Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-06
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE BROKEN HEART
BY WASHINGTON IRVING

guish it would be impossible to describe.
In happier days and fairer fortunes, ne
had won the affections OF beautlful
and interesting girl, the daughter OF
late Irish barrister. She loved him with
the fervor of a woman's first ana early
love. When every worldly maxim ar.
rayed itself against him; when nlasteo
in fortune, disgrace and danger DARK
ened around his name, she loved MIN
more ardently for his very sufferings.
If. then. his fate could awaken the
sympathy of even his foes, what must
have been the agony of her, whose Wnoie
soul was occupied by his image? Let
those tell who have had the portals OF
the tomb suddenly closed between them
and the being they most loved on
earth-who have sat at its Threshold,
as one shut out in cold and lonely
world, whence all most lovely and low
ing had gone.
But then the horror of such grave!
So frightful. so dishonored! There was
nothing for memory to dwell on that
could soothe the pang of separation To
render her widowed condition more desc
late. she had incurred her fathers dis
pleasure by her unfortunate attachment.
and was an exile from the parental
roof. But the Irish are people OF
quick and generous feelings. The most
delicate and cherishing attentions were
paid to her by families of wealth ana
distinction. She was led into society,
and they tried by all kinds of occupa-
ton and amusement to dissipate her
grief, and wean her from her loves
tragedy.
But all In vain. There are some
scorch the soul-Which penetrate to the
vital seat of happiness-and blast It..
She never objected to frequent the
haunts of pleasure, but was as mucn
alone there as in the depths OF solitude;
walking about in a sad revery, appar.
emily unconscious of the world around
her.
She was once seen at masquerade.
There can be no exhibition OF far-9one
wretchedness more striking and painful
to see than to meet it in such scene.
To find it wandering like specter,
lonely and joyless, where all around Is
gayety-to see 1t dressed in the trap.
pings of mirth, and looking so wan ana
woebegone, as If it had tried In vain
to cheat the poor heart into momen-
tary forgetfulness OF sorrow.
After strolling through the splendid
rooms and giddy crowd with an air OF
utter abstraction, she sat herself down
on the steps of an orchestra, and. look
ing about her for some time with
vacant air. that showed her to be I'M
aware of the garish scene, she began,
with the capriciousness of slckly
heart to MARBLE a plaintive air. She
had an exquisite voice: but on this occa-
sion it was so simple, SO touching, IL
breathed forth such soul OF Wretched-
ness-that she drew a crowd. mute ana
silent. around her and melted every one
into tears.
The story of one so true and tender
could not but excite great interest In
country remarkable for enthusiasm. II
completely won the heart of brave OFF,
Ger. who paid his addresses to her, and
thought that one so true to the dead
could not but prove affectionate to the
living. She declined his attentions, Tor
her thoughts were irrevocably en-
crossed by the memory OF her former
lover. He, however, persisted In Ills
suit. He solicited not her tende mess,
but her esteem. He was assisted by her
conviction of his worth, and her sense
of her own destitute and dependent Sit
uation. for she was existing on the kind
ness of her friends In word he at
length succeeded in gaining her hand,
thought with the solemn assurance that
her heart was unalterably another's. He
took her with him to Sicily, hoping that
a change of scene might wear out the
remembrance of early woes. She was an
amiable and exemplary wife, and MADE
an effort to be a happy one: but moth
ing could cure the silent and devouring
melancholy that had entered into her
very soul. She wasted away in slow, but
hopeless decline, and at length sank into
the grave, the victim OF broken heart.