Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/195

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She had thought that Clarence was no more
Than the wild wind to her—that every link
That bound her soul to his had broken been
By the abhorrence of his sinful past—
That the dark, struggling anguish of her soul
Had been subdued forever—yet oh! now,
The very instant that her eyes met his,
She felt the spell upon her! A strange thrill
Crept round her sinking heart—the weary past
Was all forgotten, and she only felt
His presence! Why stood he thus and smiled?
The life seemed fainting in her heart; her lip
Spoke not, but with uneven step she came
And leaned her forehead on his throbless breast!
No word, and no caress! And summoning strength
She lifted up her face and looked in his.
Cold were his eyes, and stern his altered brow,
And his fine lips were curled into a sneer.
He thought to crush with coldness and contempt
The gentle spirit of the gifted girl;
And for a moment she was powerless
With sorrow, not with dread. She clung to him
With icy and faint grasp, her large, strange eyes
Fixed on his face, and murmured to herself,
Slowly and soft, as in a painful dream:

"He greets me with no loving word—
His brow is stern with pride;
The stars our passionate vows have heard,
Yet knows he not his bride!
My brow with anguish is distressed—
My heart is fainting in my breast;
Yet soothes he not, and speaks he not!
I know—I know I am forgot!"

Unconscious of her words was the young girl,
In that dark moment of bewilderment
When love came back, unbidden, to her heart;