The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-03

The surprise of Abel Martin cannot be des- |
cribed when his young neighbor came to HIM,
and claimed his consent to taking her from them:
But he was shrewd, crafty man, and betrayed
no dispeasure, which was scarcely to be expect
I'd. He requested day to consider Of it, and on
The morrow Louis vas in iormed Of his willingness
20 part with Mary, since twas her choice TO leave
them, but insisted that whole year should in
servene between that time and her marriage, on
account of her youth.
To this Louis reluctantly agreed, not without
something of misgiving at the old mans unusual
irbanity, but he was too much pleased with his
unexpected success in the negotiation to specu-
ate long on It.
CHAPTER III.
Very different now was the life of Mary Lor.
ing. She was petted and INDUCED like spoiled
child. Whatever her uncle and aunt had chosen
not TO do before was done now; beautiful dresses
took the place of her mourning; the large cham
Der was opened and handsomely furnished for her
even UNANIMOUSLY. When she exchanged the
narrow closet which she had hitherto occupied,
for this room, with its soft carpets, its drapered
windows, ITS books ard piano, she felt that no
gratitude was too much to express TO her friends.
Louis was dazzled with this excess Of kindness;
he could not but suspect at times the existence OF
some under current, that would by and by sweep
away all this goodly show, yet he gradually forgot
these thoughts, and when the summer came again
was completely charmed by the attention OF the
Martins.
The year of probation was passed--the we'd
ding-day of the farmer and the young orphan
came. 1t had long before been announced, and
/ all the country round were hidden TO attend the
ceremony. The old rooms had been stripped OF
| their ANTICIPATED furniture, and rch snowy
couches, divans, ottomans and other unaccus-
toned articles, of which the guests knew not
even the names, substituted in their places.
/ Curtains of embroidered lace fell TO the floor ad
hitting the soft evening air.
The right wing had been selected for the sup
per loom, and through the doors, ostentatiously
left open, appeared long tables, whose richly dec.
lorated viaRds seemed too beautiful to be hardly
eaten.
The orphan sat IN her chamber. She had new
OF dreamed, even in her early happy days, OF
wearing aught so lovely, SO costly, as her bridal
: robe. 1t was a gift from her aunt; the BRIDE
maid descanted at great length on her generosi.
!, ty, and envied Mary so kind friend. Very beau
! tiful was the orphan as she sat there, for the
sweetness that betOkens perfect happiness dwell
on her face.
The guests had all arrived, and the CLOCK
: pointed to nine. 1t struck, and at the instant
The quick pattering of hoIse's hooIs and the FOL
of wheels were heard.
'Itis Louisr said the BRIDE. Il know Rangers
y pace so we'll
Her aunt hustled from the loom, and the bride
: maides took last look at .heiI own and Mary;
attire, and then stood al the window 10 wait tn,
moment for them TO descend. Ten minutes
F. passed They looked at each otber. Ten MOI,
j the girls whispered, and one left the room
low in ha h,ttn
bridegroom came. They had parted but a few
hours before, and why was he not there to CLAIM
her handi She hid her face, and her friend:
came and knelt by her side, and spoke soothin.
: words A half hour passed, and Mary spranl
to her feet, as the same sound of horses hoof
was heard, and the same roll of wheels, but TIN:
c time they went from the house.
e At that moment her uncle and her aunt en-
q tered, and requesting the bridesmaid 10 leav,
; them alone for moment, told the halt bewllder
ed girl that it was all a jest. that they had neye
meant she should marry Louis Harden, that h
ad gone, and all between them was over, for
ever
3 They spoke most lovingly TO her, and begge'
her to 20 down and help them TO make merr
y with their friends-that it was all as nlse tina
> the pretended wedding was arranged--and tina
}; ell they had intended 10 do, 10 give a gran,
c party In her honor-that they could not part wit
;, neI, even TO SO worthy man as Louis
$ Mary was bewlldered-she neither wept no
spoke. She looked vacanty into their faces AM
n occasionally responded, 'Yes-yes,' as il she &C
guessed in all. But she had not understood tn
: meaning of single word. They had loreseen
. storm of tears and reproaches, but they were no
i prepared for thus. They looked al each other 70
u an explanation, but they knew not that her del
i Icate, fragile, soul was that hour darkened, AM
+ that she was unconscious OF word or deed.
}, will you 90 do xn with us now2' SAID .hey.
YES, yes was the response. They put win
10 lieI .Es aud she dranh, and they led her aIuOn
y the guests, who were wholly incredulous con
cernIng the flimsy excuse OF the pretended wed
5 ding. How many young hearts ached and eye
e were dimmed with tears, for the sake Of tina
d gentle creature, led like lamb to the sacrifice
There was a strange un6tness in her bridal robe
n for that stricken one. She moved about, lean
ing on her uncle's arm, so mntely, with such
{ suffering look, they could not endure the sight
But no one dared rlsk the displeasuIe of the host
, by being the frst TO leave, and so the evening
: slowly wore away, and they departed and all wa
+, still. There was great excitement in all tn,
countryside TO the events of the evening, anC
. before sunrise every person within miles aroun(
knew what had taken place.
But the real facts were these, and soon were
they too noised abroad. When Louis Harden
entered, he was met by Abel himself, who con
Quoted him into a back roon1, and seating him
at table, reached HIM pen and requested him
! to sign paper which lay there, for II was the
price of Mary Lonng. L. was a bond by which
he bound hmselfto have nothing whatever to dc
with the property during her life, and if she died
before him, 10 relnquish every cent of II TO heI
nearest kin.
The holiness, the audacity of the demand al
most petrified him. 1t wasrepeated with the ms.
surance that there was no appeal, and that the
arrangement had been at Mary's suggestion, and
with her entiTe consent Louis replied in fierce
words that he would not degrade himself by such
a bond-that Mary might make such disposition
of her property as she chose but he would not
sign the paper. Abel was disconnected. He
had calculated on the young mans love for his
niece too far. 1t was for this he had schooled
his rude nature into Difference for her he was de-
termined 10 deceive. In vain he entreated, al
most threatened the distress Of the bnde herself
but II wss now useless to attempt stemng the
torrent Of passion, and finging the old man in
TO a corner as he strove to stay him, he rushed
from the house, and they saw him no more.
cHAPTERIv.
"ot Love that never found his earthly close.
| What sequelf Streaming eyes and breaking heartss
| Or all the same as If he had not been2
Oh, what morrow was that which dawned
on Mary Loringl With the morning came back
her reason, but dimly at first; and she rose and
walked out into the woods, with her bridal veil
FL ng over her head. Wolf followed her footsteps
as she tottered down the hill, ana looked I'D iulo
her face with mute intelligence. As she ap-
preached the well-known seat, why did she stand
so statue-ike, gazing with straining eyes down
on the mossi There lay, his face burieI in his
hands, her recreant lover. Hehad not heard her