Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-16
our Ida; or The Mock 1arriage.
By MRS. ANN S. STEPHENs.

among the crimson noweTs which sneu H0h
fragrance from the honey-suckle vine. She was
by his side, his arm had been around her waist,
and but few moments before his eyes had been
bent with tender and affectonae eornes'ness on
her face, but now his arms were iolded' and he
looked almost sternly upon her.
"Do you really desire this, LouisaF' ne SAID
in deem. constrained voice; "would you ever
respect me again, il Icould do so cruel, so un-
manly an act"
81 will never love you again, If you do not,
was the petulent reply.
An expression almost Of disgust swept over the
Young mans face, and his lips Irembled as he
spoke.
"Tell me, have you been to Miss Smiths room
to-day2" he enquired.
"Yes.-I was just there at sunset. But why do
you askl"
"No matterl Have you thought this all over;
are you resolutc to deceive this poor girll"
"Resoute"
"And are you willing that devote myself to
win her atfectionsl"
"They are already given without the trouble
of asking"
Gilbert's brow contractedn themoonlight, and
the word, "Unwomanly" wassmothered between
his compressed lips.
Sand you will assist me-will tell her that you
resign all claims OH my hand-on the homestead
and propeny2" he added, with slight and bitter
emphasis on the last words.
She did not remark il but answered eagerly
"Yes-yes; will do my part to perfection
how morlying the truth will be when she thinks
herself Mrs. Gilbert, and finds thatts all joke"
"But think of the shock it will give her pride
and delicacy-"
"Add refncment-pray add refinement" said
the young girl, scornfuly, "pride, delcacy, and
refinement, are such common attributes TO the
daughters of washerwomen."
"You are only doing this to annoy me-" said
the young man; $50 good night, you will throw
off the cruel wish before morning"
"Shall II" replied the girl with low bend Of
the head.
Gilbert turned away, and taking up his hat was
about TO leave the house, but she laid her hand
upon his arm, and looked smingly in his face.
"They tell me the house is inished-will you
take me to look at it in the morning"
"lf you desire it," was the cold, distracted re-
"Well-I shall be readyat ten. Good night
and gaily kissing her hand, the young creature
gded into the house.
at tcas her voice then, and she was planning
this design with that infamous milliner. would
notbelieve my own senses, till she confirmed them
But she will not persist in any thing so cruel-i
is absurd to suppose so. If she does-if she does
i will obey her."
As he muttered these words, the young man
walked slowly from the house.
How melancholy poor Ida had been all the
previous day-how many strange conIectures haC
passed through her brain regarding the remarka'
Bile absence of Mr.. Gilbert. They haunted hel
all night, and in the morning, when she came a
long the foot-path through the fields, tears sooC
in her eyes more than half the way. She haC
cast many a sad, earnest gaze through the shol
window, before she saw Gilbert and Miss Warne
coming through the opposite portico. This sigh
made the heart struggle with throb of pain ii
Lidas bosom, and a mist came over her eyes I'll
they could scarcely discernth needle with which
she seemed occupied. They were coming to
ward the shop, and the sound Of their footsteps
in the entry made the young girl tremble in he
seat.
"Come," said Miss Warner, addressing the mil
liner, "put on your bonnet. We are going up tc
the house, and want your opinion"
Miss Smith ran fer her bonnet, and, for the frs
time in her life, the young lady addressed th
apprentice.
with u.s."
The blood rushed over Lida's face, and sh
refused but Miss Warner whispered a word t
her lover, and he pressed Ida with such res
pectGul earnestness that she arose, tied on he
straw cottage, and was ready to attend them lon
before Miss Smith made her appearance.
The homestead was a large and superior oil
mansion for country village. Its material wa
heavy, and touched with the brown tinge Of age
the trees around it were majestic, and its furn
ture was that of another century, old fashione
and massive, but Gilbert had ntersperced it wit
chairs and tables Of lighter and more recent mod
ell and the gloom which low ceilings give TO a
apartment was relieved by the tall mirrors an
modern windows which were cut from ceiling t
floor. Altogether, it was the dwelling which
domestic and sudious person would have prefer
ed above all others.
Ida had never seen anything half so spendi
before, but there was heavy feeling at her hea
which mere novelty could not dispe. She 70
lowed her conductors up the broad stairs, hear
them admire the balusters of dark mahogany, an
walked through the chambers like one in dream
She was pale, bewildered, and sick at heart, a
most for the first time in her life.
There was one room on the first floor, whic
Gilbert had fitted up exclusively for his bride.-
1t had but one bay window, which opened upc
the most verdant nook of the old fashioned ga
den; and this window required no drapery, f;
an immense white rose tree was trained along II
easement, till profusion of thick green leave
and snowy blossoms dropped like a curtain ovt
the upper part, and when the sash was open
storm of fragrant leaves fell like snow-hakes a
over the rich old easy chairs and moss-like ca
pet which decorated the room. On curious Ii
tie table, with legs carved and twisted togeth
like knot of serpents, lay guitar, with an
cure ribbon just attached, and as yet unused;
snnerh old hook case. crowded with neatly hour