The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-08-31
The Broken Promises;
Or Marry ing Twice.

y
make me one promise. / know shall
not oe here long, my dear;'-her voice
grew very plaint,ve, and MIR. Tompkins
was iDrced to hear her.
"Well, what is it that Unjust promise,
to make you happy, wife-anythins reas-
onAble!"
snow, that is the way you always an
swer me; so cavalierly, SO unfeeling, and
in coarse way-I tell you again, shall
not be here long-you are rugged man,
Mr.. Tompklns, and know bu, little OF my
ply steal aiIs, tell you.
"Pho, nonesense, you are nervous wife.
Go out, take tie air, brace up little, and
the vapors will quit th~ir hold"
But that promise husband ~
"Well, now for It,"
"Will you promise me sincerely, as
God spares your lie, il should die, that
You necer uiU marry again. You know
how many girls would be glad to step in
my shoes; how many widows would like
the privilege oil setting in my drawing
rooms-those beautiful rooms all hung in
tapestry, and those bright chandeliers sus
pended, looking just as good as new, if
they We're bought at auction. My worst.
cd work too;-oh, could not bear to
know that anybody should ever own it
after me. But l am going to better
place, trust. Heaven, they say, is pa
vcd ,rih gold-but it will be hard to leave
you, husband, but know you will soon
follow Now. promise me faithfully,
that you will never, never marry again,
but keep everything just as leave it,
which shalt bein good ord-r-will you q"
son condition, wife, that il [ should
die, you will observe the same iniunc-
ton. You know how many rich men
are dancing attendance On rich widows;
how many who have lost their wives
would like TO wear my coats, pants and
satin vests. Now, YOU will keep them
always hanging in the closets, just as !
left them, and never let my wrought
slippers be put upon another mans loot
"CertainIy, Mr.. Tompkrns; but that
event will never happen in n'y day. You
will live long after me,''
The promises being thus mutually ex.
changed Mrs Tompklns seemed to re.
rive. She procured bottle or two Of
bi'trrs tol pochrondrlacs, and really
grew so much better as 10 propose Jour.
ney. The autumn following, she broke
out in European fever, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Tompkins were registered as having
taken passage TO Liverpool.
! New sights so engrosse her attention
new faces so won her heart, new cooke.
ny so improved hel appetite, that Mrs
Tompkins emerged from a pale, thin
sharp featured woman, to healthiul
plump English lady; and after two
years residence, when she returned, how
her neighoors stared as they accosted
her with, ''can this be you, Mrs. Temp
hins?p
But Providence and man are not alk.
in Their desires. Mr.. Tompkns had
grown thin, had cough, pain through
the shoulders, little appetite. and great
debility. He was consumplively incli.
ned, but remarkably resigned to his STU.
alton. And now go>sips abounded; some
affirmed he had lived wearisome lite
with his wlfe-some said they could tell
things, but would not--others who We're
in her ConfIrnce shook their heads, and
said they never crimlnated church mem
bers-ior Mrs. Tompkins was very j.
Gus woman, But a. length the man died
and the bereaved widow lamented loud.
ly, and begged the sexton to see that all
things were done in good style, and in,
sisted TO know if he really believed the
body could be KEEP, two days. She sen
for an artist, had his picture taken, bought
the finest bombazine dress, had mantilla
trimmed with the deepest folds OF Grape
wore binding veil, and cried as if her
heart would brake She went to Probate
administered herself on tn. estate, lived
in her own drawing rooms, kept her ser
wants, but complained bitterly oil loneli.
ness.-She was always at church meet.
lngs, always wept, or held up her hand
kerchief, when the good man prayed that
Affections might he sancti6od,' and il
short the widow Tompkins with her for
tune Of two hundred thousand, and M
"chick or chlld' 10 share it, was quite
prominent character in the mouths o
certain widowels and forlorn stricke,
bachelors. For two full months she wor
the veil doaun. 1t was said she was Oh
served to draw it aside very slightly
then a little further, till finally she threw
1t over the crown OF her bonnet, just az
parson boneset repeated the text, s'io
our light afflicuons, which are but for
moment" &c.
That night Deacon Sears called Blu
how .xcusable was his visit! HIS wifi
died suddenly, "but full OF hope" ane
how natural,hat his sympa,hies should b.
I drawn toward the widow, full OF hop
likewise! Mrs. Tompkins was Away
at the prayer meetings, and Deaco!
Sears always exhorted; and how natura
1t was he should see the widow home