Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1880 — LIFE’S SHADOWS. [ARTICLE]

LIFE’S SHADOWS.

BY IRENE INGE COLLIER.

Slowly the golden ball of molten, fire was traveling toward the westward, hiding behind delicate sapphire clouds, and shadowing purplish tints upon a tall, queenly woman statucsquely draped in white, standing alone upon a stone colonnade; her eyes largo and brown, swept the horizon with a hungry, eager gaze. The fitful gusts of chilling summer wind blew the long, trailing vines, heavy with the passing shower, against her marble cheeks, dashing the many-col-ored drops over face, hair, and down upon her sheer-white dress, while the frown of care grew deeper upon the troubled face, for Memory’h busy tides are seething O’er the lundmarkw. of the past. “ Miss Hinton ! you here?” ejaculated ('apt. Thornton, in much astonishment. Slowly the chestnut-crowned head bowed until the face was buried in the dark-green ivies. “’Tis I, (’apt. Thornton. Did Ella wish me ? ” “Only in search myself; but you are chilly—l will get a wrap,” quite reluctantly entering the hall. “ You are very kind.” “The scarlet shawl throws a glow over your face, Miss Hinton. Why did you prefer solitude on your last night with us ?” “ I have been watching the last rays of sun glint those rugged, gray cliffs, ami trying to shape my future destiny by the time they were Ridden from sight. Ah ! see, they are gone, and ‘it may be for years, and it may be forever ’ ere I see the sea-washed shore or rugged granite stones again.” Her voice was low, and grew softer and tremulous as she ended the long dissertation. “You imbibe too freely of sadness, Miss Mabel. Will you walk with me? I have a great deal to tell you. Why do you avoid me so assiduously of late?” “ ‘Silence is the eternal duty of man,’ says Carlyle—why not of woman also? ” “ Let rifts of moonlight through your ideas,” interpolated Capt. Thornton, quickly, and abashed. “It would only mend the vase for a time, and I prize your friendship too highly to be more explicit. Everything seems gloomy to me to-night. Past, present and future are each bringing its sorrow to the surface—even the harrowing, dubious future. Whist think you ? Nothing, Miss Mabel? You confide in no one?” as both wandered back and forth on the long colonnade in the moonlight. “ [i. has been said the most tragic things in life are its failures, and how bitter do mine chide me to-night. My he irt grows cold with its rebuff, and no silvery clouds peep behind the darkness for me, Capt. Thornton.” “ You have landed your hope bark on the rock of despair, methinks, Miss Hinton ; and why do you torture me, knowing my strong arms are ever ready and willing to guide you safe to the peace harlx >r?” Only a tighter pressure upon his arm, and a tremor, which involuntarily made him press the hand resting there more closely. “Capt. Thornton, please say no more. ” “It is too trying. 1 must unburden my heart, as I have so oft done before ; the intensity of my love for yo.u is consuming the vitality of life.’ Day after day 1 have noted your bloodless, careworn face ; and back my heart wandered to a country farm-house, with its broad stretch of grain-laden fields, and, the most pleasing, a rosy-cheeked, browneyed lassie of 16. That picture has haunted me for ten long years, amid the blue ocean storms and under India’s sweltering sun, and now, as before, to toll my love for you, and to you, throws a mystical silence over you, and a shrinking away which you never will explain.” “Let me net see how cruelly I have annoyed you. Mine eyes are burning, and brain seems gone.” “Oh, Mabel ! why are vou so heartless ?” For a moment she leaned heavily upon his arm, then sobs of emotion shook the queenly form; as ho clasped her to his breast her arm encircled his neck, and she gave way to her feelings. Frank Thornton rained kisses upon the blushing face. “I love you, Mabel.” “Love, Frank, I adore you, but oh, what have I done ? There is an interminable barrier, oh—my—love—” She could nay no m re, for breath came thick r.n I heavy, and with a convulsive gasp she exclaimed wildly:. “ Yes, yes, Frank, 1 mijst give even you up.” “ Never, never,” he cried. ’’Yes, forever; there is a fearful

secret which shadows my life—yet I can and will love you always.” She slipped from his arms and sped like a startled fawn up the long stairway. Capt. Thornton watched the ghostlv figure, and with a deep-drawn sign slowly resumed his pace. “ Aye, .forever,” was a true version to his sighs, until from sheer exhaustion he leisurely strolled in the parlors. “I heard you and Miss Mabel in low converse, Thornton, and were you so uninteresting she banished you?” asked Guy Marchfield, jestingly. “ I wtts not so cruelly treated, Guy, but you and Miss Ella would notentertain anyone but selves; and Miss Mabel had to prepare for her flight.” “ How heartless,” replied one. “Regret it so much!” chimed in another guest. “ Not more than I, for Cousin Mabel is truly fascinating, so deep too, that I always don my thinking cap to keep in her train,” said Ella Hinton, thoughtfully.

“Let me go for her, Ella?” “ No, no, Susie; she is busy, or would not have excused herself,” was the determined reply. So gayly for a time was the merriment continued, until, tired of nonsense, the weary party exchanged good-night, and retired. All? no; Capt. Thornton packed hastily his valise—left a note of thanks, with regrets that business forced bis departure, for Mrs. Hinton—and was on the road in the midnight train, flying fast from his recent object < f love, and the happy summer passed, but not forgotten.

Poor Mabel! reaction was too great, and she sobbed out the miserable hours; truly her glow of joy was hidden under the rust of sorrow. Like a tangled skein of floss, as rapidly one knot was unloosed another still more tangled assumed its stead. She was a woman of great depth, and from poverty to luxury she reviewed her life. She was bereaved deeply while only 18, and left an orphan, with poverty staring her in the face. A wealthy uncle made her his heiress, where every wish and desire could be gratified, at 20; so for six long years she had been a society woman. From youth to mature womanhood she had loved Frank Thornton. Occasionally her hungry heart would bo appeased by a glimpse of him, which only made the aches more intense, and, leaving her aunt and cousins with Capt. Thornton, as she supposed, was very hard, yet an inevitable step.

It was scarcely day dawn when she hade them adieu, with a wistful look at the dear old piazza, which only had heard the confession uindr the night before between the two, and back she was quickly borne to her home of wealth, to a giddy whirl of gayety. Not a word, through the fall and early winter, had she heard from her soul’s adoration. Not hearing made thinking of him more frequent, and she grew morose and tired out of life.

It was a clear cold morning, and Miss Hinton was seated by a glowing grate, sipping chocolate and scanning the morning paper—the servants heard a crash and fall, and rushed in to find Miss Hinton in a faint, and her chaperone trying to resuscitate the apparently dead form. After a few seconds she opened her eyes. “ Please assist me to my room—Capt. Thornton is married,” she murmured, and held eagerly the newspaper. “A card, Miss Mabel.’ “ Not at home to anyone. ”

“ I told the lady you were ill; but she is here now,” as Susie Mays opened the door. “ How sorry I am you are ill, Mabel.” “Only the effects of over-dissipation, Susie. How are all at Gray Cliff?” “Well; but I was so in hopes you would be my guide for to-day, as we will only have time to spend one day here. Did you sei’ my marriage notice?” “Yes; I should have congratulated you before, child, but was feeling so badly had forgotten you were married.” “For shame ! I wanted to tell you all last summer, but left it for Capt. Thornton’s secret.” “ I am surprised; you are given to secretiveness.” “No; the first of any importance lever kept.” “ You will be deprived of my reception, Susie, which I should gladly have given, on account of my illness.” “We cannot remain over. Thanks, Mabel, for your kindness.” “ Why did not your husband call with you?” “His plea of business—came fol goods—and his time so completely occupied—left me at the door to find my way back from here.” “ Don’t go !” as Susie arose. “I am sorry, but ciinnot remain longer; good-by! Will see you next summer, Mabel, at your aunt’s.” “ Yes, I hope so; take good care of your new-found treasure,” and, shading her face with her hands, was in such a brown study that the, maid shook her to hand a telegram. Her lingers trembled, and lace grow ashy pale as she noted the contents, and her silent prayer was registered in heaven. “How can 1 enduro more? Truly I have a heavy cross to bear.” Turning to the waiting servant, “there is no reply, but pack a small trunk with plain garments and a black dress as hurriedly as vou can.” “Yes, Miss Mabel.” Mabel Hinton‘was very calm ami self - possessed, ate a hearty dinner, gave directions for a week’s absence, and was at the tic]>ot waiting by J o’clock in the afternoon. A crushed heart, broken in twain, years of loneliness, with no glad hope to crown the years with love and happiness. He was married, and last summer told her a prevarication. All grew more defined and sad as she, seated alone, reviewed their love for each other. When she left the cars a close carriage was in waiting, and a lonely, desolate ride through thick forests in the early morning to a large, rambling brick building, ivy-grown, was the end of her journey. The gates were locked, and the shrill shrieks of the mad inmates made each hair almost rise, on end, and Mabel Hinton shrank from the, awful ordeal that was before her—“ Too late, miss, he’s dead !” “Dead—dead, did you say?” “Yes, and when I sent for yotf he was conscious and sane, and made me write a letter for you ; it was a terrible deathbed scene.” “ Where is he, poor, poor soul ?” “Buried, mam. Yes—know it is the law, unless the friends request the body. We put it away among us. You left more than enough money to do all we did for him,” handing Mabel the letter. “ Conduct me to his grave.” “I will, but must tell the carriage to wait, because you look too weak to spend anight here.” “ A new-made grave, where the Boughings of the wind through the trees chanted a solemn requiem, hold the secret barrier that had robbed Mabel Thornton of a happy life. And the tearless eyes and feverish face gaze wildly ; and, turning her eyes heavenward, thanks God that lie was where he would suffer no more. A husband only in name, yet a’Jiusband.” She placed the letter in her pocket, and, thanking the janitress, left the lonely spot almost a tit subject to dwell there within those narrow brick walls. Her drive back over the lonely road was a joyless one, but she instinctively entered the ears—-then all was a blank. * * * * * The fluttering lace curtains awoke the beautiful woman, and, attemptim 7- to rise, fell back with a cry of pain. “ Darling, rest qui. t; vou are with me.” “Auntie, I am well, Im! oh so weak - what is the matter ?” “Yon have be-m :dmo, t' :■! denlh’s

door, Mabel, but are all right. You must not talk. ” “I know he is dead, for I saw his grave. Auntie, I must die, too. ” “Not while I love you so,” said a deep, rich voice; and Capt. Thornton bent and kissed her face. “You here! Are you and Susie living here ? ” “My Cousin Harold and Susie were married last winter, and I, darling, was only biding my time. ” “It has come, Frank, for I am free to love you now.” He bent again. Her face was covered with kisses. “I was going to see you at Susie’s request, when I was earned by my stopping-place from carelessness; and, as you entered the car door you fell almost in my arms. I took this letter which your aunt and I perused together, and have found out a great deal since from the matron of the asylum, for I have been to see her; and, from your raving while ill, know all.” “ You must not talk so much, Mabel,” said her aunt. “Did you find out my poor father thought he had wronged the boy ? He, by his falsehoods, made my father force me to marry him; led him into a lawsuit; told him he would dishonor his name; and I secretly obeyed his dying request; married the boy, who shortly after went crazy from his wrong deeds to a poor, honest man like my father. I worked for him while I was so poor, and kept him in the best asylum I could; and, when I was made rich, gave him all the comforts in my power. And now I am doubly blessed. You, Frank, still love me, and God has tortured me seven times seventy, and purified and refined me for a noble husband ! ” And, with hands clasped, life’s shadows flitted away to rest on some other not so fortunate. “ Your life has been a perfect sacrifice to him.”

“ I never loved him, but did what I thought my duty.” “ And Heaven will bless you, Mabel, for it,” said her aunt, with tears coming rapidly down her cheeks. “ After my father’s death, I found out my husband, had acted with deception, but it was soo late, auntie, for our marriage had been celebrated.” “To save my husband’s brother from dishonor you have spent the best years of your life in sorrow.” “While her hitter years will be my sacred interest, and a double portion of love from me will be given my wife—nee Miss Hinton,” said Capt. Thornton, with glad smiles chasing each other over his face. • “ Now, Frank, my inevitable barrier is removed, and my secret you complained of told!”—she caught her breath strangely, like a sob and forced laugh. “And proudl am, Mabel, of a wife who has an over-abundance of pride for family, and honor." “ For years, Frank, I have murmured against my implacable fate, but how wisely all was ordained; for silent love through years only makes me revere more than it can be verified. ” The warm spring brought many stirring events. First, Ella Hinton and Guy Marchfield were united in the holy bonds of matrimony; then Frank Thornton and poor Mabel, who dreams life away in sunshine, joy and gladness.— Chicago Ledger.