The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-15

Ot OCAQtls
 "When all was finished, when the last link had been forged in the secret chain, tha, before the lnscrutable Searcher of hearts, let what would come, made us one, then it was that Nera's mother said she should not be mine. was unknown, almost friendless, and she-holding ever in view those things that, by eyes from which the scales had fallen, are seen to be unworthy of their cost-desired her daughter should marry man who could give her all that wealth and position be- tokens. The father, though he loved his child, and saw the misery preparing for her, weakly consented to his wife's de- mands; and with sorrow unspeakable, my dear one listened to the decree of her parents. Out of her deep, strong, un- selfish love for me, she had consented to one great wrong; but she would not, could not do what she thought was an- other, even though 1t swept away wha, little happiness the future had in store for her. She begged and entreated, bu, to no avail her regard for me was only the vain, idle fancy of girl. and mus, be treated as such. The mother, in her desires for Nera. had overlooked the tenderest fties, the sundering of which renders all else dross.
 l .Oh, parent 10 whom in a measure Is entrusted the future of your child, stay. nor hinder not the course of that one affection for true love Is q great gift. sent but once 10 each human being. i When turned from It's course, intending sorrow, remorse worse than death. and perhaps, death i,selffollows.
 II. already borne down by the great l wrong of which was the cause. received l as though it were a thunder-bolt the in- junction which made i, impossible tor me to repair even in part what had done. Then l knew for the first time i how strong, and still how weak and short sighted man can be: Tn single moment he starts upon their way forces which a i lifetime of repentance and unceasing en- deavor cannot turn from their course. Had it not been for the one sin, that stood ever blackly before me, Nera and might have lived apart until death, sus- tained by love as deep and pure as ii was far removed from guilty repentance Then, too, knew better than had known before the effects of sorrow upon man. Days would pass when was in one long, lethargic dream. knowing not. seeing not, caring not for the things about me and then of a sudden would arouse my self to ind that l had been eating. sleep ing, drinking like those about me, and attending with care to all my duties. Al times |, seemed IS If my reason were leaving me, going l knew not where then returning ii would ind me ln mind and strength only weak child Oh. those months wherein was gwen over 10 be plagued by the demons devilish in form and feature. and horrld phantoms of darkness until my soul in its strong agony cried out piteously for help, They are gone now, and have in a measure found rest and quiet, but the things to terror. the dark lessons stamped into my life on those nights of unutier- able horror, remain; they wall not, can not pass away. Perhaps in the future shall find that this was the furnace in which was tried. and this the forge on which was made ready for the raptures of the life supefnal
 soon. swift. unappreeiated. like the i ligh;ning's flash when k darts from an eNpanse of dearest blue and plays along the sky, came the averaging hand that swept out the light of my life, and lief, me oaly blackness and misery. My last meeting with Nera rises before me now. she so pale, yet so serene and beautiful. l, nervous and oppressed with shadow. undenned fears of know not what. On that night of all nights, the hours, and even the moments, seemed 10 drag slowly by. Again and again l went over the story of our love and my sin with all the woes |, had brought us. Again and again 1 told her that time was coming when all would be well. bu, it was in valn, and at last could speak no further. When the time came for me to go she threw her arms about my neck. covered my face with kisses and sobbed aloud. Ages seemed compressed in that one long em- brace before she tore herself from me and was gone.
 " sought my couch. and. oh. the misery then experienced. For hours tried, without avail. to sleep, while cold beads of sweat started out upon my fore head as evidence of the struggle within When at last slept. in my dreams Nera no longer earthly and of the earth, but glorious creature. clothed in robes of purest white-came and bore me up- wards and onward. through resplendent space to another world.
 "The sun was high when l was aroused by a knock at my chamber door. It was a messenger who thrust a note into my hand and hurried away. tore of the wrapper and found that Nera my loved my darling, was dead. Tosed about by the demands of love, duty and right, knowing not which way to turn, nor where to find relief, she had at last, taken her own life. For a moment it seemed as if grea, weight was crushing me to the earth, while demons sinnumerable shouted in my ears: ..-s
 "'Nera is dead we have taken away she whom you loved.
 Then. knowing not which way l had come. or through what dangers l had passed unscathed in the crowded street, was standing beside my dead. The fatal drug had done its work gently, and the peaceful expression that rested upon [ | II Il G.n-