The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-07-26
EBENsBURG, THURSDAY, JULY 2e, 1s4:

his proposals on condition that she should
not reveal her true name until they should
arrive at the first stopping place: Hal
wood promised to grant any request if she
would only accede to his wishes. She at
length agreed to meet him at the steam
boat landing in W street, one week
from that night and take boat for p,
during which time to secure secrecy, they
were to have no communication whatever.
Having made all necessary arrangements,
they parted. Halwood to his office and
Alice to her home.
During the following week, Halwood
busted himself in arranging his affairs,
which were in very good condition.
He withdrew his money from the bank,
and made writing and placed it among
his papers, when he did not return, in
which he gave his wife all the property he
left behind, which was sufficient to give a
handsome support. He told Mrs. Hal
wood and his acquaintances, that his busi-
ness called to distant city, and that he
should be under the necessity of re emaining
for a few months at least, and requested
his wife to arrange his wardrobe accord
ingly.
The important eve came round. The
time had been shorter to Halwood than he
anticipated. Having all things in readiness
he took hasty leave of his wife, sprang
In his carriage at the door, and soon found
himself at the steamboat landing.-His
fair companion had not yet made her ap-
pearance. 1t was now eight o'clock in the
evening-in half an hour the boat would
start. He waited twenty minutes between
hope and fear, when a cab stopped near
where he was standing, and from it issued
the little Quakeress dressed in the same
neat, plain style closely yelled. Halwood
stepped forward, gave Der cordial greet
ing, and conducted her on board the boat
to the ladies' cabin. She then requested
him to leave her until they arrived at their
destined port; he reluctantly obeyed, as he
had promised to grant all the requests she
should make.
Halwood retired to his state room but
not to rest. Now he was left to himself
he had time for reflections; he found thai
although his wishes were in some degree
gratlhed he was far from being happy
He tried to close his eyes in sleep, but a
calm, quiet face would stand by his side,
and look upon him with entreating sadness
1t was that of his wife whom he pictured
at home, lone and sad. He thought of the
kindness with which she had always sup
piled his wants-the solicitude which she
seemed to feel in all that concerned him
and more than once he wished himself by
her side to ask forgiveness. He tried
however, to dissipate such thoughts and
feelings by thinking upon Alice Carlisle
who was now to reveal herself to him on
the morrow; and the hours seemed like so
many weeks-such was the anxious state
of his mind.
Morn at length came, and its first ray
of light was welcome visiter to the sleep
less eyes of Charles Halwood. He arose
and went on deck-the tall spires of the
city OF p were just in sight, and
when the sun had risen above the horizon
they had neared the wharf. Halwood
sought Alice; and taking carriage drove
to the City Hotel. Now they were alone
and the time had arrived when he was to
behold tine object he had SO long wished
for. Halwood stood in breathless anxiety;
he longed and yet feared to see her unveil
herself. She slowly raised her hands,
loosed her bonnet and CLOAK, together with
some smoothly combed hair, and threw
them from her-apd, kind reader, HIS OWN
WIFE STOOD BEFORE HIM! Halwood was
thunderstruck. He stood for moment
paralyzed. During that one moment, the
past, as quick as lightning passed through
his mind; everything was explained. he
rushed forward exciaiming: Forgive, oh!
forgive! we will leave them
to themselves, and just say that the boat
took Faiwood home wiser man.