The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-10
"Whst though the spicy breezes,
Blow soft DER Ceylon's isle,
Though every prospect Pleases,
And only man is yiIe.,'

Blow soft DER Ceylon's isle,
Though every prospect Pleases,
And only man is Eile.''
Curiously enough, l was just re-
peating this stanZa when my new ac-
quaintance called for me. 1 had met
him, while on business visit to Cey-
lon, as a countryman of mine, and
was pleased with the opportunity that
afforded me q more intimate personal
knowledge. 3e.v . .83lsf
thought myself fortunate in fall
ing in with so agreeable a gentleman
and considered his face and manners
peculiarly refined. On our second
meeting noticed singular restless
ness of the handsome, dark eyes, an
irritable bitterness of the lips, and a
disposition to be constantly on the
move, shown in the tapping of light
bamboo cane, or the motion of foot
or hand. These things, however, did
not strike me as. singular at the time,
but, coupled with what l afterwards
learned, were certain evidence that
the man felt already the cravings of
the worm that never dies
One forenoon we left the little sea-
port town where / was sojourning,
and rode a short distance into the in
terror of the gorgeous island. Most
glorious were the surroundings on
every hand. $3.50. s..s .g.I.i.s
/" That is my house." said my new
friend, pointing to low rooted cot
tage, surrounded by wide Verandah,
from whose clinging vines sweet
odors were flung upon the soft atmOs-
phere; but from the moment the
words were ut cred his sociability de-
parted. .sym.~ IA.
Within the cottage inclosure were
walks, bowers and fountains. Chaste
slatuary was dispersed over the
grounds with most charming effect
The house seemed almost fairy
structure, rising in the midst of flow
ers and foliage. And the man ho
sat beside me, whose smile mounted
no higher than the lips-the dreamy,
far-looking discomfort in his eye,
growing every moment more percep-
tible-Was the owner of this Eden
like home. sasf ,ft.f5
We were met on the Threshold by
lovely child of some eleven snm-
mers. Her hair hung in 'curls.. Her
eyes particularly luslrous yet mourn
full in beauty, and on the young brow
L seemed to see a something's shad-
ow of sadness-an unchildlike quiet, ,as
she greeted my new friend. Dressed
in pure white, she glided in before
us, and to her was left the duty of en-
tertalning me while Mr.. c., excusing
himself in the remark that sickness
necessarily called him away for a hall
| hour or SO, left the room, sflt.fr
Is your mother very nnwell 2" ]
asked of the little girl, who, with
those shalloW-filled eyes of hers, was
regarding me gently, but attentively.
/" Yes, sir. mamma has been sick a
long time." replied she, dropping her
eyes, while her lips trembled.
+" Did you come from America p
she asked timidlys after a long silence,
f' Yes, my dear. Do you know any
thing of that country ~ l returned,
growing more and more pleased with
] her expressive face. = .oA ak
"Only that mamma came from
there, and think" she added hesi-
tatingly, s'that l did. But then Mr.
G. will never let me talk about it.n
L. " Are you then not the little daugh.
ter of Mr.. CT" l asked, somewhat
astonished.l . .'a --.'s4
"I am my mothers daughter" an.
sWered the child, with grave dignity
in one so young-aIfd a minute aftel
she arose and quietly left the room
l sat watching her white robes fitting
through the long shady walks oppo,
site my window, and knew that the
child brooded oyer some dark sorrow
for her eyes were filled with tears
Why was it, questioned myself, tha
painful thoughts took possession o.
ME as L sat there? 1t seemed as if
were sojourning i'll an enchanted spot
and that some horror was suddenly tC
break upon me. At my side. nearly
covering beautiful table of letter
wood, were several costly gift books
=. l took them up carefully, for,I have {
reverence for books-and turning tC
the fiy-leaf of a splendidly bounG
copy of Shakespeare, read: :--a50H
"To Mary Frances F., from hel
devoted husband, Henry F."
A thrill of surprise and anguish raj
from vein to vein. My thought!
seemed paralyzed. The. truth haC
burst upon me with such suddennesl
that the blood rushed with a shock t.
my heart.
1 knew Henry F.; had known
him for years. He was friend to
ward whom all my sympathies ha6
been drawn, for he had seen such sor
row as makes the heart grow old be
fore its time. His wife, whom b,
loved, had deserted him. She haC
taken with her his only child. Sht
had desolated o household; and for
getting honor, shame, everything that
pertains to virtue and to God, ha(
fed from the country with the maj
who had won her wanton love- How
could remain under this roof tina
now seemed accursed? How NEE
the destroyer Of virtue--the sfiend
who had feveled in such conquest
/ could only think of the evil the,
had done-not what they might havl
suffered through remorse. 1t wa
some time before the seducer came in
] to the room where l still sat. deter
mined TO meet him once more beforl
l left the house. Oil how guilty
how heart-stricken his appearance !
Remorse sat on his forehead-lookev
out from his eyes-spoke when h
was silentl N}
Will you come TO dinner?" h
asked.
i / hesitated. Should l partake @
his hospitality p the hospitality @
one ofthose fiends in human shap
!. whose steps take hold OH hellP
knew his g1iltAwty delay to declar
it.? Why not, at once, inr burnin
words, upbraid him for his villainy
Z and fee, as from pestilence, his sir
cursed house? The man noticed M
: hesitation. He could not, of courst