Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-07-11
SELECT TALE.
From the Washington Commonwealth.
The Old House and Young Wife
Al TRUE STORY.

4 u L p IT % X y.
sy RAPHAEL.
Dr.. Lawrence Bell had one grieviou>
fault: he would go to Boston every few
months, and be away from home a week
And somehow it was. in his absence old
chronic diseases and rheumatic pains
would clinch the tighter. But what took
him there, "Ah. there's the rub"
As sct-oT to this public grief l'owev
er. DR.. Bell had many. very many vir-
tues. lie was kind to the poor. The
needy bad often cause TO bless the bounty
Of his hand. Where sorrow and sickness
were, there was he. soothing one and rob-
bing the other Of its pangs. He was the
rood angel Of many heavy heart, and
the feet Of infancy grew lighter in his pres
ence. Indeed he was a very "darIing of
q man" and it puzzled the wits of all 10
say, which loved him most the venera-
BILE IN atrons, or the arniablc misses of his
native town.
His parents were long since dead but
thc Doctor still lived in the quaint old
homestead IL was an ancient pile; a
gloomy, dingy looking pile: both out and
in. Its dormatories. with lights OF seven
by nine; its massive doors Of oak; its low
broad chimncys; its nattened roof. scarce
" fifteen feet from ''mother carth.' and
other unnist ak able marks. evidenced
that il was a house Of the olden time,-a
puritan structure,-a monument OF other
and more honest days. And the Doctor
really and truly loved that homcly, dingy
house.
The little village OF W arose from
its breakfast table. one morning, and
found itself in commotion. What could
il mean! Why painter was seen al
work on that old building of DR.. Law
renee Bell; the carpets were stretched up
on the garden palings. and the waiting
maid was busting, and washing and
cleansing everything before her. Conjcc-
ture mounted her swift winged siced, and
flew from door 10 door; and teat most in
nocent Of all innocences, village gossip,
Haunted by in her many colored robes. in
extatic rapture. She knew all about il;
the Doctor was about to leave for Boston.
for the fortieth time. and desired to have
his cottage renovated whilst away. that
he might avoid the annoyancCs which ne
cessarily attend such an operation.
Well. the Doctor went to Boston. A
week rolled by. and so did dainty little
carriage, and rcincd up short at the Doc
tors house. Many an eye followed it un-
I'll it stopped, eager to discover what il
mi..ht contain. The biacksm poised
his hammer in his hand: matron and maid
crowded the windows: the tcanstcr halted
his oxen; the merchant left his counter.
and the clerk his quill--all, all anxious to
see what was to be seen. The Doctor
alighted, and the next thing presented
was a neat little foot, in glossy little
gaiter. pressing the step OF that neat little
carriage; then came a modest little hand
encascd in a lustrous little glove. Of which
the Doctor modcstly took possessions; next
rose colorcd bonnet. plumed, and as
gay as bird of Paradise; then a fashion,
able shawl. with as many hues the
pcacock's tail; and finally. half a web Of
satin containing a woman!
True, the Doctor had thus unceremo-
niously taken himself wife. And a
very beauty she was, TOO, with roguish
black eyes. and cherry lips. which when
parted. displayed two rows of teeth as
white as Ceylon's ivory. A shower OF
glossy ringlets dcluged her snowy neck,
''And dams grace was in her step
Apoos music in her voice.
She was in the very spring of life. and
nevcd did the sun unfold lovelier bios
som. '.Our future home. my dear" 1t
was all the Doctor said. as he handed her
to the little parlor of twelve by fourteen.
Charlotte Bell was not thundcrstruck by
any means; but slightly bewildered. She
looked and probably felt like newly
Gagged canary bird. There were the win
dows. with small ridged lights and I'M
couth sash. There were mirrors. bu,
barely long enough to reflect her pretty
face, and not cncased i'll gold, a. that
The dropping ceiling hung above her
with an appalling lowness: and huge
eight day clock. as old as the coolest in.
habitant." standing alone in the corner
with full moon above its face, was tick.
ing the pulsations of time as regularly as
ifno one were execrating it at ALL
Weeks and months passed pleasantly
by. The Doctor pursued the even tenor
Of his way-healing the sick and spread
ing the sunshine of gladness around the
path of poverty. Charlotte. who was ac i.
counted a belle in the city. got along
bravely III her new position. Her visi-
tors were kindly treated, and her hospital
ity was the theme ofgeneral praise All
they could say about her was. that she
was little proud-lust liitle-and this
was uttered or whispered, in strict conf.
dence to friends alone.
The Doctor was quiet man. If he
said little, he thought a great deal-in the
common Parlance OF the village ''he knew
thing or two" Charlotte was sly and
cunning as fox, the little rogue; and be.
gan TO hint to him something about fine
brick house. with marble front and fold.
ing doors; crown glass windows, and full
length portraits; Brussels carpet and ma.
hogany chairs; rosewood tables and yielJ
ing divans. ct cctera, ct cetera. She
served him with a dish ofthese in simple
style at first; but as the symptoms became
more favorable. increased the dose. unit
the doctor tel, himself ready to cry pecca
81. and yield at discretion.
weeks and months rolled by, and poo,
Charlotte was beginning TO despair Of re.
ahz'ng ner pleasant dreams. She would