New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-26

this moment, the happiness Of my life Wa
complete. A shudder passed over me
and thought of death, but it seemed t
have for me no moro terror; for dealt
could not destroy this love-could onl.
purify, enonble and immortalize it.
| It was so blessed to be silent with her
The whole depth of her soul was reflected
on her face, and as looked at her saw
and heard all that lay and lived within
her. II am sorry for you," she seemed
to say, and still did not. care we at las
together again? Be quiet. Do not com
plain! Ask nothing! Fear not! You ART
welcome! Do not be angry with me" Al
this spoke from her eyes and as yet w
did not dare to break the peace of oul
beatitude with word.
''Haye you received letter from thu
Hofrath? was her first question and bel
voice trembled with every word.
"No," I replied.
She was silent for awhile and then she
said:
perhaps ii is better that it happened
SO, and that should tell you all myself
My friend, we see each other to-day 70,
the last time Let US part in peace with
out complaint and without anger. have
done you great wrong; have blighted
your life without thinking how a soft
breath often strips off the leaves of a
| flower. l know the world SO little-I did
not think that a poor suffering creature
like me, could inspire you with more than
| pity. 1 met you kindly and frankly be-
cause had known you so long, because I
felt SO happy in your company-why
| should I not tell youall?-because I loved
you. But the world does not understand
this love and will not suffer it. The
Hofrath opened my eyes. The whole
town is talking about us. My brother,
the Regent, has written to the Prince, and
he desires me never to see you again.
regret deeply that I must give you this
pain. Tell me that you forgive me, and
then let US part as friends"
Her eyes had filled with tears, and she
closed them that I might not see her
weep.
''A1ary," said I, "for me there is only one
life-that is with you; but also only one
will, that is yours. Yes, I confess it to
you, love you with all the ardor of love;
but feel that I am not worthy of you
You stand high above me in nobleness, in
worth, in purity, and can hardly con-
ceive the thought of ever calling you my
wife. And yet there is no other way in
which We can walk together in life. Mary,
you are quite free, I want no sacrifice.
The world is large and, if you wish it, we
shall never see each other again. But, if
you love me, if you feel that you are mine
oh, then, let US forget the world and its
cold judgment In my arms 1 will carry
you to the altar and, kneeling, / will
swear to be yours in life and in death"
"AIy friend" said she, 1--WE must never
long for the impossible If it had been
the will Of God that such bond should
unite US in this life, would he have sent
me the sufer;ngs that make me unable to
be more than helpless child? Do no.
forget that what in life we call fate, cir
cumstances, relations, is in reality, only
the work of Providence. To rebel against
it is to rebel against God, and were it not
childish one might call it wicked People
wander here on earth like the stars in the
sky. God has assigned them the course
upon which they meet, and when they are
to part they must part-their resistance is |
vain; else it would destroy the whole order
of the world. We can not comprehend it,
but we can trust. I myself do not under
stand why my inclination toward you was
wrong. No; wrong can not and will not |
call it. Butt can not be, it must not be. |
My friend, this is enough; we must sub
NIT in humility and in faith"
In spite of the calmness with which she
spoke I saw how deeply she was suffering,
and still deemed it wrong to give up SO
quickly in this battle of LIFE composed
myself as well as could, so that no word
of passion should increase her pain, and
said:
eff this be the last time We shall meet
each other in this life, let us see clearly
'or whom we make this sacrifice. If our
love violated any higher law, then l
woul bow, like you, in humbleness. 1t
would be forgetting God to rebel against
l higher will. 1t may seem as if man at
i mes could cheat God, as if his paltry
cunning could outwis the divine Wis
lom. This is madness, and the man who
begins this Titanic battle will be crushed
and annihilated. But what opposes our
owe? Nothing but the prating of the
world. regard the laws of human So
,iety; regard them even when they, as
n our time, are over-refned and compli-
ated. A sick body requires skillful medi-
ines, and without the barriers, considera-
ions and prejudices Of society which we
mile at, it were impossible to hold to-
ether the human kind of to-day, and to
each the aim of our earthly associations.
We must sacrifice much to these gods;
nd like the Athenians, every year we
end ship heavily laden with youths
nd maidens for that monster that rules
le labyrinth of our society. There is no