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Show 4i8 Love SlretcheJ, permitted it to rest, trusting, we suppose, and not unwisely, to the inordinate love of the marvellous, which is so strong a characteristic of our people, to sustain them, and prntcct for them the "sil,•cr \'eil" which hides from the world the hideousness of their deformity and renders that myste rious which, without the shade, would be horrible. The question naturally suggests itself-does not Rigdun fear that the original copy of his Dook of l\lurmon would be produced, should he have the hardihood to deny the truth of l\Irs. Da,•ison's statement 1 (AuGUST, LOVE SKETCHES. 'I' he thought wall very lJeauti(u\ Thatrcstcrlon her brow, WithsoflleLhingo(aspiritlight, Like sunset upon snow. She seldom spoke, allhouglt her words Weresoftandsweetto hear, And her voice "as like a summer l.tird's, So plaintil'e and so clear. But there is another \'Cry pertinent question, It was by accident that Herbert and Bertha first which ou:,;ht forever to set at rest the story of the met, after the former's return home. Such a meet· discovery of" the plates''-and it is this: \Vhy have ing could not but l.lc momentarily embarrassing to these plates ne,·cr been sePn by any one !.Jut Joe them both, filled as the ir memories were, with the Smith and his "willlesses 1" The discovery has past they had made beautiful to each other. The always been denied by the public at large, and why, months, the scenes, the events of the intervening with the means so ready at hand to establish the time were blotted out from their thoughts; only truth of the assertion, has it not been done, by ex· their st range misunderstanding, their sad separa. hil.liting the plates themsel"es! There is but one tion stood vividly before them. Neither knew valid answer 10 these questions-the plates never what ties of heart the other might in the mean· existed. while l1ave formed, but each hoped that neither bad \Ye cannot permit ourselves to Uelicve that the found forgetfulness. Perhaps the long interlude l\•lormon sect will long exi:st. The history of all that had so completely divided their sympathies, delusions of the kind (with one solitary exception) might only ha"e rendered dearer their meeting proves to our minJ that its career will be a brief again, for alas! it is not while possessing- them, one-and at this moment the seed of its overthrow that we appreciate LIIC full value of our blessings. are at work. Poor Jue Smith has already fallen, There are trials that enl.ance 1111r after happiness, by the hands of murderers, and is, in all proba- clouds that make the succeedinrr sunshine seem hility, brighter, even as the apostle 's shadow, while falling --"Confined to fast in firr,;, darkly on the suffering, passed away, to !e<~.ve heallh r;~l c~~n~u~r~d~:;:~~·dd~~~yi;,~s Jays o( naturr, and peace. se,·ere had been the trial of the lovers' . . . ~ora ration, for tl1e facuhies of yonth are strong to ntgdon has, tn ellect, been expelled from the church, suffer and the orief \\•hose existence is borne in and is lab~ring with his pen to prov~ the corrupt· pride 'and silenc;, is ~he deepest and saddest of any. nes_s of tts leaders-the extraord111ary powers Nor had H erbe rt in his innurnP.rable wanderings whtch were granted, (and, wear~ sorry truth com. found any tie to replace that suddenly broken one: pels. us to ~~y, grant~d solely lor the purpose of his imagination had often been kindled lly the be. ma~l!l~ pohncal capttal,) for the government of wi!dering eyes of beauty, and he had not mingled the1r City, ha\'~ been swPpt_ fr?m them. by an act with the fair d1ughters of those foreiJ!n lands, with. of the last legtsl~ture of llhnot s-a~Hi dtsease and out rendering manhood's passing tribute of admiwant are scattermg the masses whtch have been ration and llattery to their ]o,·eliness. But stil l, c~llcct~d. at Nauvoo_- The unity was destroyed this was the transient homage of t:1ste, not the enwtth Smuh-and wnh more than one leader to durinrr one of tenderness the calm and thouahtrally around, the church must fall. A number can ful r:cor•nition with whi~h mind Uows down o be· never save it-there must be 011e, and one only;- fore bea~1 ty's majesty, not the heart's secret worone possessing an unusual portion of firmness and ship of its beloved one. Often, in his solitary pi!· decision of cl1aracter, who shall be able to grasp grimage, like a gleam of moonlight, that young the reins of cootrol and wield them with unaided face, in the chastened light of its soft maidenly efrrontery and presumption. The iron will of one sweetness, had risen before him, and his spirit, like man has, at all periods of the world, had more in- 'a wild hird, had flown hack to its early nestling place. fluence with a band of inf3tu:~.ted visionaries, than When tho practised allurements of th e cttltivated the councils of a multitude of advisers. The and gifted, wearied him Uy their dazzling and restless l\lormons, so far as the public ha\'e been able to brilliancy, when woman-lips spoke boldly the pre· ascertain, have never had bul one such man-and sumptuous follies of philosophy, and warm young he was the Prophet Joseph, Jr. Ucings trusted their hopes and rccompensC's to the idle Enough of the Mormons. The reader will ex· illusions around them. then with renewed and redou· cuse us for \\'asting so much fair paper on n sub- bled influence came the contrast of Berlha's char· ject so worthless. actcr, her freedom from these fatal mockeries, her Xenia, Ohio. \V. B. F. unwavering confidence, so deep and earnest, her 18-15.] Love Sketc/,es. 470 p]a(:id, untroubled nature, and ber lofty apprecia· fection, the longing to make reparation for his tion of that sublirnit) whicb lies in the simplicily of harshness, and the knowledge of the treasure he religion. Hers was the faith that indulged in no had trifled with. It was now a marvel to him how sperulations, and !.wasted no theory, but claimed he could C\'er have been fascinated by Clara's earth· every hope and promise, the belief to which all born beauty, and while he listened, with involuntary things are possible, the trust that unhesitatingly homage, to her polished wit, and ever graceful conr ejects the feeble glimmerings of philosophy, and versation, he turned to Bertha's quiet 1111d cordial seeks in the starry sky a truer and holier guidance. simplicity, as the traveller withdnws from the It was not in Herbert'stemperament wholly to real· brilliant ~:un of the East, to seek the still andreize the rare comUination in ilcrtha's characte r, but freshing shade, and listen to the fountain's music. its contrast with otliers, now impressed him furei· It was not with entire satisfaction, that Clara bly, and he re"erenccd her exceeding loveliness, remarl•ed !he gradual renewal of the ]overs' confi· without questioning its source. dence; she could scarcely define the feeling-, but Ah! such are the angels in this world of ours; she would much rather they had continued est he redeeming portion of our fallen race1 the sun· tra11ged. She had never forgotten He rbert's in· beams that come from the sky, and in mercy linger, chffercnce to herself, and all the wasted artifice to brighten tho gloom of the earth. Who may she had lavished for his attraction. Jt humnumber the blessings which the existence of suet. bled her priJe to recollect all that care so vainly beings brings, and if the presence of a few holy bestowed, and she could with dilliculty forgive ones, saved from deslruction the cities of old, how those who resisted her witchery. Coldly, therefore, know we what visitations arc averted, what amic· she looked on her sister's returning happiness, and tions turned from us, by the pmyerfullives of those many a pang of secret envy lurlicd beneath her whose example holds hea"en to our eyes! sun ny smiles. What a world this is, which to Herbert was somewhat su rp rised at the kind and those who most fervently adore it, and who sacri· friendly manner in which Bertha greeted him, for fice in that worship all holy and celestial things, he imagined some emmion of resentment, or at gi,·es in return ltnt a fearful recompense of doubt least of r('Serve, would have followed the reception and delusion and despair, a heart overflowing with of its farewell letter. That Jetter! with how many all uncharitableness, a son! without one satisfaction troubling associations was it connected, and how in the present, or a single hope in the hereafter. bitterly, in the dark days of absence, had he regret· And it was this she had toiled and sought for, this ted its cold and hasty words. There h:~.d been mo· she had wearied life away to win. Now, the rc· ments when he would have erased those lines at ward was gained, and untold grief was in its posany sar;rificc, when he would cheerfully ha\'e given session. Hea,·en he wi1h us when we hnpc, for the brightest hopes of ye:ns, to have blotted out we know not what we ask, when we sigh for this from recollection that brief record of injustice and world's blessings, and saddest of all inflictions, is suspicion. And here l would speak in i•indness, 1hc curse of a wish fulfilled, a granted prayer! one friendly caution to those who lo"e, and entreat h was not long before Herbert sought and obthem to weigh well their written thoughts. The lained an opportunity to reveal hi8 repentance, and careless expressions that are nothing when uttered, renew his assurances to Bertha. He spoke with that ure then contradicted by tbe luok and tone impassioned remorse of his impetuons departure ; which accompany them , bring no such alleviation, he deseribed his faithful remembrance of her du. when they lie before us, coldly and deliberately ring lhe long inter"al of wandering and variety, traced. They bear with undue weight upon the his rontinued association of her image with all his spirits, and separation, which imparts additional schemes for tho future and all his pleasures in the value to e"ery token of kiudness, Uestows also a past. He implort'd forgivene'!S and forgetfulness new importance to whatever awakens distrust. fur his fully , and with faltering ''oice and a hope· There are fCw who have no such thoughtlessness ful heart, Bertha listened kindly to that passionate to regret, and those who ha\'C li\'ed long enough supplica tion. With what revi,·ed loveliness her to feel the sca rce ness and the preciousness of an life seemed glowing now! How nften the invol. abiding ]0\'e, grieve that any shadow should dim untary tear of too much happiness sprung to those its perfect confidence. eloquent and placid eyes, and how beautiful was Bertha had nothing false in her nature, and she the expression of meek and that~kful tenderness, affected no reserve. She was aware that Herl.lert which rested like the light of stars upon her hea· had acted hurriedly, and been influenced by a false ven.tinted brow! Now the resignation of the last impression, and she was not astonished lty his con. three years was no longer demanded; the long or· duct, although she deplored its unjust ness. Now deal was passed, :1nd hers was the tranquillity of a he had evidently repe nted his former course and mind, that had e\'en here found peace. z:ealized its ungenerous irritation, and he met her It is well fur us, that e\'en the purest felicity on Jiain with uualtered tenderness and much seJf. re· earth is a transient thing, for this world has allure. proa.ch. All that he recalled but added to his af. mcnts difficult for the wisest to wi thstand, tics 1hat |