The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-11-04

Florence had gwen hlm, Inc very morning no
left Woodbuin.
The two years he was TO be away bad ex-
d.-"Fiorence,' said her fahetlo her one |
morning, al never saw you looking so well,
your cheeks are all roses, my sweet girl, have
you been watching the sun riseI' Florence
turned away her head for moment, 10 brush
a burning lear from her eye. aud then answer
ed cheerfalIy TO her unsuspecLlug father, that
she had seen the sun rise. There was not
person in Woodburn, who had not observed
how dreadfuly Florence was allered-not in
her manners, nor habits, nor conversation; but
in her looks. Her cheek, it is true was red,
but il was the hot flush Of fever; her eye was
bright, but it was the clearness Of an insidu-
ous maady. 50
She had heard Of Edmunds. success, and
there was not heart 10 the world that beat so
proudly at the intelligence; but she coon heard
of mnre than his success, snd his letters be-
came fower and colder. When her father was
from home, she would 81, for hours in her gar
den, hv IflisIenng a. she said, 10 the
chipping Of the birds, but wtei ing bitterly all
the while.
''i have mol heard YOU speak of Edmuad
lately SAID her father TO her Cns day, about
the beginning Of June. ii do 1ot think Of him
the less answered FIoreuce. with faint
smlc. The old man knew nOh Ug Of his apos
tacy. al have good news Inr you.' said ne;
IL saw the rector to day. aud Edmund IL 80
be in Woodburn by the end of the week. Flor
ence grew pale; she Is led to speak, bu' could
not; a mist swan before her eyes; she held out
her hand and threw herself into her fathers
arms.
It waa Saturday evening, and she knew that
Edmond had arrived carly OF the previous
day. but she had not yet seen him. She was
sitting in the summer house of her fathers
garden, when she heard a step or the gravel
walk; she look ed through the honey -suckle;
it was he-he himself-in all the bloom and
beauty Of dawning manhood. A strange shiv'
or passed over her whos frame, and her color
went and came with fearful rapidly. Ye, she
retained her self possession, and with appaI
rent caImDesss rose 10 receive bim when he Ell
tered. The change in her appearance, howev
er struck him Immediately; GOOD Godl have
you been illl you are altered, sadly altered,
since saw you last ''Does that strike you
as so very wonderful, Edmundw said Flor
ence gravely, "are you not altered. too?' oh
Florence! have behaved 10 you like a VIII
lain. see il now, cruelty, fatally do see iP
Edmund, that did love YOU, yon setting sun
which shone upon us when last We parted, con
still affect, for it was the witness Of my grief
II has been the witness too. oflhe tears have
shed in nv solitude, tears which have been 70
veeIed to no earthly eye; and it shall be the
witness, even yet she continued, an almost
heavenly smile Illuminating her pale counIe-
nan e, "of our reconciliation; for the wander
er has returned, and his errors are forgiven"
She held out her hand to him as she spoke but
he shrunk back. I'll dare mott dare not take
it! II is too late! Florence, am married2-
There was not sound escaped her lips, bu
her checks grew deadly pale; hor eyes became
as fixed as stone, and she fell on the grounc
like marble statue,
Her grave lie in the church-yard Of Wood
burn: she lies beside her father. There is nc
urn or monumental tablet to mark the spot, 5u,
| should know il among thousand. Edmund's
fame has travelled into other countries, ani
men have looked upon him as demi>go
Florence Willesden was never heard Of be-
yond The limits of Woodburn ill now. -'