
Fare the well.' The window fell.
In the darkness, like stone,
Don Ramiro stood alone.
II.
Merrily the bells have rung,
As byjoyous impulse swung;
And the people, blithe and gay,
In The streets kept holiday.
In the old Cathedral dim
Pealed the organ, rose the hymn, a
While the fairest in the land
To the bravest gave her hand.
And at coming on of night
All the palace famed with light,
And a rich and noble throrg
Filled its halls with mirth and song
Donna Clara. envied bride,
With the unloved by her side,
With pale. passionless countenance.
Waited to lead out the dance.
Lady, why this troubled gazes
Why this tremble and amaze?"
Look Fernandez Who there stands,
Cioaked In black, with folded hands?
It seems a aknightly figure tall"
Lady, shadow on the wall!'
III.
But the Shadow slowly nears,
And she trembles, and she fears.
Toher face her spirit rushes,
Pale She grows, by turns, and bushes.
"Don Ramiro r. said she, thickly,
And her breath came short and quickly.
With a vacant gaze. but steady.
dance we at thy bridai?" said he.
Donna Clara forth he leads;
Wildly. wildly sound he speedsl
.Don Ramiro," Clara spoke.
"WherefOre in tly sable clOakSr
He. in hollow voice, awe spreading:
"Bad'st me come unto thy wedding!"
"Don Ramiro, icy cold
Are. the hands that mine do holdi"
Said that hollow voice. awe spreading:
~bad'st me come unto by weddiDgp
''Don Rsmiro," Clara saith.
Earthly chflIand damp thy breath u
Still that hollow voice awe spreading:
Bads't me come unto thy wedding 70
"Don Rrmiro"-faint and low
Clara whispered-"let me gov
But that hollow voice, awe spreading:
"Bad'st me come unto thy weddingp
Don ma Clara on he leads;
Wilder, wilder, round he speedsI
Don Ramira.n gasped she low.
In Gods name now let me gor
don hdfnirO, at tle name,
Vanished like assuddenf' flame.
".
Life flows back into her cheek.
Does she see ?-does some one speak?
Donna Clara, sweetest bride''-
She is by Fernando's side,
Sitting stilI where she had been
When the Shadow glided in!-
: Donna Clara, sweetest BRIDE,
Said low voice atner side,
"Why this fixed and troubled gaze?
Why this tremble and amaze?'' q
Ice-blanehed Donna Clara's cheek,
While her pale lips stroye to speak:
Don Ramiro-where?n Her lord,
Drawing stern. brow at the word,
Bent and whispered, firm and low:
donna Clara, seek not. to known
$. S. Conant, in Harper's Magazine for Feb
ruary. ll-s