The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-09
ChriiStabeI.

A long time ago the harvesu moon snone
calmly down upon Chestnut Point and
upon two friends standing there-a man
of some twenty three years, and a girl who
! had scarcely seen eighteen summers. I
cannot call them lovers, for though the
girls slight figure leaned toward his, as if
drawn by some magnetic influence she
could not resist, and though her eyes were
fixed in mute alteration upon his beautiful
face, his dir was cold and self-possessed,
and he was looking at the distant prospect
with the air of one whose thoughts were
far away.
Beautiful! Yes, no other word would do
justice to the firm and exquisitely chiseled
features, the delicate coloring, the high,
broad forehead, barred to the night air and
caressed by clinging curls of soft golden
hair; no other word could ever express the
nameless charm of the small, full mouth,
half hidden by silken mustache, or give
even faint idea of those large blue eyes,
with the quick shades of feeling passing
through their liquid depths. Yes, he was
beautiful, with fatal beauty that dazzled
and destroyed. And CAristabel Vance
who always smiled at the mere worship of
the senses, which makes US bow before a
lovely face, without one thought of the
soul that il shrined within-C Christabel,
whose plain face repeled, while her glori-
Gus soul attracted men, was content to
stand and look upon him in breothless
silence-feeling that there, and there only,
lay her happiness.
1t was the last evening they were to
spend together. The next day was to see
them both in other scenes and among
other people; and with passionate long
ing she waited for him to speak the words
which were to separate or unite them forever.
There was no humiliation, no abate-
ment in this affection of hers. She loved
gally, gloriously, and if she bowed her
neck beneath his feet, it was with such q
grace and majesty that left her still q
, queen.
But women like Christabel know no half
love- The whole Brightness and fire and
glory of their natures are poured into one
cup, and woe to him whose hand willfully
: or even unconsciously, dashts it to the
ground for the splendor of a life is
: garnered there, and the bright waters once
I wasted we may wear out our very souls in
!. sighs and tears and bring back no re-
i, turn. For a long time the two had
stood in silence, then the student turned
away.
T., Il shall see it in my Dreams" he mur.
> INJURED, in a low voice; ''it will be with me
: in many sad or idle hour, as fair as eve,
0 but you, Christabel-"
: He paused and looked searchingly into
e her down-cast eyes. A dumb and restless
pain was gnawing at his heart at thought
= of the parting that was to come-a feeling
e that he had never known before, anG
which he could not understand. He Ger
+ tainly did not love her-thus he argued tt
= himself at the thought the face o1
: another rose up before him, a bright, beau
n tiful face, with rosy lips and large sof
d brown eyes, as if reproaching him for th'
:, faint suspicion of infdelity.
a Christabel sighed heavily as he turned
e away. There was something in the un
e e finished sentence and the suddenly avertet
l. face that told her her doom as plainly ai
e words could have spoken it, and hushint
l. the wild cry of her tortured heart till an
n other time, she steeled herself to hear al
E he might say without betraying by look O.
v word how much it was to her.
n 'Let US co." he said.
! She took his arm without a word, onl,
:, turning for one instant to gaze over tn
J. fair expanse of country on which the mool
: smiled down. She never saw it again, saw
e in some passing daydream; but every lttl
l. hill and undulating valley-every tree anc
Q brook and flower was stamped ineffaceabl,
. on her brain. And many time, year
d afterward, in her gayest moments, tina
;, quiet moonlight shons in upon her soul
i and she turned, sickening, from the thron,
around her, and prayed for rest and peac
n from that one haunting memory. g
: They walked slowly up the road that LEI
d toward the village. Neither spoke till the.
! reached the steps of the boarding
= where Christabel lived. Then they halte,
g to say the good-by which must be spokel
It and Christahel turned pale and cold a
q Cecil Brent took both her hands in hi
and looked down into her troubled face.