Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-01-05
Selefted aelistellanv
THE TRUSTING TREE.

DWear, Helen, tnat you VIII be NINE
that you are mine p
William, | will be yours-yours
only~
"Seali it by an OATH" he said, in the
eagerness of frenzy. by your hopes
of happiness hereafter-by all that is
sacred in Heaven, dear upon earth, or
dreadful in hell--swear to me, Helen
Middlemas, in my presence-in the
presence of your God, that you will
never give your hand to another"
"Have | not promised Z" she replied /;
"can you not trust mel Did | ever de-
ceive you? Are we not commanded to
swear not at all 2"
"Command-the devil" bitterly re-
torted the imprisoned and agitated
youth, and flung from him the fair hand
that trcmbled in his. The maiden wept
and fell upon his neck. "Tears what
tears again, Helen 2" resumed he
"Well, well, the softest breast has til,
fewest burnings-thc heart that wecps
never breaks.
William, this from you it is unkinC
cruel, she cried, and bid her head il
his bosom
Forgive me, dearest, forgive me,
said he, but know this night-this yer,
hour, we part, perhaps, for ever. You
father hates me--the world shuns me
foes prosecute, and, at this moment
pursue me, and you, Helen-you that
have loved--clung to as sinner cling
to his last prayer--you for whom alone
the friendlcss, kinless Stuart lives. Shal
| say it again T? Helen Middlemas. prom
lses, but she dare not--will not swear t
be the wife of ruined man."
She dare-she will |" eagerly re
piled the beautiful girl, starting from
his embrace.
She dropped upon her knee-her hand
were clasped together, her soft blue eye,
raised towards Haven't was vow
an oath-a loud--a deep and solemn
oath. A dark cloud Swallowed the fac,
Of the fair moon, as her lover exclaimed
"Amen" the raven crooked, and flee
from the tree that overshaGowed them
He raised her in his arms-she wa.
again upon his breast, and his lips sealed
her oath upon her snowy brow. Th,
moment of pating arrived. Farewell
farewell" said he, and the word
groaned in his breast. "Helen. m,
beloved, farewell but when am gone
when the tongue Of Islander itself is dumb
when the moon is in the heavens
when the murmur Of the stream moan
through the stiffness of evening-wher
your knees are bent in prayer-wher
your eyes gaze upon this trysting tree
let all--let each proclaim, Helen Mid
dlemas, remember thy vowr"
We will not describe their parting
nor say how they parted--turned anc
turned again--all, from seventeen t,
seventy, who have any thing of th,
shape of heart within them, Know how
bitter thing it is to tear ones sci
from the arms of all that seems Lowell,
or worth loving upon earth-to saw aeaiG
and again, farewell, while the heart i.
sick-surfeited with agony. They parted
he rushed madly away-tarned {
moment, and exclaimIhg-"Thy VOW
thy vow, Helen Middlemas, remember
thy vow p disappeared, none knew
whittier.
William Stuart was one for whom
many sympathized, but none were in.
tercsted, and as is ever the eoncomitani
OF continuous misfortune-one whom
the most contemplate fag-ends Of human
natures manufacture, thought them
selves privileged to revile. lie had been
nursed in the lap of plenty-had entered
upon all the extravagancies and some Of
the studies Of gentleman coninoner-
was the beau-ideal Of the high street oil
Oxford and bore, among his companions,
the cnylable appellation Of glorious
young fellow but pleasure and praise
stood suddenly still-a chancery suit
that bad been litigated for thirty years.
was decided against the elder Stuart, and
three days after found William at the
home of his early joys to follow the
funeral Of his bapless father, and to
witness the death-bed Of broken
hearted mother. She fingered a few
months-the remaining menials had be.
come insolcnt, and as spies Of the ersii.
tors, affected to govern, while friends,