The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-09-17


4; morning brain fever had rendered her osors
+ h'e TO all around, and for weeks her life VA
desparedot
n CHAPTER V.
as soon is Ella was pronounced conyalescen
Marvin proceeded 10 settle up the affairs Of he
y father. In dong this, he MT only exhibited hi
= own improvidence mud carelessncss in rrg,rJ +,
D business matters, but the marked solIn,ss an,
, dlsre'pect With which he received the ccnero',
! OILERS OF assistance. and timely su,pcstion. n
? Mr. Berkeley, was the means Of ter,ninn,i,, fin
friendly Intercourse which had existed brtwee,
, the families. was a sad disappointment tc
Rate.o give up She core spondence she had brl,
with her friend, bufher fathers wishes were con
. sdcre1 as imperative commands in his family
: and she dared not disobey To Ella, il wa. hn
one OF many trials to winch she svcn found her
self ccteA
The few thousands which her father hsj iAf
were appropriated "a a matter of course hv b,
husband, and being converted To ready n3onoy
proved tempting bait to the reckless associate,
who had closely insinuateL themselves into n.
favor. "''
Again was he led willing captive TO the ram
ing table, and scarcely week passed bu, le ~
Drought home m state Of intoxicaiion. In vni,
dii Ella use every gentle art to max. hi, botn.
cherished spot, and win him back from w,ory
N vain did she plead with him. and with cl.s
discrimination point out the fearful dangers IA,
path he was now treading. lie would some
tunes listen to her pefsuasions with sprarcnI
attention would express the deepest ropret fo,
his conduct, while perhaps within an hour he
wauid leave her prosencs 10 enter upou soue
rev scene of wee and dissipation.
Under tho circumstances it was no voni.r
that bis business became involved in ruinous con,
l--lon, and his sbunsan; meaus melted ,anidly
away from bis grasp. Ere MANY month, h d
elapsed hs vas bankrupt. ard all wa, CONS
liouse, farniiurc, pictures, books even III. fn,i
| iy SILVER which had belonged to his patents, WAS
sold to the highest bidder
! Aud Tor him, few were the expressions Of sor
row H'sPwn wees AMI Nilful extrava.enee h, i
oeeh 'he nnpoiling causes Of bis downfall, and
the nominal frien3s wb0 with ths clos,ness a.
p'fa'ues had flWns to lin in prosperity, and
heiped to vast. his substance, were the frst IA
turn away with coIdness ana conlempt RI, Lilo
wite-so Young and lovely, aud within, 20 GOOD -
none could look upon her grlish face. in which
trouble and patient resignation were so Aou,,lv
blended, without emotions Of pity mad cordial
svmpathy. For her sake an ayencv was offered
Marvin, with n small salary, but enough WI h
prudent managemenI 10 ensure them comfort
abe living. lbe acceptance OF it reurired an
immediate removal to a small town ia he wr,t
ern part 81 the state, and In few weeks leav
ing the great city far behind they heceme dvoI.
ers 10 lowiy hemc, depetdent upon the,r daily
exeriions fnr support
N'bly did Ella brovc the change of fo,tun.
and bad Marvin exhibited bu! half iha nrplapt
torehough', the cheerful industry, ard firm adj
herence to day which she posses, cd lhev mi,b.
still have been happy. He had Been in meas.
urs aroused from his dream Of folly, but wanted
energy Of Character " encourage hope. Of his
future usefulness.
TwOyea glided away. IT, Ella, thsv had
been years oi toi nf pstieot en- lsrau,s, of heavy
,r'a1s' beautiful babe ID been given to her
h"eep'n", and t' oherub smiles We Ike clcamq
g. heavens own light 20 hor wear soul. A few
brief months !, n s,ed ! @ bosom. n then the
d. a'h angel Cine aud bo.c i; softly 10 the upper
home.
And now she was lone msurrcr. Thein'cn.
psrate hab Of her husband were only checked
at last, by lingering and fatal disease. ln the
weary and sl-eploss hours of Illness the past.
with ITS wasted privileges, and sin corrnled
hours. aprerred before Lin il their stern reality.
and for the first time he fully realized the soem.
nty Of llfe's responsibilities Gladly would lie
have re'raced his crring footsteps but it wss too
late lie died: but with a be'sing on hi, lips
for the devoted wife, whose genial iuGuere.
had ina!'y led his wayward spirit TO green pas.
lures, beside the still waters.
CHAPTER VI.
a majestic stecmsrw was prOu lis ircaiing The
lludsons silvery track On the promenade deck
were gathered motley crowd Here was
groud of fpoticians earnestly discussing the grave
aff'irs Of the nation: within hearing were some
haIfa dozen idle loungers, and at u short dis.
tance newly married couple were affectonately
talking III low tones Of their future hopes and
prospects. Some were reading tb, nuws # tn,
day, or poring over the pages of the last new
novel, others we've holding lively converse, aui
few were silently gazing upon the varied beauty
which lned the quiet shores Among the latter
number was Ella Marvin In all that thronr of
human souls, she felt a sense of Loneliness which
the orphan and chdess widow alone can real
iae. How familiar to her were the passing
scenes. The setng sun was richly crcwniup
with golden tiara the mouDt,in's brow and tvi
light shadow, were slowly descending upon Will .
age vale and flowing river In just such m
hour as this. she had locked upon the same
beautiful localities in essly girlhood, when encir. .
ced by tho protecting care VI her father, and at
a later period rs a trusting bride. Now sll TIA |
tn'e was the same, but changed indeed was the |
aspect Of her life. There was sorrow in the ,
thought, and as il thrilled her heart strngs, the
tear drors fell. But there was no rem0rse, no ,
bitterness or mnrmurng complaint. Size was
still Young, with health, education, and uuwav
ering faith in the never failing goodness Of God !
With these she would trust the future.
While such reverics and feelings had been |
fitting through Elias mind, there was gentle. !
man who, unobseryed by her, had for the last few
been iniertly watching the changing
expressions of her speaking countensnce Her
plain mourning gart, and delicate beauty, might
we'll awaken the curiosity or sympathy Ola
stransei. but such he was not. As she rose
from her chair to leave the deck, her ewes met
his-'Ella Marvin Frank Belk!ey,' were the
involuntary eXclamations Of both
i nave been looking at you for some time
quite undecided rs to your identity, he remarked
until met your glance of recognition
Are you travelling alone 7 he inquired, rather
The quverng lip as she answered
IN the affirmative, revealed to his quick percep
tions her recent bereavement
And what Of Kate I she askei.
Kate has been married several months TO an
old college friend o! mine, and resides at Pbls
delphla, which is also my abiding place. But
she is nearer at present than you i'm Igine left
her little while ago in the saloon yunier com
planning Of headache, but your presence so unex
pectedly will insure speedy cure. Shall 10,
rodnce yon 10 herr.
Ella accepted his proaered arm, aud the next
moment was cordially welcomed by her much
loved friend
so you are going to Albady ss governess,
said Kate, sitera host Of questions aud exvlana.