The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-04-20
FREMONT sANDUsKY COUNTY, APRIL 90 1885,


lusion increased Surely the face did smile !
Surely the lips moved 1t was to him the
puseess efigy no more, but the living, breath
ing Marion not upon the wall in a gilded
frame, but standing by his side, with her arm
tenderly embracing his neck, and her warnelips
upon his cheek. A moment of confusion and
the fathers mind was calm and clear. The
past was forgotten. Marion, sweet Marion, was
/ and had always been his. There had been no
bereavement, no separation. The dream of
aff1iction was over, and It's impressions effaced.
i The merchant was happy. Days came and
went; the seasons changed; and, for time,
all remained bright, for Marion's dear face was
ever shining upon him. After few years.
however, suffers presented themselves-at-
tracted, some by the maiden's loveliuess of
character, some by the beauty of her person,
and some by her fathers wealth. Mr. Ii
brand, jealous Of the possession of so rich a
treasure, looked coldly upon all, and repulsed
the most worthy. Soon he noticed, with con-
Germ, that Marion was not as she had BEEN
Her face was more thoughtful, and there was
Ia depth of expression in her eyes, till then un-
observed. Home seemed to have lost its at
traction, for she went out more frequently than
before, and was often away when he chanced
|
questioned her as TO where she had been she
gave an evasive answer.
At last came letter from some unknown
friend warning him of the existence of an in
timacy between Marion and man of bad re-
lpute in society. Alarmed and fevered by this
intelligence, Mr.. Librand, without suitable re-
Election, placed the letter in Marion's hand, and
sternly demanded an explanation
ST L. al Il Al.
daughter
j Is it true that you keep company with
this man, and that too, clandestinely? asked
the angry father.
1 1haYe met him few times; but deny the
slanderous charge made, against him by one
who is afraid to give his name. They are
/! false
They are true, Marion!' said Mr.. Librand,
4 know them to be true. Gracious Heaven |!
to think that this man should steal into my
peaceful home; 10 think that his poliuting
breath should touch you! Marion as true as
there is a heaven, so true is this man as base
and corrupt as an evil spirit
i But he saw that his words made no impress
sion upon his child.
DO you believe him pure and good?' he
asked.
| w. WAS TIE CAIN reply.
i HE is vile, he is evil, he is false, Marion !!
i know him. I, your father, who loves you
tells you that he knows this. Will you not
credit his words? Is he not your earliest, your
6rmest, and your best friend? God help you,
Marion, for help will come from Nowhere else,
if you disregard my warming A thousand
times sooner would see you laid in the grave,
than become the wife of this wretch. What
lspell is upon you, that you harken not to my
Ffwords, Marion?
i The daughter had turned and was walking
away from him,
j 'Marion!' he called She needed him not
but retired and left him alone.
I On the next morning, she did not appear at
the breakfast table as usual.
Where is Marion p the father asked.
She is not come down yet replied the SER
want. =
Perhaps she is ILL., Go to her chamber
A strange fear seized upon her fathers
) heart.
After a few minutes absence the servant re-
turned. Marion was not in her chamber, and,
to all appearance, had not spent the night
) there. But there was letter upon her table.
Mr.. Librand broke the seal with trembling
hands. The letter contained but few works
They, alas were fatal to his peace. Marion
} had left her fathers house and thrown herself
upon the protection of one whom he knew to be,
cruel and corrupt For time the sad intelli-
gence stunned the father; but, as soon as he
could think clearly what to do, he went forth
to seek for his daughter, and if fpossible, to save
save her from the vortex of misery into which
she was about plunging herself He found
} her the occupant of suite of rooms at hotel
and already the wife of the man against whom
: he had spoken so harshly. She met him with
tears, and earnestly implored his forgiveness
for what she had done. But now his heart be-
J came steeled against his child, and he turned
from her and left her to her fate.
!, oh! that she never had been born, or that
the grave had swallowed her year, month,
or week ago There would have been hope
in her DEATH if she had died, but now there is
no hope for her.
Thus mourned the unhappy father and the
J voice of hiso own sorrow sotened his heart
But many2day elapsed before he relented to-
wards Marion but he relented too late. Her
husband had gone away with her to south
ern city.
Years seemed to go by. and he remained a
lonely man. No word came from his child,
He had sought for her, but his search had been
in vain. Atlast she came home.
He was sitting, sad and solitary one evening.
his thoughts, as usual, upon Marion when his
door opened, and slender, deeply-veiled fig
ure dressed in old and faded garments, enter
ed the room. 1t came slowly forward, then
passed and drew aside Us VEIL His child was
before him-hs long lost, long nourned Mar
ion. But, oh! how changed. The round,
smooth, warmely blushing cheek-the soft
blue eyes, beamihg with love iand ligbt-the
delicate mouth, so full of tenderness, and so
J sweet with smiles, were no longer there
Thus shrunked and pale were all hen features
and the childlike, loving innocence that was in
her eyes, had departed. She did not smile
! there was no light in her face: but, instead,
she gazed with cold, fixed look, at her
father.
'Marion!' he exclaimed, starting up. But
) as he reproached, she retreated step or two;