Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-06-16
THE WIDOWS WEDDING.
A Tale OF the ss. LsaIs 1insquernders.
BIZ NED BUSTLSE

r.
earth, when the cloud Of heavens light
ming charged, darkly pals the sky; Sc
she in anger's tempest, when the hearts
storms reign of sorrow falls, loses hel
beauty.
Three years have elapsed since the
scene occurred which opens this story.
In quiet, neat cottage, in the pretti
est part of Illinois, stood two persons, g
lady and a gentleman, who had beer
married six months, who possessed am.
pie means to command all the luxuries
of life, who were each strikingly hand.
some, both young. Yet they were quar-
relling-Edward Belden's eyes were
sparkling with anger, his face was pale,
his lips compressed, his form was quiv-
ering with excitement.
His young wife Josephine, 1.-THE lowell
est belle of her native place was she,
when she won his love) stood before
him with her arms folded over her bos-
ON, which was heaving with emotion
her large, full eye, not liquid with the
dew of love, but cleaning like the eye
of the tigress when she seeks the hand
that robbed her of her young-her small
but graceful form quivering with agita-
ton.
"Sir" said she, Edward, for hus-
band call you no more-I will bear
your intolerant jealousy no more-I will
promenade when l please, go to every
ball of the season, and dance with whom
l pleasep'
"And especially with that Unknown
libertine, Werner, 1 suppose, added her
husband, in sarcastic tone.
81 suppose, if it suits me, sir!''
Josephine, you will drive me mad!"
'1 have no objection, sirl You are
better suited for mad house than la
dy's homel'
Madam, this is going too farl"
81 only follow your example, sir
You have carried your authority too
far. l married you to be your aOjte, not
sLaver'
"You promised obediencel"
."No 1 didn't; skipped the hateful
word!'
Josephine, if persistin this course
we must separate"
''With all my heart, sir!"
"Do you mean this? Are you seri-
ous?''
81 never was more so, Mr.. Beldeni''
"Then your cruelty shall be gratifed
before rightclosesI / will be on my way
to California; go to forget that | ever
knew such heartless woman. jose
phine, turn not away yet, for 1 have
few words which you must hear"
"Jfust, sirg" and her beautiful lips
curled with scorn as she spoke.
Eyes, Josephine, for they are the last
l shall ever speak to you. This is the
first time ever upbraided you, the first
time that my lips ever uttered harsh
word to you, or any of your sex. Il
have been forced to do it by your own
conduct. You have contradicted my
every wish-you have permitted atten-
ton from man whom detest, that no
married woman ought to permit, you
prefer the society of gay friends to qui
ct home. have so much loved you
have
"Sir, / think you have-said enough
I plead guilty to all your charges, for if
l denied them, you would contradict me.
! thought you said you were going?"
81 did, and l will go. Josephine, you
will remember this hour yet, as the un-
happiest of your life. Farewell, and for
everP'
He hurried from her presence. For a
moment she looked after him, his name I
rose to her lips and was half uttered, for
an instant, the woman in her soul seem
ed to impel her to call him back; to cast
herself weeping in his arms, and to ask
a reconciliation, but pride, that chiefest
demon in all human souls, forbade it.
"He will come back, she murmured;
che loves me too well to leave; | will
conquer yet; have done him no wrong.
l have been gay, it is true, but it is my
nature, and the mere polite attentions of
an agreeable man, who is well received, {
should not make husband jealous"
An hour later, she was still alone
Night was drawing on, but he came not.
She had not left her room. She did not
yet know that his luggage had been re-
moved from the house, and that he was
already on the. dark waters of the Mis-
sissippi, aboard the noble steamer Ne
Plus Ultra, speeding swiftly from her.
Two hours passed-she paced ner- /
vously to and fro. Night came on, hour
after hour went by, and, really alarmed,
she inquired of her servants where her
husband was. She was told that an
hour before dark he had embarked on
the boat. 1t required all her mental
strength to hide from the servants what
her heart then felt, and as she went, sick
atheart, pale and trembling, to her room,
she murmured-
'.oh, Sod forgive mel he has gone,
perhaps forever. 1 did not mean to pro-
yoke him to thisl''
Sleep came not to her eyes that night
nor peace to her heart when the sum
arose at morn. She was wretched. MOI
desire for gaiety came to her bosom now:
she had lost her world, for with all her
faults she fondly and deeply loved him
whom she had lost Letter after letter
she dispatched to New Orleans, to Sac
ramento, and other points, hoping tha.
he might receive them, and in these she
implored him to return. asked him te