Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-08-30
Am Original S1tprg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE FROZEN HEART.
BY CLARA DARGAN MCLEAN.


HlMLEr-I loved you once.
aS SefTs
OPHELlA-I was the more deceived .
s... CHAPTER I. .,5 ...I 4H.,e
It was towards the close of a lovely day in
June, 1863. Delicious "evening sounds" filled
the fragrant air ..,.s ... <... 90. ...,...:...
ssThe minglng notes softened from below''-
and where the sun had just disappeared,
clouds of gorgeous hues lay piled up like the
cushions Of a royal couch. A soft roseate
glow pervaded the atmosphere, and tinged the
delicate face of young girl, who with her
companion, stood on the brow of hill over
looking the valley of the Emo.
The prospect beneath was unheeded. Sara
looked upward-her eyes fixed upon the shift
ing tints of the western sky. A shade OF sad
ness rested upon the bright, girlish face-a
half happy melancholy which peryades all
sensitive, imaginative natures, and lends
peculiar interest to the character.
The young soldier by her side seemed ab'
sorbed in other reflections. He looked upon
the river, rolling its waves of liquid silver in
the soft evening light, between high bluffs
crowned with verdure he looked upon the
little village at his feet, nestled in groves
of oak and chesnut; he looked at the far-off
mountains rising in solemn majesty-those
Everlasting hills"-silent, yet immutaole
witnesses of Him who changeth not; be gazed
upon them all as if to stamp the scene lndell-
bly, upon his memory.
"How it fades" was the first low ejacula-
tion that broke the silence which preceded: !:
"All-all is change"
The words reused the young man from his
reverie, and he turned quickly.
"Say not 80, dear Sara" he exclaimed, ta-
king her hand tenderly in his; "you wrong
me by the words" -,
"Ah Rupert, it is the conviction that all
else changes which makes me cling so to you.
/ know you will never alter"
There was such pathos-such unutterable
love and truth in the words-that they thrilled
the heart of the soldier In after years they
haunted him with strange persistency, and
this June evening which was never to return,
rose up to torture and condemn. lie passed
his arm around the slender figure, and drew
her closer to his side.
my darling, how could I do otherwise
than love youl May my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth if ever utter false VOW.
am going to brave many dangers, Sara, and
there may be much sorrow in store for both
of US before that happy day when l can at
once rejoice in my country's freedom, and
claim you as my BRIDE But you must trust
me through all-love me and trust me. See
that beautiful star just above the edge OF the
wood Whenever you see it hereafter, re-
member this evening and my last words.
- He put back the clustering curls and kissed
her cheek. Then drawing her arm in his,
they turned slowly homewards. Twilight
was deepening when the suburbs of the village
were reached, and they paused at the gate OF
Sara's home. 1t was a large, old-tashloned
mansion, surrounded by grove of ancient
oaks, and half hidden by the ivy which clam
bered over the pillared entrance, and even
wreathed the windows Of the second story.
The air was rich with the perfume of roses and
Arabian Jasmine borne from garden on the
south side. Sara's hand closed convulsvely
over the arm of her lover as he opened the
gate.
"Oh you are coming in, Rupert. Let me
sing one more song for you, and then you may
tell aunt Agnes and papa goodbye" tie
smiled, and walked on with her to the house.
"Did you really think was going to pass
by ?" he asked, taking her face between his
hands as they sat down on the stone steps,
and looking into her eyes. Sara blushed aud
half laughed, in al embarrassed way.
II thought you might-you would-that
perhaps-oh you know, Rupert"
"That mi ght not be anxious to meet papa
after such a decisive denial yesterday. Ell,
Sara?"
The blush deepened as she met his laughing
eyes.
"But he didn't say no, positively, Rupert
only that he could not consent to my leaving
him till the war was over"
"Yes, only that" he said, gloom falling
upon his ever-varying face as he spoke, "and
it is devilish hard too! | beg your pardon,
Sara; but when think how many years 1t
may be, and cur best years tool get almost
desperate Why can't we be married like
Charlie Manning and Ada? He has left her
with aunt Taylor, and it is therefore no loss
to the family only he, poor fellow has the
consolation Of knowing that somebody Will
grieve for him if he is killed"
"That is poor consolation to him if he really
loves her, Rupert, for it would be dreadful
blow to Ada
"Aud so to spare her feelings, she oug ght not
to have married him, / suppose. Oh! Sara,
he exclaimed, reproachfuly, Il though any
woman would be glad of the right to mourn
for the man she loved"
Rupert, Rupert, you know I don't mean
that! Oh please don't talk SOP
Sara's voice trembled, and she seemed ready
to burst into tears. She covered her face
with her hands but Rupert removed them,
and holding both in one Of his, he gently
smoothed her hair with the other.
"There, dearest, don't mind it! [ am a
heartless wretch to speak so but it is only
my love for you which makes me rebel against
your fathers decision. When l am calmer
i believe he is right. He spoke very kindly
indeed, and said there was no one on whom
he would bestow you more cherfully; but the
times we're so unsettled and partings so inevl'
table, that he thought it better to spare his
little girl the hardest of all trials, the sepasa'
ton Of husband and wife, He went on to
say that he would not object to an under
standing between US, and on the very day Ghis
cruel war ended, would welcome me as his
son-in-law."
The young lover-he was scarcely twenty
five-bent his handsome head, and kissed the
little hand nestled in his. A step was heard
in the hall and exclaiming-"There's papa
now!" Sara rose to meet him.
A tall digni6ed gentleman stood in the
doorway, his dark hair slightly silvered al
the temples, but with mien as erect and STEP
as firm as if but half his three-score years had
passed. He smiled affectionately as his daugh
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