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Article THEINVISIBLE SHIELD.† ← Page 4 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Theinvisible Shield.†
the trap . Laura had given her whole soul and affection to tlie keeping of Lacy . Night after night , in the soft moonlight , had they strolled through the beautiful groves around this most delightful village . Spring had come with its thousand varied sweets—here mingled the wild flowers of the prairie and forest with the more cultivated scion of the garden . It was their pleasure by moonlight to gather the early flowers of the season ; and yet there had not passed from the mouth of either any more
definite words than those uttered by AValter at his first interview . But they knew and felt that their love was reciprocal . Often and again had AValter liftetl his eyes to her ' s , and would have told her he loved , but he needed not to convey his meaning by words . Staunton now concluded the plot ripe , and the time arrived to perfect his plans . He saw that if ever man or woman loved , these young creatures were strongly under that influence . Oh , how fair and how lovel
y to behold is the pure and holy love of two such bright beings ! A serpent crept into Paradise , and the fiend , Staunton , now stept in to spoil the holy affection . On the 1 st of May ( I remember it well , ) the young ladies and their beaux had sauntered out early in the morning to try their fortunes , and either by design or by chance , I know not , Laura had seen AA'alter ' s image reflected in the well ; but the forbidding countenance of Staunton almost concealed it from her view . AVith a shudder
ancl a smothered shriek , she turned and discovered both AValter and Staunton leaning over her , and also looking into the well . The former gazed into her eyes to read there if possible , that deep and dark secret , which a few moments before had been revealed to him by Staunton . All there was innocence , and yet he could not doubt Staunton : he said
he positively knew it ; nay , was present in J— , when it occurred . I will not follow this couple through that joyous day . To one it was a day of unmiiigled pleasure—that one was Staunton . He had shot the poisoned arrow , and he saw how well it took effect . A month from this time AA ' alter Lacy had made up his mind , —yes , reader , —he had deliberatel y concluded to betray the innocence of this lovely , this confiding girl . One month had he struggled between a sense of duty ; yea ,
against bis honourable feelings and his dee ]) , his burning love . Reader , I will tell you why . Previous to that first of May , his love for Laura was as pure and as unmingled with any base motive as was that pure love first given from heaven ; but Staunton , the fiend , had told him that he was giving his heart to a I forbear the word . He toid him this , that she had been betrayed and was lost . As I said before , one month had he tried to stifle his animal nature ; but it was too
strong , and he yielded ! Ah ! then should he have sought aid from a higher power ; arid , like Joseph , have resisted even to death . He was seated in his room when lie came to this rash determination ; it was about dusk , ancl he seized his hat to repair to the accustomed place , when a rap was heard at his door . " Come in . Ah ! good evening Uncle Tom—what ' s going on to-night ? " " We have several ' on whom we confer the M , M . deg . to-nightand we wish your assistance . B
, y the way , Bro . Lacy , you have not been to visit us for some months;—I fear these women interfere ; we shall have to marry you off , and then you will come every night ! " "Ah ! Uncle Tom ! you are an old bachelor , and we allow you to say that ; but if I were married I should be less often there than now . Well , I will be there to-night . " ****«* . He had been in the Hall but a few moments ere he was aware that the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Theinvisible Shield.†
the trap . Laura had given her whole soul and affection to tlie keeping of Lacy . Night after night , in the soft moonlight , had they strolled through the beautiful groves around this most delightful village . Spring had come with its thousand varied sweets—here mingled the wild flowers of the prairie and forest with the more cultivated scion of the garden . It was their pleasure by moonlight to gather the early flowers of the season ; and yet there had not passed from the mouth of either any more
definite words than those uttered by AValter at his first interview . But they knew and felt that their love was reciprocal . Often and again had AValter liftetl his eyes to her ' s , and would have told her he loved , but he needed not to convey his meaning by words . Staunton now concluded the plot ripe , and the time arrived to perfect his plans . He saw that if ever man or woman loved , these young creatures were strongly under that influence . Oh , how fair and how lovel
y to behold is the pure and holy love of two such bright beings ! A serpent crept into Paradise , and the fiend , Staunton , now stept in to spoil the holy affection . On the 1 st of May ( I remember it well , ) the young ladies and their beaux had sauntered out early in the morning to try their fortunes , and either by design or by chance , I know not , Laura had seen AA'alter ' s image reflected in the well ; but the forbidding countenance of Staunton almost concealed it from her view . AVith a shudder
ancl a smothered shriek , she turned and discovered both AValter and Staunton leaning over her , and also looking into the well . The former gazed into her eyes to read there if possible , that deep and dark secret , which a few moments before had been revealed to him by Staunton . All there was innocence , and yet he could not doubt Staunton : he said
he positively knew it ; nay , was present in J— , when it occurred . I will not follow this couple through that joyous day . To one it was a day of unmiiigled pleasure—that one was Staunton . He had shot the poisoned arrow , and he saw how well it took effect . A month from this time AA ' alter Lacy had made up his mind , —yes , reader , —he had deliberatel y concluded to betray the innocence of this lovely , this confiding girl . One month had he struggled between a sense of duty ; yea ,
against bis honourable feelings and his dee ]) , his burning love . Reader , I will tell you why . Previous to that first of May , his love for Laura was as pure and as unmingled with any base motive as was that pure love first given from heaven ; but Staunton , the fiend , had told him that he was giving his heart to a I forbear the word . He toid him this , that she had been betrayed and was lost . As I said before , one month had he tried to stifle his animal nature ; but it was too
strong , and he yielded ! Ah ! then should he have sought aid from a higher power ; arid , like Joseph , have resisted even to death . He was seated in his room when lie came to this rash determination ; it was about dusk , ancl he seized his hat to repair to the accustomed place , when a rap was heard at his door . " Come in . Ah ! good evening Uncle Tom—what ' s going on to-night ? " " We have several ' on whom we confer the M , M . deg . to-nightand we wish your assistance . B
, y the way , Bro . Lacy , you have not been to visit us for some months;—I fear these women interfere ; we shall have to marry you off , and then you will come every night ! " "Ah ! Uncle Tom ! you are an old bachelor , and we allow you to say that ; but if I were married I should be less often there than now . Well , I will be there to-night . " ****«* . He had been in the Hall but a few moments ere he was aware that the