Year: 1869

Phe early love, also, is fruitful Of mis-.
cries through its inexperienee. Under
ordinary circumstances, two young peo-


pie Of opposite sexes and the same ace


are sure to fall in love with each other
It they are left much together. It is
the most natural method Of impartino
new interest to the ordinary business Of
taxing walks to church anu back. of
spending the evening, and so forth. 1t
is so very quiet and simple revolution
that the young people are only awakened
20 It's presence by some little incident
that flashes the truth upon their fright
ened eyes. Then there is a brief mo-
ment OF superhuman eestaey. followed by
mutual prOtestatiOns, VOWS Of co 4staney.
and fearful abJuratiOns to secresv. Week
after week this blissfully disquieting life
goes on, and then Edward, turning des-
pairing eyes toward her. bids her fare


well, and goes of in quest of fame aad
fortune


Which Of them shall first find ont the
profound mistake and biunder that lay
at the root Of all this feeting ioy?


Which Of them shall first awake some
morning TO find some new object IN
stalled in the chamber of their affections.
which heretofore has only had an insult


ielent and temporary lodger2 Perhaps
Edward discovers that very few weeks
absence has made a wonderful difference
IN his view Of things and now. being
able more imPartially to sean the un-
happy Clara's disposition and temper.
finds that these would never assort with
his own. Or II is Clara, who sees in
Edwards wilIfulness and fits Of sudden


liking and disliking an unhappy omen
for the future, and discovers that her
heart does not cling to him with that
perfect abandonment which would make
marriage a safe experiment. Her letters
become more subdued. He remOn-
strates. She gives the faintest possible
indications Of the truth. lie rises up
IN the majesty Of his wrath, curses
WOmankind, takes to writing Byronie
poetry, and giving himself headaches
through excessive drinking finally turns
to business, marries ten years after a
happy little woman, and settles down to
the living comfortable and peaceful
life.


Now the tragic aspect Of the case is
this-that, however desirable for both
parties may be the breaking Of this IN
wise compact, the sharp sundering leaves
4 dreadful and ragged wound in at least
one of the hearts concerned. Edward
may reason with himself. then or after
ward, that the Inconsistency about which
he has so bitterly complained was a per-
feet gOdsend to him; but no amount Of
reason will remove the scar Of the
wound. The shattering Of ones trust
in this particular woman is like the col
lapse Of the universe. There IS no more
faith, no more love, no more hope pos
sible. Ruin and chaos encompass things,
and the world is a cheat. Then the
beautiful idyllic charm of those early
days-the sweet memories that hang
around them ike a faint fragranee-th
old visions and aspirations. and tender
Condolences it not entirely desolat;ns
that these should be buried forever in
the shadowy past? These days viii
never be forgotten. In the evenings of
the years to come he will sit and brood
over them, and call up faces and scenes
out of the hiekering fire. a Whit Of
sea air, or the scent Of sweet brier, will
be fraught with a vague sadness to him,
for these will be forever associated with
that bygone dream. BY and BY he will
reach a clearer conception of the whole
affair, and come to see that Clara's con
duct was not so much the result of her
own sinfulness, or weakness, CT incon-
staney, but the result Of certain eireum-
stances which were absolutely eOereive.
This tyranny Of circumstances will for
ever hang around him as an impene-
trable mystery hateful, miserable
thing and when some tragic story Of
loves misery Is told him in theater or
in book, the sense of Indignation and
pity will make his heart swell with sym
pathy and his eyes FIJI with the bitter
tears of long 400