The river! Hope within them sank;
The fatal thought that drew her there
They knew, before, among the rank,
White-blossomed weeds upon the bank,
They found the shawl she used to wear,
And on it pinned a little note:
"Oh, blame me not!" it read, "for when
I once am free, my soul will float
To him! He cannot leave me then!
I know not if't is right or wrong--
I go from life--I care not how;
I only know he loved me once--
He does not love me now!"
In the farm graveyard, 'neath the black,
Funereal pine-trees on the hill,
The poor, worn form the stream gave back
They laid in slumber, cold and still.
Her secret slept with her; none knew
Whose fickle smile had left the pain
That cursed her life; to one thought true,
Her vision-haunted, wandering brain,
Secure from all, hid safe from blame,
In life and death had kept his name.
Yet, often, with a thrill of fear,
Her mother, as she lies awake
At night, will fancy she can hear
A voice, whose tone is like the drear,
Low sound the graveyard pine-trees make:
"I know not if't is right or wrong--
I go from life--I care not how;
I only know he loved me once--
He does not love me now!"
End of Project Gutenberg's Castle Nowhere, by Constance Fenimore Woolson
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CASTLE NOWHERE ***
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