Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-11-11

spirit has found peace"
'.Do not speak so sadly, dear Lady," said the
rector. "You must be familiar with Gods
Word; you have read there that he who made
words, even He 'healeth the broken in heart -
b eyes, feel it," she replied. sHe indeed
healeth them: but it is by taking them to him
self. looked around me here" she continued
pointing to the graves by which they were sur
rounded, sand have envied those who have gone
before me to that home where the weary are at
rest"
Some few words of comfort the good rector
spoke, as he approached his own house, and
opened the glass door that led into the little
study where his daughter awaited him. The
lady hesitated, and seemed half fearful of en-
tering; but he led her in, and seated her beside
the fire, while his daughter Invested her of
of some of her damp garments: and insisted on
wrapping her in her own cloak.
There was something so humble in the la
dy's gratitude, something so sorrowful even in
her extreme beauty-uncared for and neglected
as she seemed-that the kind-hearted family at
the rectory could not but feel touching inter-
est in her: and when at length her carriage, for
which messenger had been despatched, arriy-
ed to convey her home, many kind words were
spoken; and none could have supposed that till
that day, the lady had been stranger.
The next Sunday was fine and bright but
the lady was not in her usual place. She was
seen no more even in her garden; and the rec
tor, VINO made several vain attempts to be ad-
mitted to her presence, heard that she was We
ry ill. He doubted not, remembering her weak
ness and her wan looks, that the hour for which
she longed was approaching, and gladly would
he have endeavored, as the minister of God, to
smoothe the way before her to the grave. We
have seen that she, too, wished for the comfort
of his presence, but even this was denied to her.
Young, flor she was only in her twenty-sixth
year. innocent, beautiful, yet broken-hearted,
she was left to meet her death alone.
1t is time that we say something of the cause
of that grief which oppressed the lady of Elm
wood, and while the ignorant and unkind attrib-
uted to some error of her past life. For
this purpose, it is necessary to turn to the histo-
ry of her early years. Her mother died when
she was an infant, and her father, man of ex-
travagant habits, married second time within
a year of his first wfes death. His marriage
with wealthy heiress freed him for while
from pecuniary embarrassments, but destroyed
forever the peace of his home. His bride was
naughty, vain, and ill-tempered; and the indif-
ference he had felt for her at first quickly deep
ened into positive dislike. For time he SEEM
ed to find IN the caresses of his child consola-
ton for the disagreabies of his domestic life ;
but his weak mind soon thirsted for excitement
and he found it at the gamingtable. BY de-
grees passion for play absorbed every other
feeling. The birth of an heir though it appear
ed to give him pleasure, did not long keep him
from his darling pursuit; and, as years passed,
L L., IL H.
ed to become totally Indifferent as to their wei
fare. Thus his daughter was left q victim to
the caprice and lll-humor of her vain and friv-
olous step-mother. Few were the remembe-
RANGES of her childhood, which she, even in the
deeper trials of her after-lfe, could recall with
anything OF pleasure. The spoiled and petted
son of her step-mother, initiating the small tyr
amy of his parent, on every occasion, asserted
his superiority over the gentle girl, whose spir-
it was already learning its lesson of humility
and submission. When she had grown to
womanhood, her extraordinary beauty, though
it did not increase the good will of her step
mother,yet was looked upon by her father with
something of selfish pride, and he already cal
culated the advantages which might accrue to
himself from her making what is termed good
match.
1t was while these thoughts were maturing
into plans for the accomplishment of his OBJ
ject that he made acquaintance with the lordy
owner of Elmnwood-a man in the prime of
life,yet, like himself, an habitual gambler. In
their frequent meetings, these two men became
inmate, and frequently played together-up to
a certain time,--with about as equal success.
At length the young gambler began to lose; one
by one he pledged all his possessions, and in
the end rose from the table ruined man. He
might raise the money to pay his debts, but on
ly by injuring his property past the hope of re-
covery. His companion observed the struggle
in his mind; he balanced the advantages and
disadvantages of insisting on the payment of
the debt; for while he wanted money, yet he did
not wish for the publicity which the present af-
fair, if preserved in, must give to the nature of
his resources.
'Come - he said after some reflection, 81
know it would inconvenlent to you to pay sum
like this. Let us compromise the matter.
have daughter, beautiful as an angel; marry
her and will take your doing so as three-quar-
tiers payment of your debt.
you must be very fond of your daughter"
said his auditor sarcastically, "very fond indeed
Does she at all resemble yourself."
81 have told you she is beautiful" was the
reply. "You may even see her, if you will, be-
fore you decide" --
The young man remained for while in state
Of moody abstraction and then exclaimed, s.No,
no don't want to see her. I'll marry
her if she is ugly as Sin. There's my
hand upon it p
They sat down again called for writing ma
lerials, and wrote,-the one promise of mar
rage to a woman he had never seen; the 9TH |
er discharge of three-fourths of the debt due
On condition of the fulflment Of the pledge a
greed upon. The two papers were duly signed
md the parties separated. And thus the fa-
her bartered away his child-thus the lord of
Elmwood obtained his bride She was told to
prepare to receive her future husband, and she
,beyed; for she knew resistance would be in
rain. Her father had become SO entirely es-
ranged from her, that she dared say nothing in
opposition to his commands; and her step
mother showed too openly the joy she felt in
he prospect of being rid of one, whose very
patience was tacit reproach to her conscience