The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-05-13
SO. DAVENPORT, SCOTT CO., IOWA. THURSDAY MA

mil such blunder as the letting Of one 0
the attics Of his house to that poor youn,
woman with two helpless brats,' nobod,
could understand.
Perhaps Mr.. Shilling could not explail
this to himself lie might have knowr
such poverty could not enrich him. Per
haps the piliful looks Of the applcsn,
coupled with her modest beauty ,ouche,
him.
Pshaw! Mr.. Shilling was above sucl
weakness. We therefore suppose that
Mrs. Shilling being an invalid, her ailec
lonate husband thought she would b.
pleased to have somebody 10 the house Il
keep her company, during his absence
Ye, the poor woman scarcely saw Mrs. S
once week.
Well, things turned out as might hav'
been expected. The poor woman, unable
10 support her little ones with her needle
alas, that painful toll should be 80 wretch
edly paid for! fell into Mr.. Shilling's deb,
Week after week this deb, increased. VIII,
did not the sharp Mr.. S. look TO his owl
interests. Poor man! he must have beer
insane!
But he did begin to come to his senses
when be found that the poor young woma'
was owing him the enormous sum Of ftwelv,
dollars! lie did not ask her for this deb
10 plain words, but he talked very strange
ly, and threw out some insinuations which
frightened her.
Indignant, alarmed, the young mothe
shuddered to think she was under obliga
tons TO such man. To escape his perso
cutons, she saw that a sacrifice she hat
hoped and prayed might be spared her
must be made. She must part with tn
last memento of her lost husbands affec
lion, the betrothal ring!
II was this resolution which cost her 81
much on the night Of agony ! have attempt
ed to describe.
Scarcely had the widow, as she was call
ed, awoke from troubled dreams, and arost
from her couch, on the following morning,
when she heard knock al the door.
Smoothing bsck her disheveIcd hair, she
proceeded wish some hesitation TO open it
Mr.. Shilling bowed and hoped be didn't in
trudc, and said necessity alone could have
compelled him to such step; but he had |
large sum of money to make out, and if sh'
could manage pay him
you knew have no money! exclaimed
the young woman, her bosom heaving an
eyes flashing through gliuering tears, 'Bu
be patient, you shall be paid to-day ever
cent
The sharp Mr.. Shilling pressed through
the doorway; he spoke in a low tone; h'
told her there was no necessity for her 4
make the sacrifice she contemplated, ant
so wen, on until, emboldened by he
speech!essncss, he let fall word, whicl
dropped like burning coal in her heart
She wri,hed with anguish moment, ,hel
all her woman's pride, and Indignation md
anger seemed concentrated in one look o
intense loa,hing and hatred. He, the shar!
Mr.. Shilling, quailed before it, She spoke
not a word but he crawled away abashed
ashamed, conquered and humbed by wo
mans truth!
Il was ensier then for her TO make th'
sacrifice, vet il seemed that her heart wonl,
break, when she gave the ring parting
kiss. Her children, although accustomed
te her tears, clung to her in terror, weep
ing from very sympathy, and wondering
what new calamity had befa!en them
And now that tho ring was sacrificed
her lest resource and only hope taken from
her-what was the poor mother to do, tc
clo,i,e her children and still their cries fol
bread! What light was there-what glim
mering star in the stormy sky Of her fu
,urei