Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-22
MISCELLANY.
DISTRUST,
Or the Victim Of Voluntary
WidOWhOOd.

| hist anu VIII Tell you Story oil real
life as it occurred in our very midst
The heroine of my story lived many
years in Mobile, and was a native, |
think. Of this place; at all events, her lot
in life must early have been cast among
US. Many in this room have taken her
by the hand; for, at every hearth stone,
she was a welcome guest, rendered so
by her brilliant manners, and engaging,
lovely disposition. Every body loved
Dora Hammersley, for she loved every
body. She had been a widow nine
years when | first made her acquaintance
and more lovely woman in every point
OF view it never has been my lot to NEE,
with. | often wondered at her perver-
slty IN remaining single, when / knew,
with the world, that she had it so large
ly in her power not only TO become an
interesting wife, but most useful men,
Der OF society. She always parried my
persuasions, by saying that she dreaded
the dominion Of step-father over her
only child, a sweet little girl of some
ten summers. ! noticed at the time,
despite her efforts to conceal il, that the
poor woman was imneasurably wretch.
ed. She was not in love, for she was
woman of too finely balanced mind
ever 10 sit down and hope on an unre-
Quilted passion. Her beautiful, blame
less life had been passed among us, with
the exception of the five years of her
married life, which had been spent else
where. 1t was during brief visit she
paid Mobile in lS- while at her fathers
house, she heard of her husbands death.
! shall never forget the shock it occasion
ed 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 grieved for her
husbands death. The announcement.
at last, that she was about to 'eave Mobile
forever and settle ia the west, filled the
large circle of her friends with the most
unbounded astopishment. What leave
the dear friends, where she had been SO
petted, so caressed, for home in a
strange land--far from the scene of her
childhood! Well might we all wonder.
| determined with my husbands permis-
sion, TO ask an explanation of this strange
resolve. She was TO perform her last
pilgrimage to the graves Of her parents,
who were inferred in the old graveyard,
head of Church street. Thilher we
went together, and after sauntering thro'
the old arenas-anon stopping TO listen
10 the wind, as il swept in Eolian
strains through the overhanging gloomy
pines--we reached at last an old broken
wall, and bidding her sit down beside me,
| took both her hands in mine and i'm
plored her, by my past friendship and
my present devotion TO her interests, 10
frankly tell me the cause OF her unhap-
piness.
ii am so glad you have touched upon
this subject" said she, hesitatingly .for,
oh, | know that would be so much hap
pier il some one else beside myself
knew the terrible secret of my past life.
"fes,' she said, II will tell you all
without reservation; but we must enter
into solemn compact Erst.''
"Anything in reason, Dora. and which
it is in my power to perform, Twill most
willingly do"
"Will you promise not to hate mel"
she convnlsively sobbed. ..Will you
promise, by the sacred dust of my pa
rents, that you will still love me as you
have hitherto done!'
81 will still continue to love you, Do
ra, though you had committed murder.
There now, will that assurance satisfy
you?" -
She kissed me afrsctionately and be-
gan the recital Of her griefs. "Mind
you promise not TO interrupt me-" she
said. "You will remember" she con.
tinued, "that was married early in life
to one whom | more Than idolized, ant
went to Louisiana TO live. 1t was du.
ring the last months of the five years
that sojourned in that state, that the
seeds of my after unhappiness were
sown. was young. Emily, and was
too prone to put faith in all | saw ant
heard. Il has only been through the
two last years Of my close intimacy
with you, that / have learned what !
good wife should be. Oh, Emily, EN-.
lily, the precious pearls that ! have cas-
from me, and trampled in the dust, be-