The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-03-28
DISTRUST;

Ok, VIcriM OF VOLUNTARY WIpowHeop.
The ladies Of the Second Presbyterian
Church, Mobile, nre publishing little pa
per called "I'he Bow Of Cupid" We give
an extract as an evidence Of the taste with
which our fair cotemporaries edit their
miniature newspaper:
List and will tell you story Of real life
as il occurred in our very midst. The he
roine oi my story lived many years in Mo
bile, was a native, think, of this place; at
all events, her LOT in life must early have
been cast among Us. Many in this Fair
Room have taken her by the hand; for, at
every hcar,h-stonc,st she was a welcome guest,
rendered 50 BY her brilliant manners, and
engaging, lovely disposition. Every body
loved Dora Ilammersly, Tor she loved every
body. She had been widow nine years
when first m'de her acquaintance, and n
more lovely woman in every point Of view
b. has never been my 10, 10 meet with. !
often wondered at her pervorsiiy in remain.
ing single, when knew, with the world,
that she had i, so largely n her power. not
only TO become all Interesting wife. but
most useful member Of society," She al
ways parred my persuasions, by saying
that she dreaded The dominion Of step
father over her only child, q sweet little
girl Of some ten summers. noticed a, the
time, despite her effort to conceal it, that
the poor woman was most immcasurably
wretched. She WAS not in love, for she
was u woman Of too firmly balanced mind
ever to s, down and NOPE on an unrequitcd
passion. Her beautiful blameless lie had
been passed among US, with the exception
Of the five Years Of her married life, which
hnd been spent elsewhere.
1t YVES during briefly visit she paid Nc
bile in Is, while Mt her fathers house.
she heard Of her husbands death. shall
never forget the shock i, occasioned me,
more for Dnra's sake, who knew 10 be so
ardeniIy attached To hinl. Time heals
every wound, and knew, in the common
course Of things, she must long since have
ccnsed to gricve for her husbands DEATH
The announcement NJ last, that she was
bou, 10 leave Mobile forever and settle in
the West, flied the large circle Of her
friends with The most unhoundei astonlsh-
ment What!le the dear friends. where
she had been so petied, so caressed, Tor
home in stranger lana9--f.r from the
scene Of her childhood, well might we all
wonder. determined, with ms husbands
permission, to ask an explanation for this
strange resolve. She was 10 perform her
last pilgrimage to the graves Of her parents.
who were inferred in the old graveyard,
head Of Church street. Thi.her We went
together, and after sauniering through the
old arenas anon stopping TO listen 70 the
wind, as it swept in 4Eolan strains through
tie overhanging gloomy pines--we reach
ed at last an old broken wall, and bidding
her sit down beside me, ! took both her
hands in mine and mplored her BY my pnst
friendship and my devotion to her interests,
To frankly tell me the cause Of her unhap.
piness.
Il am so glad yon have touched upon the
subject she hesi,ating!y said, tor know
that | would be so much happier if some
one else besides myself knew the terrible
secret ofmv past life
YES she said, Il will tell you all without
roserv alton bnt we must enter into so'-
etnn compact first
ANY thing in reason, Dora, and which
ii is in my power to perform, will most
willingly do
Will you promise not TO hate me" she
convusivo'y sohbed. 'Wil you promise
--hv the sacred dust of my dear PARENTS
that you will still love me as you have hl'h-
crto done?
will still continue TO love YOU, Dora,
though you have committed murder
There, will tha, assurance satisfy vou?
She kissed me afiec,iona'eiy, md began
the recital of her grieis. 'Alind your prom
se. not to interrupt me- she said. you
well remember, she continued, that was
married early in life 10 ane whom more
than idcIized, and went TO Louisiana TO live.
It was during the last months OF tho i've
ears that | scjourned in That state, that
tho seeds of my after unhappiness were
sown. was young, Emily. and was too
prone to pnt faith in all saw and heard
|, has only been through the last two wears
nr my close intimacy with you, that have