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Article THE BEAUTIFUL HAND. ← Page 7 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Beautiful Hand.
" Because , perhaps , it . is proper that I should . " She made no reply . There we stood silent , motionless , her hand in mine , and looking in each others faces , that told how violently beat our hearts . What Avas human nature to do ? AA'hy—be human nature , and OAA-n fully what we could not deny . Hours flcAV , and days flew on in all the enchantment of a passionate and romantic affection ; MontrealCanadathe World—all ivas forgotten
, , for o ; ie little being . Yet . when 1 interrogated myself , my repugnance at being " a second husband , " and my determination not to become one , were as inveterate as ever . Many , ancl excruciating were the conflicts which AA'hen alone took place in my mind betAveen my love for her on the one part , and my pride and self IOA'O on the other . Sometimes I felt like " a man of honor , " and was resolved to break off abruptl y an intercourse so unpromising to her ; at other moments I Avas moved b
y the virtuous impulse of offering myself to her at once unequivocally and manfully ; then again the Avhispering of pride made me for the time feel and reason like a scoundrel—ah , and sometimes talk to her like one . 1 Avould take occasion to dwell in tender and impassioned language upon the heroism of the heart ; the recklessness of true love ; the nothingness of all forms , ceremonies , ancl customs Avhich attempted in any way to control a passion so exalted in its nature above every thing
else in life ; and the absurd misnaming that for love , with which there Avas connected one calculating thought—one coivardly doubt of its object . She was precisely the being to court the thought , and glory in it , that the man she loved Avas above every one else ; ( hat other men might be bad , the ivhole ivorld wrong , but he " was perfect in his motives and in his actions .
Time past on ; for some days I had been satisfied that she was completely in my power ; at last I made up my mind , Avithout daring even to acknowledge it fully to myself , to be a villain ; ancl devised , the preparatory arrangements I thought necessary . One morning , during the absence of her " father , 1 entered her little drawing-room , and found her ornamenting a little crimson purse with masonic emblems . I instantly and Avith some animation asked : —
" Why do you work those signs upon your purse ?" " The purse is for Father , " said she with a manner that told me IIOAV dear to her AA'as that Father . Indeed , never did any other being express so much by manner as she always did . " And Avhy do you put such symbols upon a purse for him ? Would not any other figures be as ornamental ?" " Perhaps more ornamentalbut I am ivorking this not half so
; purse much to make a pretty thing of it , as to send him something that Avill sheiv him that I am often thinking of him ; for he knoAVs I do A'ery little at a time in such occupations . " " Is your Father a mason , " 1 demanded anxiousl y . " Yes ; he is a great mason , one of the Royal-Arch , I think they call it , —and a Templar also ; but I do not know much about their orders and titles . "
"Ah !" " What is the matter ? " said she laying doivn the purse and putting her hand on my arm . " Nothing . " "Nothing ! How pale you are . Oh , do tell me , what is the matter ? What can there be about this masonry ( o affect you so ? "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Beautiful Hand.
" Because , perhaps , it . is proper that I should . " She made no reply . There we stood silent , motionless , her hand in mine , and looking in each others faces , that told how violently beat our hearts . What Avas human nature to do ? AA'hy—be human nature , and OAA-n fully what we could not deny . Hours flcAV , and days flew on in all the enchantment of a passionate and romantic affection ; MontrealCanadathe World—all ivas forgotten
, , for o ; ie little being . Yet . when 1 interrogated myself , my repugnance at being " a second husband , " and my determination not to become one , were as inveterate as ever . Many , ancl excruciating were the conflicts which AA'hen alone took place in my mind betAveen my love for her on the one part , and my pride and self IOA'O on the other . Sometimes I felt like " a man of honor , " and was resolved to break off abruptl y an intercourse so unpromising to her ; at other moments I Avas moved b
y the virtuous impulse of offering myself to her at once unequivocally and manfully ; then again the Avhispering of pride made me for the time feel and reason like a scoundrel—ah , and sometimes talk to her like one . 1 Avould take occasion to dwell in tender and impassioned language upon the heroism of the heart ; the recklessness of true love ; the nothingness of all forms , ceremonies , ancl customs Avhich attempted in any way to control a passion so exalted in its nature above every thing
else in life ; and the absurd misnaming that for love , with which there Avas connected one calculating thought—one coivardly doubt of its object . She was precisely the being to court the thought , and glory in it , that the man she loved Avas above every one else ; ( hat other men might be bad , the ivhole ivorld wrong , but he " was perfect in his motives and in his actions .
Time past on ; for some days I had been satisfied that she was completely in my power ; at last I made up my mind , Avithout daring even to acknowledge it fully to myself , to be a villain ; ancl devised , the preparatory arrangements I thought necessary . One morning , during the absence of her " father , 1 entered her little drawing-room , and found her ornamenting a little crimson purse with masonic emblems . I instantly and Avith some animation asked : —
" Why do you work those signs upon your purse ?" " The purse is for Father , " said she with a manner that told me IIOAV dear to her AA'as that Father . Indeed , never did any other being express so much by manner as she always did . " And Avhy do you put such symbols upon a purse for him ? Would not any other figures be as ornamental ?" " Perhaps more ornamentalbut I am ivorking this not half so
; purse much to make a pretty thing of it , as to send him something that Avill sheiv him that I am often thinking of him ; for he knoAVs I do A'ery little at a time in such occupations . " " Is your Father a mason , " 1 demanded anxiousl y . " Yes ; he is a great mason , one of the Royal-Arch , I think they call it , —and a Templar also ; but I do not know much about their orders and titles . "
"Ah !" " What is the matter ? " said she laying doivn the purse and putting her hand on my arm . " Nothing . " "Nothing ! How pale you are . Oh , do tell me , what is the matter ? What can there be about this masonry ( o affect you so ? "