Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-01-18

herself in her chamber, to give vent to
her sorrow and anxiety in tears.
Flora was the youngest offour sisters,
who were all married but hercsclf.-
She was just twenty-five, rather hand
some, agreeable, and a favoritc in the
circle in which she moved; but slight
vein of satire that sometimes spoiled
her conversation, gave evidence of
latent temper that the vcxations of life
had not yet drawn out. The flash of
her dark eye, and the naughty curl of
her crimson lip, when crossed in any
little plan she had formed, told too ola
spirit that would joy in the stormy elc-
mcnts of life-but that life had hithcr-
to flowed so placidly that even she fan
cicd herself good-tcmpered.
A few month previous to the date of
our story, she had been Introduced by
her brothcr-in-law, to young stran-
ger from the extreme West ofour coun-
r. or rather what vas the extreme
West some years sincc--who was on
a mission Of some public nature, con-
nccted with State affairs, from his Sec
ton to Congress. By one of those UNI
accountable freaks that people puzzle
thcmsclvs to give rational reasons for,
Flora fell in love, and the stranger fell
in love too, especially after hearing she
was possessed of few thosand dollars.
He was soon Fora's declared and
excepted lover, and as he assured her
sshc could not live" without she accom-
panied him home; and she too feared
'.she should die" if she had to remain
al winter without seeing him, it was
arranged they should Immediately be
married, and Mrs. Worthington hav-
ing given u reluctant consent, Flora
prepared to follow him with the coniid-
ing trust of woman, and thus giving
another commentary on the old saying
of "marry in haste and repent at lcis-
urc-"
1t was n beautiful Autumn evening
when the city bred girl arrived at her
husbands home. They had taken
carriage at the landing on the river,
and the billowy prairie spread its liv-
ing carpet Of green as far as the eye
could reach, while the scarcely pcrcep-
tible road wound on throughits bloom
ing luxuriance. Soon tall forest lift
cd its undulating lien along the hori-
zon, and as they journeycd on clear
ing began to be visible, the long wav-
ing curl of blue smoke asceding far up
into the serene ether. At first appear
cd large corn-fclds, then barn, an!
lastly log-cabin, built on tic verge of
the wood, but not close enough TO be
benefited b its shade, while fcllcd
t;nc..oer AID corn cribs, wood sheds and
pig-pens Distracted the path 10 tho
door of the rude and lowly dwelling.
There was a dark rcd spot on Free
mans check as he approached his
home, and to Flora's eager questions
relative to his family, he gave such
brief and unsatisfactory answers that
long silence had sunk down over them,
and Flora felt chilled by bis reserve.
A lad ran out Of field and in joyful
haste hailed his brother,whi his white
head, bare legs and arms, AMI ragged
trousers, excited a surprised stare from
Flora. Throwing him the rcins, Free
man lifted his bride to the ground, and
in that moment an old woman in
rcd-hannel dress, white cambria cap
and lilac apron came to the door, and
sticking her thumb into the short stem.
med pipe she was somking, she gave
long cry Of JOY and grasped the hand
of Freeman. Flora shrunk back as she
extended her hand the next moment to
her, and only permitted the tip OF her
glovcd fingers to como in contact with
the hardened and siDewy hand that so
cordially welcomed her. 1t never
occurred to her that those limbs
might once have been as soft as hers,
until exposed to toll and hardships for
him whom she preferred to all the
world, and that hers, in turn, might be-
come ms rigid in time. She only fell
disgust and surprise at her uncouth
costume, and stopped not to reflect
how many sterling virtues might be
covered by the coarse, homespun garb.
Several fine, sun-burned young mcn,all
in country garb, came crowding in;
and as Freeman presented each in turn,
she formally courtesied to each, and
with a flushed cheek and contracted
brow sunk on a chair the mother OF Free