Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16

anu bOunu OF nature lneXpfeSSlDle torture,
She had no hope here, no faith at times
in the hereafter. Either the merciful
Father was in her distorted vision q cruel,
merciless abstraction, or she sank pas
siYely into the black horrors of CalYinism
and believed that she was working out a
| pedestined curse.
However strong words might employ
TO describe the state of her mind, how
ever exaggerated the language might ap-
pear, it would family express 1.-THE of
her suffering. l can only say, thank
God there are some happy souls who can
not comprehend. God be merciful to
those who from experience are able so to
do.
1t coulddO no good to any human being
to record The suffering of those days and
weeks; l shall pass on to the period when
change came.
Early in the autumn Mrs. BrevOort was
seized with a really serious illness
and Helen was forced out of her selfish
solitude. She did not attempt to evade
her duties; night and day she was at her
post. But at first the task was weaIi-
some; after that she fulfilled it in sort
of martyr-like spirit, which was just IS
morbid and wrong.
But the hour came in which she saw
the sufferer face to face with death, as
they both believed, and the patience and
courage displayed by this weak woman,
whom she had always regarded with q
sort of affectionate contempt, broke the
cloud which obscured her soul. She IN
derstood for the first time that in allow
ing her sorrow to become a tyrant, she
was distorting existence for all -'arnity.
Mrs. Brevoort recovered, ant oy the
time she could leave her room Helen was
like another being. do not mean that
she ceased to suffer, or that she rushed
into sanity perfection. But she tried
hard to forget herself, to accept her bur
den as discipline out of which good
might come, and ceased to dwell with
bitterness upon the wrongs she had en-
dured. She had advanced great step;
when any human being makes such an
effort, he is helpsd. Helen knew that
the brightness could never come back to
her life, but she learned that it was not
at an end, and courageously accepted her
position.
The weeks passed on to November,
and then her good resolutions received an
unexpected shock. She heard from some
chance visitor that Mrs. Vincent was
staying in the neighborhood, and she had
hard struggle not to insist upon her
stepmother's going away at once.
1t was only the day after that she
stood at the entrance to the grounds, just
returned from a walk. Before her was a
steep hill; she saw party of equestrisns
riding down, one lady in advance, gal
Looping recklessly forward and waving
her hand back to her companions in
mocking challenge.
On dashed the horse; moment more,
and it was evident the rider had lost
control of him. The men of the party
saw it too, and hurried on, but could not.
overtake the frightened beast. On they
came nearer-nesrer Just at the foot
of the hill the horse stumbled and flung
his rider over his head. She fell heavily
to the ground and lay quite still, only
few feet from the frightened girl.
After the first instant of horror, Helen
I
trate form. She was looking in the face
of the woman who had helped to break
her heart, and the face was that of the
dead.
When the party reached the spot, Helen
had raised the dropping head and was
supporting it on her knees. She knew
most of the group, and after the first
terror stricken exclamations, some ore
said:
"What is to be done-is she dead !" b.
''No," Helen answered. ''Carry her
to our housc-go for doctor somebody,
at once"
They carried the unfortunate creature
up to the dwelling; she was laid on bed
everything done that could be; then
Helen went to inform her stepmother.
Mrs. BrevoOrt had learned of the accident
and was dreadfully frightened; but Helen
could always soothe her, &nd presently
nervousness was forgotten in other SEN
sstions, when she was startled by her
daughters answer to one question.
SIS it anybody we know2
''It is Mrs. Vincent" Helen replied.
''Oh, what will you do ?" moaned her
stepmOther.
'Take care of her." returned Helen;
sat least am human, mother"
The doctor arrived, and with him
famous surgeon, who happened to be
visiting at his house. Mrs. Vincent was
dreadfully bruised-one arm broken; but
if there proved 10 be 40 internal injury,
she would recover.
So Helen's task began. The utmost
watchfulness was needed to guard against
fever, and no nurse could be procured
whom the physicians were willing to
trust. Helen assumed the duty; it was
too clear to be mistaken, nor did she wish
to avoid it.
Late in the evening Mrs. Vincent came
to her senses, and found Helen sitting by
her bed. 1t was some time before she
could remember what had happened; then
she grew so excited that Helen became
alarmed.
81 can't stay here" Mrs. Vincent said
wildly. 81 remember you-you hate me
i always wondered why"
'It's question of getting well now,"
Helen answered. "You are in good
hands-ve shall bring you through nice
ly; only you must he quiet and obey the
doctor"
After some soothing potion, Mrs. Vim.
cent dropped off into an uneasy sleep,
holding fast to Heen's hand, waking Of
ten with a STAR, babbling unconuectedly,
but always Gained by Helen's voice.
That odd companiopship lasted for a
fortnight. MIR. Vincent was absent in
Europe, and there was no relative to
come and share Helen's vigils. The
time came when the sufferer was out of
danger-could sit up-talk-bs read to;
and it was impossible for two women to
be thrown together in situation of such
intimacy without becoming well acquaint-
ed. Mrs. Vincent learned to understand
and appreciate Helen, and in her turn
Helen so far got the better of her ran
corous feelings, tibet she admitted to her
self the woman was not the wicked 81
ren she had believed her, and had proba
bly, been in great measure unconscious
of the fearful evil she had wrought.
Mrs. Vincent had heard that FalmOre
was gone, and the engagement supposed
to be broken. Troubles connected with
her married life had occupied her all the
spring, and she had scarcely remembered
either Helen or Ricnard-certainly never
connected the incident of the bail with
their rupture
Tho confinement of that aicLy room