Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-03-07
DIS II R u s It:

OR THE VICTIM OF VOLUNTARY wIDowHooD.
List and will tell you a story Of real life as i,
occurred in our midst. The heroine of my story
lived many years in Mobile, and was a native, l
think, OF this place; al all events her lot in life
must eaIly have been cast among US. Many in
this Fair Room have taken her BY the hand for,
at every hearth-stone she was welcome guest,
rendered 50 by her brilliant manner, and engaging,
lovely disposition. Everybody loved Dora Ham
mersley, for she loved everybody. She had been
a widow nine years when frs; made her &C
quaintance, and more lovely woman in every
point of view il has never been my lot to meet
with. l often wondered at her perrersity in re-
manning single, when knew, with the world, that
she had it so largely in her power not only TO be-
come an interesting wife, but most useful men,
Der Of society. She always parried my persua-
sion, by saying that she dreaded The dominion Of a
step-father over her only child, sweet little girl
of some ten summers. l noticed at the time, des-
pe her Efforts 10 conceal it, that the poor woman
was immeasurably wretched. She was not in
love, for she was woman of too finely balanced
mind ever 10 sit down and NOPE an unrequitted
passion. Her beautiful blameless life had been
passed among US. with the exception of the FIVE
years of her married life, which had been spent
elsewhere. 1t was during brief visit she paid
Mobile in IS-while at her fathers house, she
heard OF her husbands death. | shall never for
get the shock il occasioned me, more for Dora's
sake, who knew TO be so ardently attached to
him. Time heals every wound, and knew, in
the common course of things, she must long since
have ceased to grieve for her husbands death
The announcement, at last, that she about to
leave Mobile forever, and settle in the West, filled
the large circle of her friends with astonishment
What leave the dear friends, where she had been
so petted so caressed, for home in strange
land-far from the scene OF her childhood! F! Well
might we all wonder | determined, with my
husbands permission, to ask explanation of this
strange resolve. She was to perform her last pill
prmaee to the graves of her parents, who were
inferred in the old graveyard, head Of Church
street. Thi.her we went together, and after saun-
tering through the old arenas-anon stopping tc
listen to the wind, as i. swept in Eolian strains
through the over hanging gloomy pines-we.
at last an old broken WALL and bidding her si
down beside me, took both her hands in mine
and implored her, by my past friendship and my
present devotion to her interests, to frankly tel
ire the cause of her unhappiness.
/ am SO glad you have touched upon this sub
ject," said she, hesitatingiy, "for oh, know that
would be SO much happier if some one else beside
myself knew the terrible secret ofmy past life
Yes" she said, " will tell you all without reser
vation; but we must enter into solemn compac
first"
Anything in reason, Dora, and which it is in
my power to perform, will most willingly do"
"Will you promise not to hate me ?" she con
vulsively sobbed. "Will you promise. by the
sacred dust of my parents, that you will still love
me as you have hitherto done I"
Il will still continue to love you, Dora, thouet
you had committed murder There row, vii
that assurance satisfy YOU