The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-06-24

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after his marriage, his second wife died
and he was left with two children, a son
and daughter. The daughter was the
eldest and took charge other fathers house
but little more than three years, after the
death of her mother she married and moved
to North Alabama, and her father and broth
er went with her.
In the mean time Mrs. Starks had lost
her husband and father, and having but one
child, and that little daughter, she remo-
we'd to North Alabama also, to live with an
aged uncle, who was living in that part Of
the country-so. that Mr.. Lossley became
neighbors--artSl they. became acquainted
with each other. as Col. Lossley (this title
he had obtiined when among the fur trai
ders) ana Mrs. Starke.a They formed an
attachment for each other, and Mr.. Lossley
eventually offered his hand in marriage
which she accepted. 1t is to be observed
that during the whole Of their intercourse
they took great care never to mention any
circumstance connecting itself with their first
marriage, and both passed as having been
married but once-they had both been so
very cautious on this subject that the slight
est trace of their former acquaintance was
not discovered until the night before the
marriage was to have been solemnized.
Perhaps the sacred fount of theiI former
sorrows was sealed too deep to be readily
broken up again by either ofthem.
The night before marriage, as they were
conversing alone, the Colonel remarked
that he expected to be a little agitated the
next evening while attending the ceremo-
nies ofthe wedding-'for," said he, "when
| married the first time l was not so much
embarrassed as when married the last''-
to which Mrs. Starks replied "You have
been married twice, then, it seems?" The
Colonel at first, tried to change the subject
of the conversation, but soon found that
would not do-and knowing it would have
to come out sooner or later, he went into a
detail of all the circumstances connected
with his first marriage, giving names and
dates. This was subject on which the
Colonel was eloquent. He remarked that
his long lost Mary was never out Of his
mind for one hour at time; owing to that
fact, he had often spoke of her to those who
had never heard of her, and could not enter
into the conversation with him. He went
on to state that she was his Rachel--his
first choice-the companion Of his youth;
having taken hold ofhis feelings at such an
early age, the impression was indelible, a
recollection of her name could never be c.
rased from his mind, "and though" said
he, II have passed through the town g. the
country, the dreary wilderness; through
winter, through summer; amid friends and
foes! through health and afiliction; through
smiles and frowns;-yet have borne paint
ed upon my Imagination the image of my
beloved Mary"
Here the mists began to gather in the eyes
of the Colonel, and for few moments a
death-like silence prevailed. At length
looking upon his intended bride, he saw
that she had taken more than usual inter-
est in the relation he had been making.
He then broke the silence by saying, "you
must forgive me for the kind remembrance
| bear for the beloved companion of my
youth" While he was uttering this SEN
tence Mrs. Starks swooned away, & would
have fallen from her seat had not the Colo
mel supported her. While she lay in this
death-like state, many were the reflections
which passed through the mind of Col. Loss
ley. First supposing as he had for time
kept this secret from her, and at astdivulg-
ed it without intending to do so, it might
have tendency to destroy her confidence
in him, or cause her to fear that his aiiec-
tions were so much placed on the memory
of his first wife that it would be impossible
for him to love her as he ought; these and
many other thoughts of a like kind rushed
through his mind, and he but awaited the