Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-25

rurlner on ana they came TO the
steep steps down which they went, IN
order to reach the waterfall.
This is In still deeper gorge, and In
winter it is magnificent. When the
rain has fallen often, the stream is very
much swollen, and when il reaches this
spet it dashes down 80 swiftly and SO
far that no water can be seen, but only
foam as white as snow, and in all kinds
of beautiful shapes and forms. This,
falling amid such quiet and stiffness,
where the banks are SO high that the
eye hardly sees the top, and which are
covered even Id gray winter. with soft,
green hemlocks and towering piles,
where notified rock reaches forth, is a
scene in thousand, and one well worth
going to see from far and wide, ga
scene" cried Harold, Sin which we feel
the insignifcance of man. Beside these
mighty rocks, down in this deep gorge,
we are obliged to be still and seem to
be as nothing" May" cried Clara,
with glowing eyes, ''these rocks will
crumble into dust, and this view will
soon be dissolved forever, but mans
existence has no end. Say, rather, Be-
hold this lovely work of God, which
He has made for a season, but which,
when compared with man, is but as in
animate matter beside the spark of
eternal fire which cometh down from
heaven, and when it shall have accom-
plished its course, shall arise and shine
In the armament for days, months,
years, centuries-yea, for ever and
ever"
Thinking these thoughts both were
silent, and at last taking long view of
that prospect they had SO long enjoyed,
arm in arm, they went away and never
saw it more.
"Let us 60 to Stone-door," cried
Harold, at length. 81 should so like
to feel the fresh wind sweeping up from
the valley, and to seethe sun set among
the mountains" So on to the Stone
door they rode, as ignorant of their real
course, and unknowlng Of the ending
as child in its mothers arms is of the
days before it. If some woodland
nymph had come forth from her forest
home and told them of their destiny, if
a gray bearded seer had informed them,
and called to them to beware, would
they have needed either, or would they
have chosen the fate and earthly end,
which, in the horoscope had been told
already.
They rode steadily on, and the trees
did not bend nor the leaves move, nor
a bird OF the air stoop to whisper it to
them. Lightly they sprang across the
chasm and stood upon the table rock,
then gayly seated themselves and began
to talk.
Bye and bye a quieter Mood stole
upon them, and then Harold told Clara
a story of the skeleton behind the
door" story which she had never
heard before, though she had known
the family long and well.
I'm ancient times" began Harold,
''two gentlemen lived side by side, who
soon grew 10 be fast friends. Both had
large plantations, and were equally in
tetested in finding out the best method
of culture, aid each found many op-
portunities of doing those littls neigh
borly kindnes.cs which so quickly make
firm friends. The intimacy continued
for generations, handed down on each
side from father to son, and very pleas
ant and affeeable it was. found to be,
till one unlucky day, when a dispute
about some little thing came up-4i
trihe so small that l cannot remember
what it was; but the real object was
lost sight of ere it was ended, and dead
ashes of old grievances were raked over
till words ran high, and the parties
feeling mutually wounded
and hurt.
OF course, after this, it was not long
before fresh quarrel ensued, and econ
the opponents called each other out. In
the duel that ensued, my grandfather
killed his adversary, and the body was
taken home to the Borrowing wife, and
the sgn, over his fathers ashes, swore
eternal vengeance; and should he not
be able to accomplish it, lie left TO bis
son, and to his sons son, to fulfill this,
his purpose. Clara, that man is dead,
and the grass has grown Ger his grave,
but his purpose holds on, and every
where my foot treads he follows there;
and the son viii not forget his fathers
heirloom. At present he cares not but
to harrass and annoy, but in soBe fu-
ture time | clearly read that if, in
lonely wood or haunted forest, where 1
thought not of mishap, or dreamed of
danger, he should be near, he would lift
bis dastardly, cowardly hand, and lay
me low and cry ON the grave of his dead
father, Sire, | have imbrued my hands
in the enemy's blood. / have accom-
phshed thy purpose and thy rengeanee.' ,"
"Oh, Harold, say not 50, not so"
cried Clara, tears streaming down her
checks.
do not talk to me of such horrible
things. How can such events happen
in this, our emil ghtened country and
in the nineteenth century too?"
''Alas, it is too true" he answered, -.
sadly of the loved one who
would be left Harold, my husband
beif ever that coward should
lraw near to hurt you, would shield
you with my body, and protect you
With these arms" "Ah love, love, he
l am looking In the future
o-night and my vision is undimmed,
md l see so well that though love is
strong and mighty and powerful, yet
though you give up your life for me,
mine must pay the recompense for that
ong, long account, that deadly quar-
rel" They lung to each other in that
first agony With clasp that seemed as
f it would last forever, and the moon
shone on as brightly as though it shone
IN no grief or sorrow. No sobs or
yroans were heard or uttered. The
most dangerous injuries to the human
system are internal The deepest joys
but speak by the soul-lit eyes. The
greatest griefs which wear large chan
lels in the heart, are never mentioned
BY the silent lips.
How long they sat thus, know not,
when they heard a heavy sound in the
distance. At first absorbed in their sor-
row, they did not heed it, but it drew
nearer and nearer, and Harold looking
Town, saw Clara turning as 1ohite as
'nOlU. Darling, why do you tremble
20 ?" he asked surprised. 1T can
,nly be some of our Beersheba visitors
,ome, as we have often, to view this
place by moonlight" but he
got up, nevertheless, and looked search