The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-14
NO. 34l.
For the National Era.
MARX SUTHERLAND:
OR,
POWER AND PRINCIPLE.
BY EMMA d. K. N. soUTHwoRTH.
CHAPXXII


You we're not meant to struggle from your youth
To skulk and creep and in mean pathways range
Act with stern truth large faith, and loving will
Up and BIO doing.-LOtoeh
Four years had passed away since Marx
Sutherland and Rosale had taken up their
residence in the village Of Shelton. In this
space Of time many changes had passed over
the village community and the individuals that
composed it. The Territory had been erected
into State-new towns were incorporated
new cities founded-old ones tbrove Shelton
itself had more than doubled in population and
importance. Where there had been but three
or four stores, there were now dozen; where
there had been bat two churches there Were
now five A handsome court house sI00d OH
the site Of the old log tenement whence tho
law il hot Justice, had once issued its decisions
an excellent market-place, well-attended, add
ed much to the comfort Of the citizens; "
ceum-an incipient library and museum, per-
haps-lent its attractions TO the town an ee-
CANT and capacious hotel replaced the rude,
clap tavern of Colonel Garner. Tho
country around the village had become thick
ly settled, and many, many improvements,
which it were tedious to enumerate, had added
to the Importance of the place.
Our friends Mark and Rosalie, had grown
up with the village. Their paper The Tru,
Fireman. and their school, had both greatly
prospered. But no one in the world, except
Mark himself knew how much of this prosper
ity was owing to the cheerful hope the firm
faith, the warm zeal, the untiring perseverance,
of Resale. And at times he wondered at tho
power of that pale, fragile creature-for sho
was still very delicate and frail
His professional business had increased very
rapidly. He could not have specified any day,
OF any suit, from which his success had taken
its impetus-all had been so gradual, 80 pure
| ly the result OF application and perseverance,
rather than of accident or fortune. He felt
that here too there was an outward influence,
an external power, to which he owed much,
very much, of his persistent energy-a power
living by his side that continually threw itself
with all its ardor and force into his purposes
into his soul-warming and strengthening him
| for effort, for endurance. His success grew
wonderful. He was already the most popular,
the busiest, as he was also considered the most
able lawyer in the West Though but twenty
FIVE years of age, he was no longer only by
courtesy, "Judge "-he was the presiding Judge
of the court, by the appointment of the Execu-
tive He had been elected to the State Senate
he had been named as candidate for Gov
ernor And he felt and knew that from the
quiet, fair and fragile being at his side, he drew
continual strength, and light and warmth
that, in addition to his own, he absorbed her
life-her life, that she gave freely to her love.
Her form was Trailer, her face wanner, but
more beautiful, more impressive than ever-for
her eyes were brilliant and eloquent with en-
thusiasm, and her lips touched with fire."
"Not only for you-not only for you-but
for humanity, dearest Mark, wish you to at
tain power and place. You will attain them
and--I shall not die till then" she would
mentally add.
AT the end of the fourth year of their resi-
dence in Shelton, Resale having attained hor
majority, it became necessary for Mark Suth-
erland to 90 TO Mississppi--to Cashmere--on
the part of his wife, for the purpose of maxim 9
q final settlement with her guardian, Clement
Sutherland, and taking possession Of her splen-
did fortune He wished very much that Rosa
lie should accompany him to the South but as
the necessity of her personal attendance might
be dispensed with, and as Mt home the inter-
ests Of their household, their school, and the
J paper, seemed to require the presence of one Of
them, it was decided that Mark Sutherland
should depart on his journey alone
Ii was on cool, pleasant day of September,
that Judge Sutherland set out on his journt J
for the South, Resale had accompanied him
on board the boat, to remain as long as 81 e
might before the steamer should leave the
wharf twas their first separation since Their
marriage and, upon that account alone, per-
haps, they felt it the more sensibly. And as
the boat was getting up her steam, Mark Suth-
erland blessed and dismissed his wife he felt
how wan, how fragile, how spiritual, was h,r
1 n bo aI, ala tkak ~
ment she might be waited from his possession,
from his sight, forever. The idea transf1ed
him with sharp agony but only for little
while.
The boat was ON her way and his thoughts
turned from her no was leaving behind 10
those he was Fastening to meet. This way,
too, was full Of anxiety. Nearly year had
passed since he had heard from any of bis
friends in Mississippi Although be had writ
ten TO his mother regularly, he had received no
letter from her for several months and the
vague reports from Silentshades were not eats
factory. Six weeks had interviewed since his
wife had attained her majority, and they had
advised Mr.. Clement Sutherland to DO prepared
10 give an account Of and yield up the property
left in his care for 30 many years; yet no AT
swer had been vOuchsafed. Rumor also spoke
OF Clement Sutherland az q suspected, if not
ruined man. Full of anxiety as TO the truth of
these injurious rumors and the causes Of this
ominous silence, Mark Sutherland paced tie
deck OF the steamer as it pursued its coura
down tho river.
Ii was on tho afternoon of the sixth day Of
his voyage, that the boat stopped at the wharf
OF the small hamlet Of C, and Mark Suth.
crland debarked, and hired q horse to take him
10 Cashmere. He left bis portmanteau in the
care OF the landlord of the little tavern, and set
out on his ride Leaving the low banks OF the
river to the westward behind him, he rode on
towards the interior Of the State, ascended
line of hills, and, descending the other side,
entered once more the Beautiful Valley Of tie
Pearln Here, them he stood once more upon
the scene of his youths tragedy With the
profoundest interest he looked around. But all
was, or seemed to be, changed Had II really
ever been NO beautiful as it had once seemed 10
him, and had age and decay passed over II
Or had it's beauty been only the glamour
thrown over the scene by youth, and love, and
hope? II might have been his changed and
purified vision for much Of ina gination, en-
thusasm, idcality, had passed away with the
morning Of Marks life, even as the silvery mist
of sunrise pasecs away before the full broad day
or it might have been the waning season, for il
was now late In dry and burning Septem-
Der but the beauty and the glory had depart
cd from the vale. The luxuriapt green fresh
ness Of summer had departed, and the brilliant
and gorgeous magniAcence Of autumn had not
come. All tho observation-disclosures, and shrub
berries, and grassss--was dry and parched 10
the sun, and the very earth beneath seemed
eaieined by tho dry and burning heat. The
springs, ponds, and water courses, were low,
muddy and nearly exhausted and over all
the sun-burned, feverish earth, hung q still,
coppcry, parching sky. You scarcely could
tell which was drycst and hottest--the burning
sky above, or the burning earth below.
II was as poor old field negro said, "liks
an oyen-lid on an ovcnn The Pearl itself was
now marrow, shrunken, siugsish stream, creep.