The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-20
"Well, and what did you think of me :?

asked the woman, smiling.
"I thought-oh, thought that to be as
gifted and as great as you, would sacri-
fice-almost-life ITSELF
"And perhaps honor9'
The woman's eyes glittered. Her voice
was very low, and sounded as if it came
from between closed teeth. "Who are
you?' she asked, moment after.
"My name is Alice Grahame. l am only
country-girl, but l feel there is that
within me would raise me to greatness.
have talent for the stage. l can recite
for you if you wish it. Oh, madame, you
have influnce; your position is great; your
name is written among the stars-will you
let me come where you are9 Will you
find me some humble place where I can
learn to be like you %
"Like me-to be like me. Poor child,
are you mad?''
Alice looked at her, startled by the hol-
low ring of her voice.
81 say, are you mad? Come, now, you
want me to be your friend. Twill be the
best friend ever you had. Oh, you are Sc
like what I was Heaven keep you from
becoming what am You shrink from
me. That is as would have it. Keep as
far from me as you can-you are too pure
to touch me. Listen: Ny father was a
clergymen-a quiet, holy, devoted man.
Perhaps he sometimes forgot he had a
child; but he loved me. 1 was addicted to
the habit of reading and memorising plays.
Night after night sat up, devouring the
tragedies of Shakespeare, until at last the
passion became so overpowering that
determined to seek the city and enter upon
the theatrical profession. l had no moth
er to wound; she was dead. My beauty
attracted instant attention. Success turn
ed my head-fattery ruined me. To-day
am a mother and no wife; and well for
me if my son does not curse the name OF
the mother who bore him."
Alice was weeping.
"You are young and beautiful. When
you ask to come here you cannot dream OF
the perils that may beset you. Like me
you may live to cry out, / am lost" Like
me, you may hear that your father has
gone broken hearted to the grave; that the
man who loved you, and whom you loved
If there be such-is the husband of
happy wife. You may weep for the price
less love you threw from you, for life OF
care, of hardly-won ease, of hateful splen-
dor. There child, didn't mean to make
you cry; but l do say, that willingly would
die tomorrow could bling back my inno-
cent youth. Go home, young girl; and
when you are tempted to be great, think
of the sstar' you saw last night, blazing
with false lustre; and remember how to-
day you have seen the setting of every fair
star of hope in one human BOSOM
Alice went from the madame's palace
house heavy-hearted. Life and its aims
seemed changed to her, as she turned her
face homeward.
"Oh; father! oh, Louis - she cried,
softly, 81 could not have lost you both.
God help me henceforth to be content
So she returned to the old parsonage,
and Louisville had expected that she
would find home in the city-heard she
had come back, and FASTENED, feet-footed,
to the dear old grey house.
Together they stood again in the porch.
and this time there were sweet, caressing
voices-and the perfume of the roses watt
ed by them-and kiss was given and re-
turned-the precious kiss of betrothal.
Woods Hosusehold Magazine.