Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-16
nj Is ELLAN N E o u s..
The Broken Heart.

About forty years since. young man
in the neighborhood of Drogheda, Ire
land, paid his addresses to a young
woman, farmers daughter; and allho'
his attentions were not approved OF by
her friends, yet she encouraged him to
hope. and eventually promised 10 marry
him. Ills circumstances not being The
best and believing he might trus. to her
fidelity, he was inclined to defer the
ceremony until he could get com.pe-
tence or sufficient TO make her comforta-
BILE, but Mary, being sought after by
many, pressed her parents to decide,
and believing his delay arose from indif.
ference, at length became dissatisfied,
and told him she would wait no longer,
but would marry the first man who
would ask her. He, thinking her deciar-
alton arose from sudden caprice. care.
lessly told her TO do so, and they parted
in anger. The miller Of Mellifont was
a douse, warm, middle-aged bachelor,
boorish in his appearance, and scottish
in his manners; but wilhal having the
name of money, and comfortable situ-
alton in the mill, he was far from being
an object of Indifference to the parents
of unmarried females. Having long re-
garded Mary with wistiul eye, and
been often proposed for her acceptance
by her friends, she now. while warm
with indignation against James for what
she considered his falsehood, consented
to marry him; and requesting that it
might be done as soon as possible, no
time was lost--everythiug was prepared
for the wedding, and before the expira-
tion Of twenty.iour hours she was his
wife.
Among The guests invited, James was
not forgotten; perhaps she wanted 10 en-
Joy sort OF triumph over him, and
prove she could marry without him
He attended. bu, was downcast and sor-
rowful. taking no part in The. boisterous
merriment SO general at country we'd
dings, and appearing to pay no attention
to wha, was passing around him. After
the bride had retired, her husband, the
miller. having INDUCED rather freely. was
carried up in state of insensibilitv, and
laid beside her. and the lights being re-
moved, she had full leisure to reflect on
her hasty conduct and rash treatment Of
James, who she now found possessed
her heart, although her hand was an
others
Ere long, she perceived figure seated
near the beds foot, and eagerly asking
"Who's lherel' was answered by
james
.ll's me, Mary, don't be alarmed!"
"Why, James," said she. "this is very
improper conduct. am the wife OF
another, and if my husband awakens. or
any person should see you here, il will
destroy me; you must leave. or ! will
call The people in"
II can't, Mary, Cor my heart is break
ing!"
? She still insisted he should leave her,
but s,lll received no other answer than
'Mary, can't, my heart is breaking!'
AT length he sunk exhausted on the
bed. Mary, greatly alarmed, called a
loud, and the company coming in found
him dead on the beds foot-his heart
having really broken. All was now
confusion. His body was conveyed TO
his residence, few miles distant, and his
friends having in vain tried TO restore
him, he was laid out 10 be walked.
The practice then was TO put the body
'underboard'--,hatis is, on planks laid on
The under frame of a. large table, over
which sheet was placed which, falling
down over the ends and sides. entirely
concealed the corps. on The tables they
placed candles. tobacco, pipes, &c. He
was walked for two days. and all the
neighborhood made poor Mary the OBJ
ject of their reproach. She never left
her apartment. but sat seemingly uncon-
scious of everything and bewildered
with anguish.
However. on the second night, she
was missed; che had lef, her home un-
perceived, and had gone no one knew
whiiher; and as she could not be found
after the siriciest search, il was supposed
she had drowned herself in The river.
In the morning. preparations were
made for burying James, but in proceed
ing to put his body into the coffin, they
found The unfortunate Mary dead beside
him. She had stolen, unperceived. un.
der the table. and having insinuated hel
arm under mis- head, and placed his arm
around her neck, had, in tha, position
bid adieu To all her sorrows.
Little now remains to be told. They
were buried ia one grave in Melliionl
Abbey; and although in life they were
separated, in death ,hey were not divi
ded.