The Osceola times., 1880-08-07

thought suggested itself that il might be
my destiny to rescue a soul from dark
ness.
From that moment | determined TO
make the attempt, and, without dream
ing of selfish passion. without one spark
of unholv love. vowed to devote all
the energies of my nature TO the task OF
enlightcning Il clouded spirit. Carefully
did | begin the work, and tenderly did
| guard from dangerous excitement the
heart which sought to influence. She
was child, Il sweet and lovely child TO
me, and cherished her as if she had
been my own sinless sister. Never did
one tumultuous throb stir my heart
when her head rested on my bosom.
The awful responsibility had incurred,
the oppressive sense OF duty the dread
of failure in my godlike enterprise,
seemed to elevate me above all earthly
feelings.
| can not now note all the details of
my success. i cannot trace all the deli
cate links of that chain which conducted
nv soul into hers, through the medium
of her affections. | watched the fittings
of the cloud from off her spirit. and ]
saw clear but brief glimpses of sunshine;
again the shadow would settle with a
deeper gloom. and again CLEANS would
break forth, giving sweet promise of Il
brighter day. Heavens! what JOY it was
10 see those blue eyes light up with in
telligence. to hear those soft lips utter
coherent words. and To mark the elastic
grace Of form which but lately moved
with all the listlessness of imbecilityl
But the oificious interference of those
who could not comprehend either Alice
or myself checked all this growing good.
Our frequent meetings were discovered,
and we We're of course separated. Alice
was taken home by her family, and |
was denied all access to her presence.
For month, a long and dreary month,
| never saw her, and by my impatient
longing TO behold her | learned how
much my soul had gone out from my
self, At length | heard that Alice was
much worse. that she was now ravine
maniac, whose ungoverned frenzy could
only be controlled by personal violence
could not bear this. | went to her
father. explained to HIM my hopes and
begged to be permitted to see her for a
single hour. He was cold, practicable
reasonable man, and while he gave me
full crcdence for a disinterested desire
to benefit his daughter, he evidently
had little faith IN nay anticipations oil
success. However, he was willing tc
try the experiment, and, accompanied
by him, | was admitted to see Alice
She was frightfully changed. Her eyes
gared wildly; her hair, tangled and dis
heveled from her incessant restlessness
hung in masses about her face, and her
appearance was that of one whom loss
of reason had almost brutalized. | could
have cursed tn, blind recklessness which
had so thwarted me. At first she did
not recognize me, but my voice seemed
to awaken the vibration OF some chord
whose music was familiar. She became
| calmer, her rawlings ceased, she APP
proached me, and at length seated her.
self on low stool at my feet with the
quietude of loving child. 1t was the
| first time she had been so calm since We
were parted. Even the cold beings
around her perceived the beneficial ef.
| feet OF my presence and from that mo.
ment was allowed TO pursue my plans
without molestati IN
now neglected all things else, and
devoted myself exclusively to the noble
task Of reyivifying human soul.
adopted no fixed and settled system OF
enlightenment, but carefully observing
her moods of mind governed them by
adaptation. | watched the current OF
her thoughts, and when | found them
broken or confused, | sought to turn
them into some deeper channel, where
they might flow more smoothly. cul.
| tivated her affection atcness of DISPOSE
| ton, while at the same time | checked
| all exciting sentiment. The fire between
us L knew must be one OF adhesiveness
or attachment. not of passion. Beauti.
full was the SLOW development of hcI
ehild-like intellect beneath the influence
of her womanly tenderness; and, oh
how exquisite was the enjoyment
found in thus looking into a perfectly
pure nature, as into the depths of q
crystal lake
1t seemed to me that | had been sci
| apart for bliss beyond that accorded tC
my fellcw-men when | was thus per
mitted TO fill with light the darkened
| chambers of a human soul. a proud
feeling of power, consciousness of my
high duty, was ever present with me
and life wore to me nobler aspect
when | found so noble task to fulfill
Yet even then did begin TO recognize
the fearful price which | was destined
to pay for all this happiness; even then
! found my soul growing teebler in Its
energies. There were times when the
weakness of childhood came over me
and | was rs impatient OF my absence
from Alice as If her sweet words and
looks were the ailment Of her existence
Cold hearts might have deemed this
| passiou-they remember it now as 9
| proof of my wild love; but how little
they understood mel II was but the
| longing of my soul to regain that which
il had impaired to another. Ii was but
the inpatient seeking of the bereaved
and despoiled spirit. | was no longer
sufficient for m sely; Alice was neces,
sary TO my being. Yet it was not love
no! it was something nobler far-s some
| thing far less earthly.
How beautiful she was, how glorious.
| ly beautiful, with those angelic eyes
| that sunbright hair, those soft rosy lips
and that pure tint of fresh youth on
| her rounded cheek! How graceful was
| the sweet abandon of her attitudcsl how
| touching the low tones of her musical
yoice Think, ye who find pleasure in
watching the growth of some frail flower
| from its first germ to its perfect deyel-
| opment in beauty and fragrancc-think
what must be the joy of watching the
unfolding OF soul-of seeing it expand
beneath your carc--of feeling you have
been the means, under heaven, cfglvinG
new lifel
A year had passe d, and Alice was lin
gering on the very verge of that inner
| sanctuary where reason dwclls. She
had been awas encd: intellect was rapid
| ly du ~ ninu In nnrlnnL DIV Int thnr1