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quil waves. Even this gloomy old palace
smiles in the golden light, and the mocking
bird, that hangs in the window above mine,
is doing his best to make his young mistress
happy. Oh, whose heart would not be light
in such an hour? Who would not forget
all sorrow and care ? Away with the mourn-
ful past. It can be nothing to us now-we
will not look upon graves while this sun is
shining down upon us. Oh, Olive, America
is fair, but where has she a scene like this ?
When are her skies so soft and clear--her
air so balmy? New England is dear, but
her hills are rough and rugged. Give me
my native land, when energy and will are
strong within me-when I would grapple
with all the ills of life, and conquer them;
but in an hour like this, when my heart is
overflowing with love, and poetry, and mu-
sic, I would exchange strengh for loveliness,
grandeur for soft and quiet beauty.” She
stretched her arms fondly towards the sea,
murmuring in a tone of passionate tender-
ness-“ Oh, Italy-beautiful Italy! Home
of my adoption, birthplace of my love, let
me sleep in thy arms when life is nothing
more to me ! "
Olive looked upon her emotion with un-
believing eyes. Her own fairy youth had
passed away, with its loves and fears, its
tempestuous passions and stormy tears; she
had learned to control her feelings-to
weigh each word before it passed her lips.
The woman of the world, haughty, brilliant,
and self-possessed, could no longer sympa-
thize with the wild raptures of Jael‘s in-
tense nature; she condemned them as
weaknesses. In one respect the two friends
were strikingly different. Olivc's heart
had grown old; but Jael's, in spite of all it
had endured, was young as ever. The
sweet tones of a. street singer, the aspect of
some strange, yet familiar face, the tones of
a voice similar to that of a lost friend, even
the perfume of a wayside flower, or the be-
wildering beauty of a summar’s night,
would move her spirit to its lowest depths.
Souls which feel so keenly the loveliness
that lives around them, may endure more
than others; but never to them can come
the chilling step of age.
Joel caught the glance of Olive‘s eye.
Madame Peschiera. shrugged her shoulders,
and attempted to speak; but at the first
word she uttered, the hand of her friend
was upon her lips, and her voice said, carn-
estly,
“Not now. You will only check and
chill the feelings which are giving me so
much happiness. There is a gulf between
us which neither can pass. 0, Countess of
Peschicra, would that the impulsive Olive
were here! She would sympathize with
me-a. thing which you can never do!
You have grown cold; you have lost your
faith in all things-even in the beauty of
our mother Earth, and the genuineness of
the joy her loveliness excites. Be it so,
since it must be. But in Heaven's name,
do not speak to me for a little while! Let
me cherish these thoughts while they will
come to me. Ol my brain and heart are
overdowing with beautiful images. I am in
a trance. Hush! Speak no word to dis-
turb me.”
Olive turned away with a scornful smile,
and walked to the farther end of the porti-
co. From the position she had chosen, she
had a side view of Jael’s flushed and ani-
mated face. Her hat was thrown to the
ound; her cloak trailed carelessly from
one shoulder upon the marble stops; one
arm was wound around the pillar against
which her ll('.’IIl was leaning: the cold stone
v hnbgfs ‘Eittmrg Eihxszum.
looked whiter than ever against the crim-
son cheek it had no power to cool.
dark eyes were raised; their glances rested gone by.
afar 03‘, as if she were reading the book of hired the rooms.
Olive drew forth her tablets, heart to take it down.
The quiet bay, strong hand has grasped it ? How heroic I
out before her; the stately line have grown while I gazed upon it! Cer-
ng lainly, I should have worn the dress I now
her future.
and commenced sketching.
spreztding far
of houses, looking, with their steps rcsti
“ You need not look so mischievous, my
Jael’s fricnd' m ' school-rrirl da ‘s have lonrr since
y ) 5 3 .-
That weapon hung here when I
I could not find it in my
VV'ho knows what
in the water, like giants bathing their feet wear by right-, instead of stealth. I have
after a wearying march; the clear blue sky,
the distant gondola, that held its course to-
ward her own home, all were there-and
the slight, graceful figure of the seeming
boy, gave interest to the scene.
the heart, the courage of a. man, andyet I
am forced to play the weak and subordinate
part of a woman." She paused for a mo-
ment. and then continued, without hecding
The por- the dcrisive smile of her friend. “Butl
trait of Joel was a faithful one; it lies be- should really like to know who that sword
fore me now.
the dark eyes;
tures; the glowing cheeks, and regal car-
riage of the head: all, save those jetty locks,1
that strange dress, and that Italian land-
scape, are familiar to my eyes and dear to
my heart.
Olive’s heart was in her work; she labor-
ed at it for a long time without raising her
eyes or spanking. When she closed her
tablets, it was high noon. The bell of St.
Mark’s was just pealing forth the hour.
She left her seat, and Joel sauntered slowly
toward her; the glow had faded from her
cheek, and a solemn light burned deep
within her eyes.
“ Has the reaction commenced so soon?"
asked Olive, playfully.
“No heart can feel so deeply at every
moment. I am calmer, now, and yet, more
earnest and happy, still. Only one thing
saddens me-that you have changed so
much. Where is your enthusiasm , '"'
passion - your fervent and glowing
thoughts ? ”
“ O, Jael, happy are you that they have
not fled from your heart with your early
years ! Mine left me long since. I am not
what I was. Let me assure you, I have be-
come remarkably trite and commonplace,
within the last few years.”
“I believe you,” said Joel, bitterly.
“ But is your experience the common one ?
Must I, also, become like you ? "
“ Heaven grant it! Rave as you will
about the joys of excitement, they fade
away before the calm pleasures of home-
the quiet love of friends. At present, how-
ever, I see no hopes of you.”
“Thank God! May it be ever thus.
Olive, the sun is hot; let us go inn.) the
house.”
“ Let us return to the villa, rather.
Your little namesake will wonder at our
long absence, and our gon "er has already
fallen asleep, through pure wearines of
spirit. Shall I wake him ‘P "
“ W'ait a moment," said Jael, laying her
hand upon her arm, as she stepped forward
to arouse the servant. “ I must take a last
look at the rooms where I have spent so
many happy hours. Surely, you are ro-
mantic enough yet to sympathize with me
in this case. After this farewell, I am at
your service. You shall take me to the
villa, or anywhere else you please."
“ Now you talk like a. sensible woman.
Matter-of-fact as I must seem, I will own to
you that I am nearly famishcd. Come."
They entered the studio. The walls
were bare, the carpet littered with straw
and paper, and the few remaining articles
of furniture scattered about in most wipin-
turesque confusion. The door of the inner
apartment was also open ; through the aper-
ture Olive saw a rusty sword hanging upon
the wall. She smiled quietly to herself.
Jacl’s eye follower! hers‘, she gave an ox-
Thc restless, fiery glance of once belonged to. “low you at “laterloo,
the classically formed fea- old friend? It really goes to my heart to
have it hanging there alone. Who knows,
Olive -the ‘little corporal’ himself may
5 have borne it!”
“ Very probable." said Olive, dryly.
l Site turned away. The wild fancies of
i Jacl annoyed and wearied her. She wish-
! ed to reduce her to her own tame existence.
l She wished her to live, not to accomplish
l any great end, or even to assist in its devel-
opement, but simply because life was given
her. Alas! how many great an(l noble na-
turcs rust in inactivity like that sword upon
the wall-their beauty and usefulness gone
-their glory departed forever!
J ael looked after her and sighed. Ol-
ive’s quick ear caught the sound; her heart
smote her for her lack of sympathy-for
her apparent unkindncss. She turned sud-
denly, and taking both of Jael’s hands in
her own, bent her dark, but at this moment
friendly face, above her, and said, seriously,
“I know that you are disappointed in
me, as I in you. You expected to find me
wild and impulsive as ever. You fancied
that the thoughts and hopes which made up
the life of the girl, would satisfy the heart
of the woman. I forgot, that in the strange
life you have led, all that was romantic and
imaginative in your nature must necessarily
be kept alive; that dangerous projects and
wild plans must of course find a. powerful
advocate in you. Jacl, youth comes to us
but once, and mine has gone forever. I
have been polished too long upon the wheel
of society to retain my own natural bril-
lizmcy and strength. I have lost feeling,
hope, faith, and energy; I have gained a
serene repose of manner, a. ready wit, a
graceful air, and a callous heart. I will not
say which is best-your fl:t!5ll nagire, or my
worldly one. In my child you Will soon see
the Olive you loved, but never again in me.
Forgive me, if I seem, at times, cold and
harsh; it is not you I ridicule, but the pro-
jects you defend. They seem like the rav-
ings of a maniac, when I compare them
with the cool, every-day CllIIrCll3.li I hear
daily around me. I have forgotten my own
youth, and your enthusiasm seems an anom-
aly to me. Jae], you said one true thing
when we met for the first time-that the
past could never come back to us again.
The future may be, as you prophecied, bet-
ter and holier; at all events, it will he more
real. Our love has not died away with the
dreams of those early years; you are 3511
dear to me as ever. Take, then, the friend-
ship I have to give, for it is warm and pure
as ever. Dom can sympathize with you in
your wildest dreams; ascend into the heav.
en of imagination with him, but let me love
you on the earth. If we cannot sympa-
thizo with each other on some subjects, we
can at least avoid them. We shall yet be
happy, Joel. I am not sure that the new
love will not be better than the old; cerv
planntinn.
Our hearts have been well tried; we know
that they are faithful. Can you not love
me still, Jael, in spite of my worldliness ? ”
“ You will always be dear to me, Olive,
if only because you once loved me so
much.”
“ I do not love you less, now, Jael; I
only show my affection in a different way.
There are many things which will bind us
together, yet. My child-surely, she par-
takes of the nature of each, and in her I
will love the Jael, you the Olive, of other
days."
She stretched out her hand. Jael wrung
it fervently; then murmuring,
“ After all, the ashes of an old love is a
sorrowful sight. This new friendship may
be better. I know not, but Time will
show,” dropped it, and turned toward the
window, with tears in her eyes.
Olive eyed her curiously for a few mo-
ments, and then paced slowly up and down
the room, with her hands clasped behind
her, mnrmuring, half unconsciously, the old
words,
“It is good to be merry and wise,
It is good to be honest and true;
It is good to be on‘ with the old love,
Before you are on with the new.”
A sudden exclamation from J ael, inter-
rupted her. She turned slowly towards her.
Jael pointed to a few words traced upon the
window sill, and said, sorrowfully, “ True-
many ties will yet unite us. Read that, and
your heart will acknowledge one."
Olive bent above her, her eye fell upon
the half obliterated characters. She started,
turned pale, and buried her face in her hands.
Simple words were they, and yet how much
they had recalledto both those hearts. The
words ran thus :
“ Allis still and tranquil around me, but I
am restless and sad. When will this life
close, and lead me to a better and happier
one? The past is irrevocable. Strange voices
come up from the abya of my vanished years.
VVhat will the future bring to me ?
LEONARD BAKER, Aug. 23th, 13--.”
They had apparently been traced in some
idle and weary moment. Deeply as they
thrilled the heart of Joel, she was con-
scious of exultation. She was rejoiced to
see that Olive was not, in reality, as cold as
she had seemed. She was still gazing upon
the bowed form before her, when Olive
looked up, and said, briefly, “ Have you
never seen them before?"
“Never! This window was never used.
My cscrutoire stood here, and I did not ex-
amine the easement. This must have been
his mom; I have lived where he lived; even
in his death he has not left me entirely. I
remembe how often he spoke of his resi-
dence in Venice ; this is the very scene;
the old pulses, the rippling waves that kiss
its walls, the song of the gondoliers, and the
merry salutations of their passengers, are all
her%nothing is absent but the moonlight
and him. His head may have rested upon
that window seat, where he has written those
words. Oh, Olive, thisroom is the Mecca
of our hearts.”
The composure of Madame Peschierahad
entirely vanished. Sho knelt, sobbing, by
the easement, and pressed her lips to the
faint pencil marks.
“ The Mecca, Jael, to me it is the cross
by the wayside. Like Christian's, my bur.
den drops from my shoulders-pride and en-
vy are no longer in my heart. Oh Leonard!
Leonard l I have seemed to forget you--but
you are remembered still.” She turnorl to
Joel, and dashed the tears from her eyes.
“ Vllhy should you weep ?"said she fierce-
tainly, it is uum-. to be depended upon.
ly. “ ‘Vera you not dear to him ‘.‘ Did he