The Portland daily press., 1871-09-23
SELECTED STORY.
UNLOCKING A HEART.

au been waiting until ne ulISnt
the new lie fairly and independently ana
when be ala "in,.neudenily," he meant that
he WouId not be dependent upon lodging
huuSe keaners for a home. He did not hope
10 he ,o,leueudeut OF toll and fatigue; but he
Lad planEed that he aud Mary would woak TO-
seth, 1, and perhaps, III coming yeas Hnu nI,'i
tompetehce ul,on which 10 enjoy heaiInlui
lepose. Allan was a lawyer, VITA ,a'l Li'' ~"
t.c,; and be had promised himself lnat "uGn
llary had become his wife, she "%o'.u % ,"E.p
l.iun in bis labois-not that sLe ""ulu oeNe
1or him into tue mysteries OF law, Vi uo Tue
Jludgery OF coping; but ne lookeo ior sym
pathy and loye-for a love that should make
mis- Iabors light aud for sympathy upon
which he could rest his confidence"
II is SAID that Love IS biind;" but true
love is not 30 blind as ii is often represented
The sood qualities which are awakened in the
heart to love are not wanting; and even the
impenectiOns we're seen and noted in the
outset. The good seed was in the soil, and
20 ere the taies. The trouble is. thai love
is apt TO be over-hopetul. 1t is not blind bnt
1t looks through a sunny glass; and the lu-
tufe mus viewed, presents only pleasant
prospect. Love is not so bind that it cannot
see laults; but 1t is so KIND and forbearng
lhat 1t oVerlooks them: and thus it often
happens mat the tares ae suffered to thrive,
aud nnaily to oulgrow the better seed.
. Alah Moore had known that Maly had her
was good and true, and in his great love he
found the assurance OF peace and joy.
Trey had been married three years, and
cloud was upon the household And whose
was the fault? Allan examined himself very
closely, but he could not discover that he had
done wrong. And yet Mary was neither hap
py herselt, nor did she try to make him happy,
His business had increased until he had as
much business upon his hands as he could
p ssibly ten to; he labored early and late ::
he tolled without ceasing; but the sympathy
which be had expected at home was not his,
The result was that he often wore a cloud
upon his brow. Expecting coldness when be
ehtercd hls home, lie came with compressed
lips; and fearing he should find no sympathy.
he did not seek it.
Allan Moore wondered whether he had
been mistaken in his estimate of Marv-had
he givel her credit foc good that she did not
possess? Certainly there was little of the
good now to bless hIm; but evil continually.
In short bis home was very far from being
happy one, and open rupture was frequent.
Mary had become fretful and fault finding
and instead oil sy ympathy with her husband IN
his engrossiug and ott-times perplexng busi-
ness, she would not permit him to mention
his business in the house.
Mary was growing to have sharp features.
and The old look OF beauty was disappearing.
But upon Allan the change was working with
ana tnaIe we're shoots OF pain and mysterious
thro6bings at the heart; and the pain was
growing deeper.
Why was IL? Was the good all gone, or had
the tafeS only come up and outgrown the
good-rares that might have been rooted out
long ago, If the hand of prudence and skill
had been applied? Had the heart been locked
up and all Its good hidden from the fructify-
Ing light? If so, why could not some kind
power unlock the closed heart, and set the
blessings Tree?
The good genius was at hand.
Dr. Ralph Graham, Marys uncle, had seen
the gathering cload, and had marked the
progress OF the deepening gloom. He had
known both the husband and the wife FROM
Their il fancy, ard he had loved them both
and when he saw them thus unbappy. he
wondered If be could not help them. He
knew that The greatest tault was Mary's; and
he Enew, Too. that she yet had preponder-
ance OF good i'll her heart. He knew that she
bad 10 nat feart tie keenesl OF sympathies
the nohlest of impulses, and The iouCt OF a
true and enduring love. He knew. because
IN oIhrr years, he had seen them; aud be
khew Ibal the good OF the human beart can.
not wholly die. 1t may be choked up, 1t ma,
WRner al shrink, aud t may be crushed
down heuealb the sup,Iiucumbeut weight nj
evil; but while the human heart hath pulss.
lions ot life II may be probed TO the fountain
OF good, and IN its darkest night 1t shall Weld
dashes II Generous Impulse.
DR. GTauam-or Uncle Ralnh - as Mox,
called hm-bad been the family physical n
when size was babe, and he was a man of
sense as well as OF experience and skill Late
~ De bad been called to prescribe for Allan.
who was troubled more and more with that
uncomfortable thobbing OF the heart.
cannot tell what Uncle Ralph really
thousht. de may have thought lust as
.Nl,,,a Il.
1nouSht- That the palpitation was simolv the
result OF Indigestion; and that the dull nair
came from pneumogastrlc sympathy: and lur
th-r, tbat the Cause of the whole Law in nor
Vous uerang- ment consequent upon roenta
Gaze anc 'aoor. But, be that as it NAV. he re-
solved mat ne would make use OF Allan
near IN Unlocking The heart of his eife.
Allap?' 'AinA VI
MARY, do you want me to tell you the
truthT He spoke very solemniy, and with a
grave lUcE,
"tbe truth, uncle ?" she repeated with a
Narued expression. "You do not think there
is anything serious?"
Nv hat can be more serious than disease
of Tue hearl?"
but Allan has no such thing"
My dear girl, you must not deceive YOUR
sen. GU may not keep Allan loug with YOU
EXcass'vt labor, ambition to achieve great re-
kults, aud want of heallhful recreation, have
strained hls heart more than it will bear
tell you plainly, Allan IS dying"
"DSingp"
"Yes-surely. 1t is but a question of time
We may save him to prolonged and usetn
NE II we can remove the cause of the disease
have you not observed how pale and thin he
mas grown? and have you not marked how
oiten the pain comes from his hearth Alas
poor AHsn l dare not tell him how ear he
is TO the brink! spoke with him once-a few
days ago-upon the subject. L told him there
Was DANGER"
him?' W "Ai''
"He only smiled and shook his head"
"Smlled ?"
yes but with tears in his eyes. He said
II he could only leave his wife and child com
iorta6ly provided for, he should be willing to
60 1hIt was when he had great pain in
his bealt."
Mary lose and went aud placed her hand
on the doctors shoulder
trulyp '''en ine
~ only tell you what fear, nv child
tel you what is possblt-nay, inevitable
sooner or later, II Allan continues to be over
worked. But 10 not tell him what told YOU
IL might break him down at once. He must
not lali and die now, in the noontide of life. i
mortal power can save him. But, nv LITTLE
glfi' you must be prepared-the bow NAV
1ali a. any tlme These heart troubles are
lreacheous. 1t is for you to make his pillow
smooth, and, give him comfort for the few
Snort days that"
"oh, uncIe-uncje, do not say so! Oh. ray
koui' Allan must not diel Better, thou
SAND tines, that should GO and leave him to
use MS bright ard useful ifen
d. Graham drew his weeping niece In b;s
bosom, and gently Whispered:
stay with him Mary and give him strenotb
snd hope, and courage. " bile [ olive him
such medicine as have to give, be If vours to
dIaw him from his abors, when Won can anJ
make the burden light. Let us do This and
leave the rest with God"
AFTER her uncle had gone, Mary moved
an"ht the house like one awakened from
tfopoied dream, gathering up the threads of
tt .Se past, ana weaving them into the woof of
d ane presert' How the old love burned up.
,he hlin uo| uear 10 her were the memories of
nn sus orlgnter llmesl Her husband d,ing?N
Io"e eot bet should not brl
anu Het-and yet-what could she do if
,ne uie were fatally cast? All! She copld
that. 'oo'o uo
That evening, when Allan Moore returnoa
TO hrs homr. his wife met him 10 The hall and
put her hands up TO his shoulders and ,hsn
kissed him.
"fou are late, Allan, dinner has been wait.
log for you.
"Bul YOU have not waited, Mary?"
YES, Allan, could not eat alone this eve