The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-12-04
CROWNED.

The evening was dim as with future
storms Here and there a. shadow
tinged the purple Of the hills, and In
the sky those bands of orange and
amethysts and gold were paling Fisi-
bly,. The sea billoWs WresTled upon
the strip of beach, and tumbled in
white caps from rock to rock, whilst
foaming wish rage at the strength OF
those grim antagonists. - 48f b
Two persons stood upon the shore.
One girl of perhaps twenty years,
with sweet, mysterious eyes, Hooking
out upon the water, and forehead
white and shining as that of Clytie,
o'erbloWn by hair golden brown in
hue. She was not beautiful. You
saw no heaven in the face till } on
looked into the eyes, and there it
opened upon you as with thrill OF
glory. In their depths seemed to luFk
a whisper of night when it has iWept
itself into tempest, and star or
tive getAcEowns the blackenedz zslFy /;
the hair, too, bore charm-falling to
the waist in ringlets, and imprisoning
the stray CLEANS of sunshine, or tints
of yellow Wood-hoWers. gsyo sszas
No Votary had yet knelt at her
shrine, save one, and he-the youth
beside her, who at Intervals spoke in
tones of faltering tenderness, and with
an expression. of half-defned bitter
ness gathering upon his features. iu
gtfYou are harsh to-day, Marian A
mood such as this i'll becomes one
usually so kind why is it21 sn s91.
She did d5not turn towards him for
answer, but9rather stood watching
sonelfar, unknown, object that rose
Ikea speck upon the distant horizon.
q Nay, 'nay,Y he continued, tstelIb me
why may not share these thoughts"
Still no token that she needed. His
voice grew louder then, and rang out
upon the water so sharply as to startle
the sea birds chattering upon the
rocks.
at is too much your wont, Marian,
to slut me out from your commun-
;ngsi Dear, will not your heart grow
ever less cold stand up before you
likeo who views an Artic land
scape where the round, red sun circles
the northern pole through long months
yet fails to melt those frosty iclcles
ringing the earth. fear you are cold
bearted, Marian; else love given you
such as mine would have soon other
welcome"
Then it was her lips unclosed. She
still looked away over the water, but
her voice was very firm IN her reply.
s'You are right. l am cold hearted,
and it is you who show me the differ
ence between myself and others. 1t
is best we understand one another,
and / think now the time has come.
You love me. and -, well there is
q shrine in my heart precludfng pos
sibility OF other worship; this is not
new to you; already have told you
my plan OF life now you force me to
say we must cease at last these bicker-
ings-; we mnst part to meet no more !
Do you heed, sir ?'' = -.- ...l- ,....
You cannot force me to leave you,
Marian I will never do thatl But
are you more than woman Have
you no, heart p - -
The giri turned hastily then; but a
proud Hash of the eye was his only
answer.
ssGreat God !'s he went on, /" am 1
unlike others that life is to give me
no treasures? Am to stand always
ont in the cold, and see my neighbor's
ruddy hearthfire shine through the
panes, while wife and children throng
around himI It is toe, much to bear,
and yet you face me thus-calm and
| sweet and fair-With no thought of
how men may go mad for love |"
The waves came tossing to their
feet. and for time only those MUIR
muring voices awoke the silence.
What was it that so steadily riveted
the girls gaze?. What was it that had
arisen like speck upon the distant
/ horizon? She went out to the waters
edge, stood awhile, then walked back
to her companion, with the hair blow.
ing wildly about her shoulders and a
pink flame quivering in her cheeks.
81 am not more than woman, and
have heart, cold though it be to you
You know well the circumstances oi
nv life; you know it has. been my
lot always to float upon the surface
YOU know that father, mother, sister
all these were taken from me before
learned their features; ; but you do moi
/ know 1 formed out of my fancy, ar
ideal world, peopled with those of my
lost. and that no roof-tree shelters 8
happier group than we--the shadows
and I. Dare not then to say there
beats no heart in my bosom; yoL
speak falsely if you affirm thatl Blu
it owns a loftier worship than that o.
mere earthly love; it bows to. q no.
bier master than that of mortal man
1t fingers not, ephemeral-li like, beside
the murky pool, but strives to noun
+ upon gold and azure wings even Il
the sky Hdlgf a83 -aia olalf ,seW
She pressed one hand to. her fore