Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-30
MAHIN & CT. EMENS.
Is She Happy !!
A STORY OF THE HEART.

'H0W could you come mere to-day 2! was
the greeting that awaited an elegant look
ing young man from lovely woman, who
entered her drawing room at the announce
ment of visitor. "Why abuse the unfor-
tunate power you have gained over me,
Charles ~
81 cannot help it, cannot exist with
out seeing you, Mary. Bid me do any thing
on earth but this What injury am do
ing by mere call /? Have you no pity for
me, or is the opinion and imaginary dread
of the world to usurp every feeling of your
HEARTH was the impetuous reply.
"Eycry feeling of my heart ?" repeated
she, as she sunk on the sofa beside him.
"Did you not promise me to stay away from
here for some time? You appear to have
no regard for my reputation you cannot
havep
"What, because make a call upon you
at m hour when scarcely expected even to
find you at home, and, if at home, surround
ed by people! And even if you are alone,
what il there remarkable in my being here9
l, who have known you from childhood, and
almost like one of your own family, why
should not see you alone % was again the
impetuous reply.
"After the con 'uct pursued towards me
by your family, and after the fact being
known of your feelings towards me, surely
common sense tells you, and religion, if
have any," she exclaimed, in broken ac-
cents, "would tell me that we ought not to
meet. But tell you again, Charles, if any
more observations are made upon me, or if
you give the power by your attentions. to
have me lightly spoken of, Twill part from
you forever, though | should die from the
separation"
"And you call yourself an unworldly per-
son 20 was the taunting reply. ''You,
Mary, say you hate the world why, you
worship it You deny yourself the gratif-
cation Of your best feelings to bow to the
idol of your heart the world
sDo deserve this of you 2, was the
pleading reply, as she rose and walked
across the room to the further end, and
placed herself ut her work table ssSpare
me, dearest spare yourself for we are
only apgmenting the misery we have brought
upon ourselves. If you do not mind my
feing i'll spoken Of
saa'.Who speaks ill of yous' again inter
rupted her lover. Is it not exactly the
reverse? Everybody loves you, and every
body praises you. Are you not thought the
best wife to the most ind fferent, selfish
man that ever lived Are You not loved by
all the poor and wretched in the neighbor-
,ho,d? But you always judge yourself SO
'harshly; ever merciful to others, and ever
-
81, who sin SO Deeply" was the low re-
ply, "may well be lenient to others"
''In what do you sin? Show me another
woman that would have acted as you have
done, What but your goodness and purity
has turned me from evil !? And will bless
you, Mary, dearest Mary, far the change,
even though never aim more to you than
at this moment. And he rose and crossed
to her, and took her hand, which trembled
in his his. After looking at her in silence
for few moments, he dropped the small,
feverish hand, and with sigh turned from
her.
"How selfish am !" he said, after a few
turns up and down the room. 'sShall 90,
Mary?'
"No-no J" she answered, "now you are
here, stay little while, and tell me-nol'
she said, in an entreating tone, as he came
towards her and sat down by her, "not
thGe sit where you ere, and tell me how
you succeeded in your attempt at the Horse
Guards. Is there any chance for you 2''
"Yes, every chances" he replied. sour
regiment is likely to leave England in two
months, and but, Mary, dearest, how pale
you are!' and he few towards her, and
csugh, her as she fell back on her chair
He pressed her to him, and in few moments
a burst of tears relieved her. As he was
supporting her, laundering knock at the
door caused them both to start, and she,
trembling and blushing, rose hastily, say
ing,
"What shall do? Supposing it's your
mother, what will she think Of me ? Wha
shall do? must go to my room shall
meet them on the stars"
s'Shall go?" said he in an angry tone
"for upon my word, one would suppose that
this house was my mothers. What if it is
she, are you not your own mistress !? Can
you not receive whom you please ?''
~ mast go; | shall faint, Charles, if she
says anything to me. But, oh, why did
you come to-day ?" And she ran up stairs
shut herself up in her room, threw herself
on her knees, murmuring and sobbing'
'"God be merciful to me for my poor heart
10 breaking -
Five years previous to the opening of our
tale, our heorine, Mary Hawthorn, the
youngest daughter of professional man of
eminence, residing at the west end of the
town, had made what, amongst her friends,
was termed capital match. She married
Q man who stood well in the opinion of the
world. He was what is termed an sshonor-
able man !" that is to say he would not
aheat his hut ehar or his haLar ua ,;o,ad