Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-03-20
NEW SERIES, VOL. xxx, NO. =.

and q shadow. You VIII be fitted to
adorn society, and shall be constant
worshiper at your shrine"
The pale moon shed its perfidious rays
upon the face of the young man as he
uttered these words. Far away the trees,
grouped together among the shadows,
resembled spirit beings pretending to
caress and press close to each other.
Deeply moved, Angeline remained
quiet. The hour seemed very solemn to
her. Finally she raised her head and re-
sponded in a low voice; Maxine, Twill
reflect on what you have said and will
answer You tomorrow. Adieu."
She passed wretched night. Her
mother went to bed and to sleep, breath
ing with the regular respiration of age,
which resembles so much that of child,
but the young girl in her little chamber
burstinto sobs. Heremotion was stronger
than she was, and for awhile she allowed
it full sway. A veil had been torn from
her eyes-a veil which for 90 years had
covered from her sight her own heart.
She had not realized before the shocking
selfishness which filled it
Abl Her beautiful, simple dream! How
it disappeared in the awful sternness of
real life, never until now wholly reveal
ed to herl In the first place, she was
poor. She had felt it keenly this even
ing from the way in which Maxine had
spoken of his own wealth. Until now
she had thought little of it, for she had
but few wants. The beauty of the earth
its skies, its trees, its flowers, its birds,
its free air-sufficed for her.
If she married him, she must, as an
obedient wife, follow his own gay, active
life. The requirements of marriage with
him appeared distinct and hard. 1t
would be necessary for her to leave this
poor, infirm mother-the victim of so
many misfortunes. She could no longer
comfort her with tenderness and daily
ministrations. Her mother, who could
barely endure her child'S absence for an
hour, would in solitude become more and
more unhappy and would end her days
in the charge of some meimpatient and mer-
cenary hireling. Certainly there could
be found no one to replace the affection
and attentions of daughter.
Angeline wept for hours, and some
times in the midst of her tears there
would appear to her her father, with u
revolver in his hand. All! Did all men
resemble each other, and were they all
executioners of their wives9 Unhappy
those who desire the joys of Hymenp
she thought. 1.-The best destiny for wom-
en- is to live solitary or devoted to an
other of their own kind, far away from
men"
Day dawn still found her prey to
these lugubrious thoughts. Calm came,
however, slowly and frightfully.
Angeline had taken decided resolu-
ton. She would never marry. She
would remain as she was, having but one
object. She would never leave her moth
er, i'll and blind. She would remain a
maid, satisfied with the joys of an approx
ing conscience and cheerfully perform
ing the gentle charities which came to
her hand. Perhaps some day the wounds
of her heart would heal. She would re-
gret nothing, and she could after saying
her prayers sleep with clasped hands,
thanking heaven for according to her
peace of body and mind.
Quickly she wrote some words of re-
fusal which would admit of no reply.
Then she occupied herself with gather
ing together some effects and with per-
suading her mother to remove to Paris.
No; she wished no more to live in the
country. where she had suffered so much
and where every object would remind
her of the past. Nine. Majolin yielded
to what she thought caprice of her
daughter and conformed without much
complaint. She never knew the sacri-
fee of Angeline in her behalf.
This is why the young girl has always
shut her heart to things without. Her
first and only love is the seal of her soli-
tude.
Her mother, whom she never quilted
and whose eyes she closed in death, has
long ago passed beyond this life. And
now, her last duty accomplished, Ange-
line Majolin continues to live alone-an
old maid.-From the French.