Evans_St_Elmo.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
" trust you."
" !"
was a brief pause, and she heard a heavily-drawn sigh escape
him.
", it is useless to tell you how devotedly love you, for you
have known that for years; and yet you have shown my love no mercy.
perhaps if you could realize how much need your help in my
holy work, how much more good could accomplish in the world if you
were with me, you might listen, without steeling yourself against
me, as you have so long done. you, will you trust me fully?
you be a minister's wife, and aid him as only you can? , my
darling, my darling! never expect to be worthy of you! you can
make me less unworthy! own darling, come to me."
stood within two feet of her, but he was--too humble? , nay,
too proud to touch her without permission.
hands fell from her crimson cheeks, and she looked up at the
countenance of her king.
her fond eyes he seemed noble and sanctified, and worthy of all
confidence; and as he opened his arms once more, she glided into
them and laid her head on his shoulder, whispering:
"! trust you! trust you fully!"
in the close, tender clasp of his strong arms, she listened
to a narration of his grief and loneliness, his hopes and fears, his
desolation and struggles and prayers during their long separation.
for the first time she learned that he had come more than once
to , solely to see her, having exacted a promise from .
that he would not betray his presence in the city. had
followed her at a distance as she wandered with the children through
the ; and, once in the ramble, stood so close to her that he put
out his hand and touched her dress. . had acquainted him
with all that had ever passed between them on the subject of his
unsuccessful suit; and during her sojourn in , had kept him
regularly advised of the state of her health.
last, when . bent his head to press his lips again to
hers, he exclaimed in the old, pleading tone that had haunted her
memory for years:
", with all your meekness you are wilfully proud. tell me
you trust me, and you nestle your dear head here on my shoulder--why
won't you say what you know so well am longing, hungering to hear?
won't you say, '. , love you'?"
glowing face was only pressed closer.
" little darling!"
", . ! could be here."
", my stately ! am waiting most respectfully to allow
you an opportunity of expressing yourself."
answer.
laughed as she had heard him once before, when he took her in his
arms and dared her to look into his eyes.
" heard your books extolled; when heard your praises from
men, women, and children; when could scarcely pick up a paper
without finding some mention of your name; when came here to-
night, and paced the pavement, waiting for your admirers to leave
the house; whenever and wherever have heard your dear name
uttered, have been exultingly proud! knew that the heart of
the people's pet was mine! gloried in the consciousness which
alone strengthened and comforted me, that, despite all that the
public could offer you, despite the adulation of other men, and
despite my utter unworthiness, my own darling was true to me! that
you never loved any one but . ! as reigns above
us, happy world holds no man so grateful, so happy, so proud as
am! man so resolved to prove himself worthy of his treasure!
, looking back across the dark years that have gone so heavily
over my head, and comparing you, my pure, precious darling, with
that woman, whom in my boyhood selected for my life-companion,
know not whether am most humble, or grateful, or proud!
' who am , that hath saved
from the doom did desire,
crossed the lot myself had craved
set me higher?
have done that he should bow
heaven to choose a wife for me?
what deserved, he should endow
home with ?'"
* * * * * * *
. was not able to take the fatiguing journey , and
would not permit any one else to perform her marriage ceremony,
she sent . home without her, promising to come to the
parsonage as early as possible.
. and . were deeply pained by the intelligence of her
approaching departure, and finally consented to accompany her on her
journey.
last day of the orphan's sojourn in was spent at the
quiet spot where slept his last sleep; and it caused her keen
grief to bid good-bye to his resting-place, which was almost as dear
to her as the grave of her grandfather. affection had been so
warm, so sacred, that she clung fondly to his memory; and it was not
until she reached the old village depot, where carriages were
waiting for the party, that the shadow of that day entirely left her
countenance.
accordance with her own request, did not see .
again until the hour appointed for their marriage.
was a bright, beautiful afternoon, warm with sunshine, when she
permitted . to lead her into the study where the party had
assembled. . and . , , , and the white-
haired pastor, were all there, and when entered, .
advanced to meet her, and received her hand from his mother.
orphan's eyes were bent to the floor, and never once lifted,
even when the trembling voice of her beloved pastor pronounced her
. 's wife. intense pallor of her face frightened
. , who watched her with suspended breath, and once moved
eagerly toward her. . felt her lean more heavily against
him during the ceremony; and, now turning to take her in his arms,
he saw that her eyelashes had fallen on her cheeks--she had lost all
consciousness of what was passing.
hours elapsed before she recovered fully from the attack; and
when the blood showed itself again in lips that were kissed so
repeatedly, . lifted her from the sofa in the study, and
passing his arm around her, said:
"-day snap the fetters of your literary bondage. shall be
no more books written! more study, no more toil, no more anxiety,
no more heartaches! that dear public you love so well, must even
help itself, and whistle for a new pet. belong solely to me now,
and shall take care of the life you have nearly destroyed in your
inordinate ambition. , the fresh air will revive you."
stood a moment under the honeysuckle arch over the parsonage
gate, where the carriage was waiting to take them to , and
. asked:
" you strong enough to go to the church?"
", sir; the pain has all passed away. am perfectly well again."
crossed the street, and he took her in his arms and carried her
up the steps, and into the grand, solemn church, where the soft,
holy, violet light from the richly-tinted glass streamed over gilded
organ-pipes and sculptured columns.
nor . spoke as they walked down the aisle; and
in perfect silence both knelt before the shining altar, and only
heard their prayers of gratitude.
some moments . put out his hand, took 's, and
holding it in his on the balustrade, he prayed aloud, asking 's
blessing on their marriage, and fervently dedicating all their
future to work.
hectic flush of the dying day was reflected on the window high
above the altar, and, burning through the red mantle of the ,
fell down upon the marble shrine like sacred, sacrificial fire.
felt as if her heart could not hold all its measureless joy.
seemed a delightful dream to see . kneeling at her side; to
hear his voice earnestly consecrating their lives to the service of
.
knew from the tremor in his tone, and the tears in his eyes,
that his dedication was complete; and now to be his companion
through all the remaining years of their earthly pilgrimage, to be
allowed to help him and love him, to walk heavenward with her hand
in his; this--this was the crowning glory and richest blessing of
her life.
his prayer ended, she laid her head down on the altar-railing,
and sobbed like a child.
the orange glow of a wintry sunset they came out and sat down on
the steps, while a pair of spotless white pigeons perched on the
blood-stain; and . put his arm around , and drew her
face to his bosom.
", do you remember that once, in the dark days of my reckless
sinfulness, asked you one night, in the library at , if
you had no faith in me? you repeated so vehemently, ', .
!'"
", sir! do not think of it. recur to what is so painful and so
long past? those words and forget them! was more
implicit faith, more devoted affection, given to any human being
than give now to you, . ; you, who are my first and my
last and my only love."
felt his arm tighten around her waist, as he bowed his face to
hers.
"? , my darling! do you recollect also that told you then
that the time would come when your dear lips would ask pardon for
what they uttered that night, and that when that hour arrived
would take my revenge? wife! my pure, noble, beautiful wife! give
me my revenge, for cry with the long-banished :
'! a kiss--long as my exile
as my revenge!'"
put his hand under her chin, drew the lips to his, and kissed
them repeatedly.
among the graves, in the brown grass and withered leaves,
behind a tall shaft, around which coiled a carved marble serpent
with hooded head-there, amid the dead, crouched a woman's figure,
with a stony face and blue chatoyant eyes, that glared with
murderous hate at the sweet countenance of the happy bride. .
tenderly kissed the pure lips of his wife,
smothered a savage cry, and was satisfied as the wretched
woman fell forward on the grass, sweeping her yellow hair over her
eyes, to shut out the vision that maddened her.
and there, for the first time, as she sat enfolded by her
husband's arm, felt that she could thank him for the monument
erected over her grandfather's grave.
light faded slowly in the west, the pigeons ceased their
fluttering about the belfry, and as he turned to quit the church, so
dear to both, . stretched his hand toward the ivy-clad
vault, and said solemnly:
" throw all mournful years behind me; and, by the grace of , our
new lives, commencing this hallowed day, shall make noble amends for
the wasted past. each other, aiding each other, serving
, through whose atonement alone have been saved from eternal
ruin. merciful guidance, ! we commit our future."
looked reverently up at his beaming countenance, whence the
shadows of hate and scorn had long since passed; and, as his
splendid eyes came back to hers, reading in her beautiful, pure face
all her love and confidence and happy hope, he drew her closer to
his bosom, and laid his dark cheek on hers, saying fondly and
proudly:
" wife, my life. ! we will walk this world,
in all exercise of noble end,
so through those dark gates across the wild
no man knows. hopes and thine are one;
thou my manhood, and thyself,
thy sweet hands in mine and trust to me."