Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-03-10
Ia, SATURDAY, MAkvI N o.

hut you have the consolation OF having done
nothing to Justify this fiagfant treatment ard
separation, while all the evils which have
ovrrtaken me aud fallen on you have been
the offspring o. my own frenzy"
Which makes your conduct The more in
eXcusable, replied Rosa land yc', s,il, the
>corniul iaunis Of an nncharitablc world have
attached io me. and have had TO share the
criticism and bear the burden of ,a's painful
separation, for which no one is tn blame bu,
ynu, and the motives and feelings that ac,ua-
ted you. Nor has my unbaPpiness since
palliaied my supposed offence CT prorllia'ed
,ocIc.y. favor"
Why thu. cruelty wound me! The
wror.s inflicted have been expiated by re
peniahce. and the scverest punishment 10
which a mortal can be subjected
Il do not wound you Internationally, re-
piled Rosa, "snt while deeply sympatnize
" iih you. and dcplore what has happened,
| cannot acccde 10 " hat You propose
"l> the appeal in vainr Is there no re
>pon>ive chord in your bosom to render back
music 10 the touch Of feeling TO my scared
and aching h-au' Is the las: ray OF loves
sunshine exr'nctt Are all the emotions
pul>eI->s and dead which lived en,hroned in
your heart, and were manifested by ardent
affection aud love for me. Will you let my
madness and folly chill the genial current Of
the soul. Nearly the last efforts Of remaining
life have been expended in dragging myself
10 your door, 10 plead for pardon; aud now,
TO push me firth, weak a, ! am! Will there
he no forgiveness until the silver hairs are
upon my brow. or this heart be- puiseless IN
the cold aud silent grave asked Arthur,
pas>iona'ely.
Those chords in my heart have long been
severed. aud are dumb TO such an appeal
said Rosa. My heart sinks within me at the
thought of living aga'n with you. for you can
never win back my love or confidence. You
have placed yourself beyond the pale of
reconciliation and severed every claim you
once possessed. You were the tribunal of its
arb;ration. aud decreed it by your own vol
untary will. You must now reap the fruits
Of thar decision, be they bitter or be they
sweet So saying. with a hau2h'y bow and
cou,empiuous Farewell Rosa left the room
Arthur half staggered TO hi feet, cla>ped
his hands o cr his ,hrobbing temples. mutrr-
ed the name Of God but not in prayer. I'm
able to remain a moment longer N The house
TO which lie had brought much pam and
SORROW, he rejoined Will Dayton in the
grounds belonging to the house. Words
were useless. Will Dayton read the hand
writing o. doom, depicted on the blanched
coun,enance Of his friend. He left HIM alone
with his great sorrow, and turned his steps
honeward.
Mean~ hile, Arthur Hanley wandered
away from the place, and followed path
that AZ length brought Inn To a bridge that
crossed bright, clear, flowing river, and,
leaning over the railing. with his head bowed
in utter despair, he tried 10 solve the problem
why life was given hun, since an unconirol-
able destiny doomed him TO sorrow and
trouble wherever he went; there was not one
spot in the wide world where he could find
oblivion and re>,-and then the thought came,
why not eaSe ,hi, cruel wotd Can any
future be worse than the present! The
half resolve fo,med itself into firm deter
mina,i"n; aud without prayer or one look
Of farewell To earth, he lesped from The
bridge in.o the swift flowing stream below,
and darkness followed.
The next morning the body Of \ thur
flanley, the victim Of wine and - was
found down the rver, washed upon the
bright sands of the shore. By early sunrise
they had horne him back TO Rosa Hanleys
domicile, and " oman, strong aud proud IN
the royalty Of youth,met the cortege at the door
20, God!" she cried and the light Of reason
died out Of the lovirg, and words never
again. through her short Lille, quivered over
the compressed lips.
They laid hun in the quiet graveyard, and
many sincere mournr,s stood beside his grave.
His lie was wasted. and they covered him
up, with a rose IN his hand and a fragrant
wreath OF lilies, sent by Katie, his frs, love.
who also came TO moisten his grave with
tear. while tls cold sod closed over his heal:
came 10 plead forgiveness Of God for the
wronos she did him.
Oh there are many such wrecks cast out
on the great broad sea Of life, that seem To
teach us how hearts may be crushed, bruised
and b-oken.