Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-11-30
slo.oIa. leg I7lsss. ses 5. looo. ooo. oo
TIE DEVOTED WIFE.

she was sandlng up 10y the SIDE oil her lover Of |
the marriage altar She was slightly paIe--yet |
ever and anon, as the ceremony proceeded, a |
faint hngs Of CRIMSON crossed her beautiful cheek
like the reflections OF sunset cloud upon The |
clear waters Of lake. Her lover, as be clasped |
her hand wI,hn his own, ga2ed on her ior mo. |
menl yilh unmlnglcd admiration, and tho warm
eloquent blood shadowed at intervals bis manly |
forehead aud "melled into beauty on bis lips" |
And they gave themselves ~ one another IN |
the presence Of heaven, snd every heart best
them as they went on their way rejoicing in their
love.
fcurs passed on, and again saw these lovers.
They were seated together where the light Of
summers sunset stole through the half closed and
crimson curtain, lending u r.her tint TO the car
petng and tho exquisite embellishments Of the
rich and gorgeous apartment, Time had slightly
changed them IN outward appearance. The grl-
ish buoyaney Of the one had indeed given place
to the grace Of perfect womanhood, and her Up
was somewhat paler, and faint line Of care was
percePtblc on her brow. Her husbands brow,
too, was marked somewhat more deeply than his
age might warrant; anxiety, ambition aud pride
had grown over, and left their traces upon II a
SILVER hue was mingled with the dark Of his hair,
which had become thin around his temples almost
to badness. lie was reclining on splendid OF
toman, with his face half hidden by bis hand, as
II he hcOrcd that the deep aud troubled thoughts
which oppressed him were visible upon his lea-
lures.
Edward you are i'll tonight said his wife In
a low, sweet, aud InquIrIng voice, as she laid her
hands upon his own.
| indifference from those we love is terrible TO
tho sensitive bosom, II is as it the sun of hca
ven refused It's wontCd cheerIulness, and glared
upon US with a cold, dim aud lorbddlng glance.
II is dreadful TO feel that the only being of our
love refuses 10 ask our sympulhy-that he broods
ever the feelings which he tcolns or fears to re-
veal--dreadu to watch the convnsive features
aud gloomy brow--Ihe indeGnablo shadows Of
hidden emotions the involuntary SIGH Of sorrow
IN which We are forbidden to participate, whose
character we cannot know.
The wife essayed once more. Edward"
said she slowly, mildly and unoctonateIy, "the
time has been when you were willing to conGde
your secret JOYS and sorrows to one, who has
never, trust, betrayed your confidence Why,
then, my dear Edward, is this cruel reserve p
You are troubled, and refuse TO tell me the cause"
Something of returning tenderness sollcned for
an instant the cold severity Of the husbands (oa.
lures, but il passed away and bitter smile was
the only reply.
Time passed on and The twain were separated
from each other. The husband sa, gloomy ans
alone IN damp dungooa. lilo had mingled viii
men whom his heart loathed he had sought lht
fierce and wronged sputs Of tho land aud ha,
brcathed in them the madness Of revenge. lii
had drawn the sword against his countr, be ha,
famed rebellion 10 the h,mc, aud il had beef
quenchod in human blood. lie had fallen, au
was doomed 10 die tho death of traltor.
The door of the dungeon opened, and a lgh
form entered aud throw herself INTO his arms
Inc soltened light of sunset lc upon the pal
brow ami wasted cheek Of bis once beautiful wife
! Edwatd-my dear Edward SAID She, :"
have come TO save you. have reached YOU a
! ter thousand difficulties and thank God m
: purpose Is nearly executed"
!, Misfortune had soltencd the proud hear, ,
! manhood and as the husband pressed his pa
whe 10 his bosom, a tear troubled on his ey,
i lash II have not merilcd this kindness"
!, nurmured n tho choked tones of agony.
!, Edward sad his wife, in an earnest, b
= faint ard low voice. which indicated extreme al
- fearful debility, ave have not moment TO los
= BY on exchange Of garments you viii be able
!" pass out unnJtIced, Haste, or we may be +
Il late. Fcar nothing for me. am woman, a
they will not Iniurc me for any efforts in behalf
- husband dearer than life itself"
:, But Margaret" said the husband YOU 10
~ sadly IL You cnnno, btcaiAe tie air &c 4
iu' dreadful cell"
:, "Oh, speak not OF me, my dearcs, Edwat,
=, said the devoted woman. IL can endure a
w thing for your sake. Haste. Edward, haste, a
~ all win he WE'LL" and she AIDED with trembll
10 hand to disguise the proud form Of her husba
in the female garb.
Farewell, my love, my preseUcr,n whisper
=" the husband in the ear Of tie disguised wife.
~ the officer stcrnly reminded The supposed Il,
s ss the time allotted to her visit had expired "Fa
- well, we shall meet again, responded his vile
4, ADD tho husband passed OIL unsupported and
~ capped the enemies OF his lilo.
They did meet ngain--he wife and the h
~ band but only as the dead may meet IN tho a
!" iul communion Of another world. Affection
~ borne up her exhausted sprit until the last r
wy pose OF her exeruons was accomplished in
~ safety OF her husband; aud when the bell ,ol
~ on the morrow, and The prisoners cell was omen
Wy the guards found wrapped in the habhment.
''O their desutdyIctm, the pale but beautiful cor
;" Of tho devoted wife.
t. THE GREATEST MAS.--' The greatest man X
wl,e chooses the right with lnvacibe resplutr
"a who rests temptations from within and from W
49,. out; who bears the heaviest burdens Cheerful
WHO Is the calmes 10 storms, ami most fearless
" der menaces and lrowns WHOSE reliaece, on IN
hhs on virtue, on |od, IS moat unlaltsrinr'-C Arrr,
% Joseph Bonapar,e and family sailed il the pac
eb ship .is,,s 'ff.s, Capt Morgan 6r Europs, #
ms New York