Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-08-23
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY, AUGUST %, 1914.

then she would glacly lay down. She
needed the excitement of society, and the
social and highly cultivated neighborhood
on hich her fathers residence was situ>
aled, afforded every facility for its enjoy
ment.
The third year of her widowhood was
drawing to close, when she received an
invitation to The marriage of a favorite
cousin, who would take no refusal Ell.
len replied that if the bride would excuse
her sombre dress and pensive face she
would attend, and the concession was
hailed as an omen of future success in
drawing her into that world she was so
peculiarly fitted to adorn.
There was motive for these efforts of
which Ellen little dreamed. She regu-
larly attended the church near her fathers
residence, and her mother had several
times called her attention to remarkably
handsome man who sat in pew nearly
opposite to them bu: she had not remark
ed that his eyes frequently wandered from
his prayer book to her own fair face
His height, and the turn Of his head re,
minded her of Sinclair. bet there the re-
semblance ceased. The broad brow, fine
ly chiseled features, and clear dark eye
of the stranger, were all unlike the youth
full bloom of him who had won her young
affections. She frequently heard Mr..
Peyton spoken of as man of distinguish
ed endowments, who had spent several
years in the South of Europe with an on>
IL and beloved sister. for the benefit of
whose health the journey had been valniy
undertaken. These circumstances had
nearly passed from her mind when she
was introduced to him at the wedding as
the intimate friend of the groom.
Peyton had fallen in love with her from
his casual view of her. at church, and the
eulogiums of his friends affianced bride,
who looked on Mrs. Sinclair as bright
particular STAR had deepened the impress
sion. The circumstances of her marriage
threw a romantic interest around her his
tory, and when he looked on the youthful
brow with shade of placid pensiveness
that seemed 10 breathe hallowed charm
over her beauty, he felt that she was the
only woman he had ever known, before
whom his heart could bow with the hon.
age of affection.
Yet how speak Of love 10 one who still
wore the deepest mourning-who never
Joined in the mrlh of the light-hearted ?
It would seem almost like sacrilege to
breathe into her ear the wild passion that
filled his heart, yet its very hopelessness
appeared to add to its fervor.
But ere long new hope dawned upon
him. Ellen was surrounded by the gay
and Joyous of her age. Her disposition
was naturally buoyant; her spirits rose;
the chord she had believed forever snap
ped, again thrilled to the touch of JOY
When the bonds of grief were once sew
cred, the reaction was complete. She still
rexerenced the memory of her first love,
and i her heart had whispered that she
could ever be faithless to his ashes. she
would have sttuddered WIN super>.isious
horror at the thought. The possibility OF
breaking that solemn promise had never
occurred 10 her-but time teaches many
strange lessons.
Peyton fingered in the neighborhood, a
constant visitor at Wycombe. but his at
ten,ions were not sufficiently marked to
attract the observation of others. Her own
family were too DESTROYS of the match to
hazard the final success of the lover by
abiding in any manner TO his passion tor
her.
Peyton won his way slowly but surely.
The fair widow began unconsciously TO
regret the vow which had assembled to
Heaven with the spirit Of her dead hus.
band. AT length he spoke of love, and
she listened with trembling awe to the
out.pouring of spirit which was too no
BILE to be trihed with, and too highly aP-
precia,cd TO be given up without pang.
He drew from her quivering lips the
history of her vow, and Invested of every
feelings of superstition himself, he could
not conceive that few words uttered IN
moment Of excited and agonized ieeline
should stand between him and his hopes
IF happiness. He did not understand
the impressible and imaginative tempera'
ment of the being who listened to his rea
soning, willing, nay. anxious 70 DC con
v;ncei AGAINST the evidence OF her owr
Her parents agreed with the lover in hi
views of the Casa and urged on all sloes
her own heart traitor. Ellen yielded y
their wishes and betro.hed herself to Fey
AS the day appointed for her marrlag
drew near, the words Of her vow appear
! cd 10 be ever ringing in her ears. WIZ
! | restless and fearful spirit she saw tn
hour approach which was to witness ne
second espousal. c...,ond;
, h.;d.l' All the members of the family as