Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-12
pairg Atrurbre yoarnd.
rHE LILLr'S QUEsr--AN APOLOGIZE.
ny NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE,
CONCLUDED FROM YIsrIRDAY.l

here. O deSolatS Oiu Creature uau ~ aseu w
the Evil One. and had received tiendish
indignity of soul, in answer to her prayer !;
here, newborn infant, sweet blossom OF
life. had been found dead, with the i'm
press of its mothers fingers round its
throat and here, under a shattered oak,
two lovers had been stricken by lightning,
and fell blackened corpses in each others
arms. The dreary Gascoigne had gilt
to know whatever evil and lamentable
thing had stained the bosom OF Mother
Earth: and when his funereal voice had
told the tale. it appeared like prophecy
of future woe, as well as tradition OF the
past And now by their sad demanor, you
would have fancied that the pilgrim lovers
seeking, not temple OF earthly joy, but a
temple of earthly posterity.
"Where in this world" exclaimed Adam
Forester, despondingly. "shall we build
our Temple of Happiness p
"Where in this world. indeed - repeat
ed Lilias Fay; and being faint and weary,
the more so by the heaviness of her heart,
the Lily dropped her head and sat down
on the summit of knoll. repeating,
"Where in this world shall we build our
Temple ?"
"Ah have you already asked yourselves
that question ?" said their companion, his
shaded features growing even gloomier
with the smile that dwelt on them; yet
there is place, even in this world, where
yon may build it."
While the old man spoke, Adam For
roster and Lillias had carelessly thrown
their eyes around. and perceived that the
spot where they had CHANGED to pause
possessed quiet charm, which was
enough adapted TO their present mood OF
mind. IT. small rise of ground, with
q certain regularity of shape, that had
perhaps been bestowed by nature, that
had perhaps been bestowed by art; and
a group Of trees, which almost surrounded
it, through their pensive shadows across
and far beyond, although some sottened
glory of the sunshine found its way there.
The ancestral mansion, wherein the lovers
would dwell together. appeared on one
side, and the ivied church, where they
were to worship, on another. Happening
to cast their eyes on the ground. they
smiled. yet W til a sense of wonder, to see
that pale lily was growing at their feet.
1--WE will build our Temple here" said
they. simultaneously, and with an hides
cribable conviction that they had at last
found the very spot.
Yet, while they uttered this exclama-
ton, the young man and the Lily turned
an apprehensve glance at their dreary
associate, deeming it hardly possible that
some tale of earthly affection should not
make those precincts loathsome, as in ev-
cry former case. The old man stood just
behind them, so as to form the chief in the
group, with his sable cloak muffiing the
lower part of his visage, and his sombre
hat over-shadowing his brows. But he
gave no word of dissent from their pur
pose; and an inscrutable smile was ac-
cepted by the lovers as a token that here
had been no footprint Of guilt or sorrow,
to desecrate the site Of their Temple OF
In a little time longer, while summer
was still in its prime. the fairy structure
of the Temple arose on the summit Of the
knoll, amid the solemn shadows Of the
trees, yet often gladdened with bright
sunshine. Ii was built of white marble.
with slender and graceful pillars, support
ing vaulted dome and beneath the CEN
tire Of this dome, upon a pedestal, was
slab Of dark-veined marble, on which
books and music might be strewn. But
there was fantasy among the people OF
the neighborhood, that the edfice was
planned after an ancient mausoleum, and
was intended for tomb. and that the CEN
trail slab OF dark-veined marble was to be
inscribed with the names OF buried ones.
They doubted, too. whether the form OF
Lilias Fay could appertain to creature
OF this earth, being 80 very delicate, and
growing every day more fragile, so that
she looked as If the summer breeze should
snatch her up. and wait her heavenward.
But still she watched the daily growth of
the Temple; and so did old Walter Gas
coigne, who now made that spot his con-
tinual haunt, leaning whole hours to-
gether on his staff. and giving as deep at
tention 10 the work as though it had been
indeed tomb. In due time it was fin
ished, and day appointed for simple
rite Of dedication.
On the preceding evening, after Adam
Forester had taken leave OF his mistress,
he looked back towards the portal of her
dwelling, and felt a strange thrill of fear;
for he imagined that, as the setting sun
beams faded from her figure, she was ex-
haling away, and that something of her
ethereal substance was Withdrawn. with
each lessening CLEAN of light. With his
farewell glance, shadow had fallen over
the portal, and Liias was invisible.
His foreboding spirit deemed it an omen
at the time and SO it proved; for the
sweet earthly form, by which the Lily had
been manifested to the world, was found
lifeless. the next morning, in the Temple.
with her head resting on her arms, which
were folded upon the slab OF dark-veined
marble. The chill winds of the earth had
long since brealhed blight into this beau
tiful flower, SO that loving hand had
now transplanied it, to blossom brightly
in the garden OF Paradise.
But, alas for the Temple of Happiness!
In his unutterable grief, Adam Forester
had no purpose more at heart than to con-
vert this Temple OF many delightful hopes
into tomb. and bury his dead mistress
there. And 10! wonder! Digging
grave beneath the Temples marble floor,
the sexton found no virgin earth. such as
was meet TO receive the maiden's dust.
but an ancient sepulchre, in which were
treasured up the bones OF generations that
had died long ago. Among those forgot
ten ancestors was the Lily TO be laid.
And when the funeral procession brought
Lilias thither in her coffin. they beheld
old Walter Gascoigne standing beneath
the dome of the Temple, with his cloak OF