A REGRET OF THE PAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 42

A REGRET OF THE PAST.

Night after night in this room I sit, . The uncertain gleams of the firelight flit Over your picture, not changed a bit ; While I have grown old and groy. Oh ! dear little love, did you ever know The pain I felt when you bade me go. You called me unworthy 'cause I stooped to show

A touch of jealousy ! And I— in my mad, blind, stubborn pride— Forgot you were soon to be my bride ; In anger I left you, and vainly tried To show you how little I cared ! I paid for my sin when your message arrived — "Come quickly, I'm dying." Then I knew I'd

deprived My soul of its mate, my heart of it's bride ; But repentance came too late !

Wild with despair, I hastened to fleo From foreign lands, over stormy sea, Back to the heart that was breaking for me—

But I never deserved its love ! When I reached your home the night was near. As they opened the door I trembled with fear ; Their faces were sad, but I saw no tear, And I thought I had come in time ! " Take me to her at once ! " I managed to say, And without a word they turned away. I paused a moment, for time to pray, Then I followed my silent guides ! They opened your door. All was darkness and

gloom ; I shivered ; it felt like the air of a tomb ; They showed me your bed at the end of the room-

Then left me alone with you ! I hastened forward and knelt at your side ; I called you my darling, my love, and my bride ; "Forgive— oh ! forgive the past ! " I cried, But you answered never a word. Then I lifted my eyes to your dear, sweet face ; It was pale and set with a calm still graceBut I started up from my lonely place With a cry of horror and dread ! I had looked for the face I loved so well ; For the face where life and love could dwell ; But this pale face where the shadows fell —

This was the face of the dead ! In that moment of dread my hair turned grey ; The sweetness of life had passed away. "Pwas in vain to weep ; 'twas useless to pray —

It could not restore you to me ! I laid myself upon your bed ; I rested my face 'gainst your dear loved head ; I folded my arms around my dead —

And I longed— how I longed to die '. Your fair soft cuils, with their gleam of gold, I reverently kissed, as I did of old ; And again to my aching heart I'd unfold The only form I had loved ! I could not leave you ; I begged to stay ; But they heeded me not; they tore me away. Your form in the coflin I saw them lay, And they took you away to your giavc ! In those first few days 1 nearly went mad ; The world seemed <-uddenly dreary and sad ; They gave me your picture— 'twas all that I had

To remind me of the past,

I sit alone in this silent room, With only the firelight to pierce the gloom ; My thoughts stray away to a lovely tomb In the churchyard's dreary ground ! Is there a home beyond the skies ? Is there a world where the soul never dies ? Is there a land whence the spirit flies?

Ah ! then I shall meet you there ! Peninsula, July 1892. — Aukora Lynne.