The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-06-09
70, 46 ELKTON ND, SATURDAY MORNING JUNE g l849

destiny, for there boarded in the same house
a widow and her pretty daughter, the last
an heiress worth THOUSAND DOLLARS!
This widow, named Watkins, not her real
name by the by, for on our veracity we are
telling true story and might give offence
to be too particular-was not overstocked
with riches, piqued herself as much on her
slender iointure and the thousand dollars
Helen was to possess on her wedding day,
as though her hundreds had been thou
sands, and her daughters thousand mil
lion. Helen was sensible, very sensible,
and resisted in good degree, the unhappy
influence Of her mothers weakness but
most women are not conversant with busi-
ness, do not appreciate the true value of
money; and it is not amazing that Helen
when il was constantly theme of exulta-
ton and pride with her mother, should
imagine at least her thousand dollars for
! tune.
Flagg, after time, loved her-loved her
with his whole heart, and was as tenderly
loved in return. He had always deter
mined with an honest heart that he would
never marry with woman who had NOR
ey. cit should never be cast in his teeth
by his wife's grumbling relations that he
was supported by her." and there are few
who will accuse him of swerving from his
principles, although he did love Helen
Watkins, and she had thousand dollars.
He married her; and on the wedding
day, pursuant to her fathers will, the thou
sand dollars were placed in Flagg's hands.
Doing as he thought best for their mutual
advantage, he invested it in business, and
instead of dashing out with an establish
ment, remained at the boarding house. For
time, all went well. A loving bride
thinks little for months of anything but
love and happiness, and Helen never spoke
ofthe thousand dollars. Flagg furnished
her with money sufficient for her wants,
and indeed for her desires-the engross-
ment of her thought otherwise limited her
wishes.
But when a year had gone by, she often
asked for articles Of dress or luxury-luX-
ury to them, which her husband could not
afford to give, and gently, but resolutely
denied her. dts very strange" thought
Helen to herself, "that when he has all
that thousand dollars of mine, he wont let
me have what want" Her mother tos-
tered these complaining thoughts, and on
one occasion when she had set her heart on
something which he refused to purchase,
she ventured to vent her disappointment in
reproaches; and referred to the thousand
dollars, which she was sure she ought to be
at liberty to spend since it was all her own
Flagg was astonished and indignant, but
restrained himself, kindly reasoned with
her, and represented how paltry sum, in
reality, thousand dollars were, and how
long ago ii would have been exhausted had
it been in her possession, hy the procure
ment of half the articles she bad solicited.
But her pride prevented her listening with
calmness, and she only gathered enough Of
his explanation TO excite, in her warped
judgment, the suspicion that it was only
given to excuse himselffrom his meanness.
In short time the thousand dollars came
up again-and again--and again: the last
time Immediately after breakfast; Flaeg
could bear no more. With a reoinder, he
suddenly left his house. His wife saw that
he was more than ordinarily moved--that
his face wore a startling expression, and re-
gretful, patient, alarmed, she called earn
estly and feartully for him to return. But
it was too lotc 1t was sullen, stormy,
wintry, chilly day, when Flagg left his
home that morning: it was, too, at the CHI
max, of one Of those mercantile crises when
the rich feel poor, and the poor beggal~;
and Flagg, brcasting the storm thus bravely
! thus far, congratulated himself that in a
few days he should be safe, and his fortune
golden forever. How bitter was his sensa-
tons as he came up Broadway that morn
ing spIashng through the rain! He loved
Helen dearly-he knew that she loved him.
Their days were all happiness, save that
destroyed by the one foible, and, let come
what would, he determined to give her a
lesson that should last her the rest of her
life.
He did not return to dinner. Helen
waited for him, and robbed by her anxiety
and remorse other appetite, would not 60
down herself, but sat all the afternoon, look
ing through the window in the deserted
and dreary street, weeping sometimes as
though her heart would break. When
daylight was nearly gone, and she began to
strain her eyes to distinguish objects with
out, she discovered him approaching. She
could not-she dare not go to meet him
but when he opened the door, she could not
repress shrek at the haggardness of his
countenance. He came to her side, and
taking her hand, said, in voice broken by
exhaustion and emotion, while he extended
with the other roll of bank notes
"Helen, there is your thousand dollars
1. /