The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-28
BUQUE, IOWA, AUGUST %, 1850.

it was dark and glossy, and these sunken eyes
sparkled with lustre that flashed back upon me
from my looking glass the conviction that what
| people told me was true.
AS was saying, this beauty caught the fancy
of William Sealy, and in all our walks and par
ties, which he constantly joined, was the sole
object of his attentions. At first my vanity was
gratiied, for he was handsome, good humored
fellow; and then began to love him with all the
violence Of my nature, though treated him ac-
cording to the admirable system laid down in my
books-sometmes with undue familiarity, some
times with capricious disdain. But another stran-
ger appeared amongst us, young lady-for she
was a lady--who came as governess to school
mistress in the nei ghborhood. shall never for
get the first night of her appearance in the cir
Gle where | carried it with such high hand
| The moment | saw her. felt had rival NV
black eyes were always tightening with impetu-
| Gus feelings Of some kind hers were soft and
gray and full Of a holy innocence that | could
never throw into mine. Instead Of the warm
color that burned on my cheek, hers wore a de-
licate flush that changed with every word she
| spoke; and she had mouth like a rose-lcaf and
a winning smile, and singing speaking, the
sweetest voice [ ever heard. Her gentle man.
ner and that low soft voice were tacit reproaches
against my loud laugh and bosterous speech
My ill-rcguiated mind was accustomed either to
love fervcntly or hate bitterly; and despite all
her attempts at Cancellation, hated her cor
daily
This hatred increased to intensity when saw
| William Scaly drawn gradually away from me,
and it was wonder that he should be won by
| lovcliness as great contrast to my bold beauty
as quiet moonlight night to a red and stormy
sunset. No wonder, indeed! for she good
and clever, and had filled her mind with knowl-
| odCp tbollrH she SHRINK YoooIast1y from
tice. Every one loved her, and that was bad
enough; but that should lose him for her sake
was unbearable. laid the blame of his estran-
cement entirely on her, forgetting that he had
witnessed one or two of my habitual fits of pas
sion, and that none but a madman would have
taken such frebrand into his household.
One night, after he had been unusually atten-
tive to Ellen Mansfield (for that was the young
girls name,) sought him alone, and bitterly
stared, as well he might; but my vain reading
had Invested my mind of all maidenly modesty
on the sub ject. When he found me getting
more and more outrageous, he told me plainly
that had his love; that l was not the woman to
make any mans hearth happy, and that Ellen
should be his wife they both lived
IIe was good as his word. In few weeks
Ellen was his happy bride; and I, to show thai
my spirit was at least unbroken, gave my hand
| "llllOlL lcdlL, IlOL ultpl 10 dllOlileT.
My husband was dark distant man, but he
was kind TO me, till one unfortunate day, in a
rage which some trife had provoked, laid bare
my heart to him. He saw that he had no place
there and lost his affection forever. From that
time he treated me with strange forbearance
He gave way to on all possible OCCASIONS
but that he only did so lest his own que,
should be disturbed and the conviction deeply
mortified me. had other troubles, too The
Scalys and seldom met but the sight ofEllen's
happy face every time she passed the window
withered my heart with envy. Besides, she had
a large family, and had none. prayed that
might call a child my own, or die; and God gave
me my hearts desire, but rebel that was, used
his good gift to my own destruction. Yet was
humbed and softened down the morning that
first held living son in my arms, and many {
promise and resolution made of controlling my
temper for the future. But that soft mood pas
sed away like the morning cloud My very ma
ture required to be changed first. | had yieldee
4 to it too long to govern it then, and | was to-
? proud to ask assistance even from Him who alien
could give it. Therefore, when my childs lit
tie face was become too familiar act as check
, the power of the demon returned. My HUSBAND
became every day more unloved, and more es
: tranged, as grew more irritable He drownet
+ his cares in the wine cup, and sank into th
drunkards grave before my son had passed hi
: early boyhood.
That sin rests upon my soul with all the 9th
} ers. My father, too, was dead, and none remain
: ed to love me but my son. Oh how | love-
that only child! My affection for him was in M
r heart as green spot of solid land on tosse
S and troubled sea. I fastened my heartstring
S round him, thought OF no one else all the da,
and slept only to dream Of him. In the loudes
storm of anger would listen to his voice, whcl
it was ever so childish, and for twenty y-tour year
no word Of mine ever entered his ears that wa
t not stepped in tenderness-for dreaded the los
l of his love the worst that could befall me-
!, Even while a child, Louis gave tokens Of no
5 bic spirit, and mere strangers passing him in tht
; street would stop to praise his beauty; and al
; said there was promise ofgenius shining in hi
| bright eyes, and written on his fine broad fore
: head.
was in very Strengthened circumstances; bu
| toled night and day, rose early and sat up late
that my child might be fed and clothed, ant
taught like that Of the best gentlemen in the
} town. kept him to myself much as posi-
he, for feared to lose my influence over him
but as if Ellen Sealy was always to come be
tween me and my purpose, the very first friend
ship he formed at school was with her son.
tried to fill his mind with my own prejudices
but he argued, if the mothers were enemies, i
was only fair that the sons should be friends
God forgive me! l did all could to make then
rivals; but the boys had generous hearts ant
glored in each others triumphs. In the play
ground and the school room they were alway.
together, and shared in common the applause O
the boys and their masters.
My child choose to be an architect, and will
no small striving did fit him for it, but wa
we'll repaid by the talent he showed. Surely h,
was son that any mother might have beer
proud of; for he grew up the most good-natured
handsome, clever young man in the town-no
alone in my eyes, for all the neighbors said 8,
too And the gentry of the place noticed him
and praised his sense and intelligence, and promi
sed to open fine prospects before him. Otter
and often has my heart throbbed proudly when
saw him talking amongst them, looking as grane
as the very best Of them. Surely all the good o
his nature was the work of Gods own finger
for it could not have come of my training. Hi
friends saw no fault in him; but 1, who knew
him best, knew that if once reused, his passion
was desperate while it lasted. He had some o
: his mothers high spirit, though it was nearly
smothered in the kIndliness that gushed UP il
his heart likca clear spring we'll. To me hi. wa
all that was loving and dutiful, and he alway,
;fnt L.