Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-08-05
The Devoted Wife.
By JOHN O. WHITTIER.

! lover at the marriage alter. She was little
pale, yet ever and anon, as the ceremony
proceeded, faint tinge of crimson crossed
! her beautiful cheek, like the reflection of
sunset cloud upon the clear waters of a quiet
lake. Her lover, as he casped her hand
within his own, gazed on her few moments
with admiration, and the warm and eloquent
blood shadowed at intervals his manly FORE
head, and melted into beauty on his lip
And they gave themselves to one another,
in the presence of Heaven, and every heart
blessed them, as they went on their way re-
joicing in their love.
Years passed on. and again saw these
lovers. They were seated together whore
the light at sunset stole through the half
closed and crimson curtain, lending richer
tint to the delicate carpetng and the exquis-
ite establishment of the gorgeous apartment.
Time had slightly changed them in outward
appearance. The girlish buoyancy of the
on g had indeed given place to the grace of
perfect womanhood, and lips somew hat paler,
and a fainter line of care was slightly percep-
tible upon her brow Her husbands brow, too,
was marked somewhat more deeply than his
age might warrant; anxiety, ambition, and
pride, had grown over it, and left the traces
upon it; silver hue was mingled with the
darkness of his hair which had become thin
around his temples almost to badness. He
was reclining on his splendid ottoman, with
his face half hid in his hand, as if he feared
that the deep and troubled thoughts which
oppressed him visible upon his features
Edward, you are i'll to night said his wife,
in low, sweet, half inquring voice, as she
laid her hand upon his own.
Indifference from those we love is terrible
to the sensitive bosom. 1t is as if the sun of
heaven had refused its wonted cheerfulness,
and glared upon with cold, dim, and for
hidden glance. 1t is dreadful to feel that the
only being of our love refuses to ask our SYM
pathy- that he broods over the feelings which
he scorns or fears to reveal--dreadfu to watch
tho convulsive fears and the gloomy brow,
tho undefinadle shadows of hidden emotions,
the involuntary sigh of sorrow in which we
arc forbidden to participate and whose char
acter we cannot know.
She essayed once more. Edward she
said. slowly. mildly and affectionately, 'the
time has been when you were willing to con
Why. then. my dear EDWARD, Is TINS v,''O'
reserve? You are troubled, and yet rofuse
to tell the cause
Something ofreturning tenderness soften
ed for an instant tho cold severity Of the hus-
band features; but it passed away, and
bitter smile was his only reply.
Time passed on, and the twain we're sePa-
rated from each other. The husband sat
gloomy and alone in the damp cell OF dun :
geon. lie had followed ambition as his god:
and had failed in his high career. lie had
mingled with men whom his heart had loath,
ed, he had sought out the fierce and wrongod
spirits the land and had breathed into them
! tho madness Of revenge lie had drawn MS
sword against his country; he had tanned re,
bellion to n fame; and it had been quenched
in human blood. He had fallen, mseraOIy
fallen, and was doomed to die the death OF
traitor.
The door of the dungeon opened, and a
light form entered and threw herself INTO MS
arms. The softened light of sunset ieIi upon
the pale brow and wasted cheek OF his once
beautiful wife.
Edward. nv dear Edward she said i
have come to save you; J have reached you
after thousand difficulties, and thank God
my purpose is nearly executed"
Misfortune had softened the proud heart OF
manhood. and as the husband pressed bis pale
wife TO his bosom, tear trembled on his eye
lash. 81 have not deserved this kindness, he
murmured. IN the choked tones Of agony.
Edward said his wife, in an earnest, bu'
faint and low voice. which indicated extreme
and fearful debility, we have not momen
10 lose. By an exchange Of garment yot
will be enabled to pass out unnotleed' hast'
or we NAV be too late. Fear nothing Tor mo
, am a woman, and they will not inJure M
for nv efforts in behalf of husband, deare
: than life ITSELF
But Margaret said the husband 'yo'
, look sadly i'll. You cannot breathe the air o
this dreadfull CELL
q oh, speak not of me, dearest Edward
. said the devoted woman. Il can endure any
thing for your sake. Haste Edward, and a
!, will DO well" and she aided, with tremoIlnI
y hand to disguise the proud form OF her nus
: band in females garb.
. Farewell, my love. my preserver. WINS
q pered the husband in the car of the disguise
q wife, as the officer sternly reminded the sun
a nosed lady that the time allotted to her visi
4 had expired.
;. Farewell, we shall meet again. responde
-s the wife, and the husband passed out unsu'
!, pectod, and escaped the enemies OF his hf'
n They did meet sgain-the wife and hu'
. band. out only as the dead meet in the awf
II communings Of ofanothor world. Affection ha
borne up her exhausted spirit until the la
:. purposo Of her exertions was accomplished
. in the safety of her husband-when the bel
=. tolled on the morrow, and the prisoners &c
- was opened, the guards found, in the haoil
~ ments Of their destined victim, tine pale o.
"A beautiful corpse Of the devoted wife
arI
:. S,SeuLAR SURGICAL OPERATIoI.-Tt