Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-06-16

the heading of a paragraph, "Californi;
News" one moment she gazed eagerly
at it, then with one cry Of agony, she
sunk senseless to the floor. She hac
read that Edward Belden had been mur
dered by some robbers! For weeks she
was confined to her bed; and when she
rose she was so altered that no one who
had known her but year before as a
blooming bride, could recognized her
now. She disposed of her property in
Quincy and departed, no one knew
whittier, but a rumor soon reached the
city that she died in a convent in St.
Louis.
1t was the most brilliant night of the
season. Xaupi was in his glory. His
saloons were crowded with gay maskers,
who, to the sound of glad music, glided
through the whirling mazes of the dance.
Yet there were some who did not dance,
but enjoyed the pleasure of the mas
querade as much, for covered with
quaint masks, and in an assumed charac-
ter, they conversed with others, who
were as recognizable as themselves.
One finely formed man, dressed in the
garb of Spanish cavalier, seemed par
ticularly to enjoy the sport, for, with
the permitted license of the mask, and
assuming well the gallantry of the char
acter which he personated, he addressed
every lady he met. But, at last, (it was
after midnight, he grew tired. A lady
whom he had more than once addressed,
was seated on sofa, and as she seemed
unattended, he presumed to take seat
beside her.
you seem to be alone, fair Demoi-
selle?" said he.
81 am, sir, but not quite unattended
lady friend and her husband accompa-
MED me here" she replied.
"Do we know each other?" he replied
Your voice sounds familiar to my
ear"
"We are unknown" she replied. '1
know no one on earth; wish to know no
one; came here by the urgent solicita-
ton of friends, not to seek pleasure, but
forgetfulness."
"Forgetfulness of what? You who
are so young and lovely, cannot have
seen that which you would wish to for
get?"
eyes, sir, 1 have; but I cannot for
get.p ~.t -.
r MADAME, beg you to excuse me, l
would like to see your face. l do not
speak in the permitted tones of mask
er, but 1 assure you that l am exceed
ingly interested in you. Your voice
sounds like the music of earlier days
y ur graceful form, that tapering hand,
all cause me to believe you are very beau
tiful. Will you not crafty my desire to
see your face?"
"Excuse me, gallant cavalier of Spain
Il am unknown to all persons except
the two who are with me. wish to re-
main unknown"
"What a charm that very mystery
throws around youl Lady, do not think
it idle curiosity. l beg you to answer
one question. Are you married."
''No, sir; i am awidow."
ga coincidence am widower. /
once possessed one of Gods brightest
pictures, and only was happy when she
was mine"
"Then you loved her?'
"LovED?-the word is too cold. Il
loved her as the miser loves his gold; as
the devoted Christian loves his God; l
loved her only too well. But you seem
agitated, why?"
81 too, once loved-but, sir, excuse
me, l feel that l ought not to talk with
you'll love, HONOR the memory of the
dead"
"Nay, stay, do not rise-do not leave
at least until you do promise to CORES
pond with me-to exchange sympathies
with me-you are the only one but my
lost Josephine whom l have ever felt in
terested in ZOO
"Josephiner" The lady's form trem-
bled as she spoke. Josephine, did you
say?"
"That was the name of the loveliest
wife that ever blessed man. 1t is but |
lately, by the discovery of some old let
ters, that found how much l misunder-
stood her real character. She is now an
angel in heaven-Iam left to mourn her. /
1 came here this night to dispel melan-
choly, to try and forget myself. am
glad l have come, for in you feel that
have found kindred spirit. Will you
let me see your face?''
"'Not now," she replied, in soft tone.
'snot now; perhaps in time may. VIII
you answer me question:"
Certainly, fair lady"
"Were you ever in California;"
al have Just returned from California,
where l have met with many strange ad-
ventures, which, were your ears as viii
ling, l would relate, as 0thello told to
gentle Desdemona his hair-breadth es-
capes by land and sea-"
"Have you had such hair-6readth es-
capes?"
The lady's agitation was still visible,
though she endeaYored evidently to con-
ceal it.
s1n truth / have, lady. l have laid
on couch suffering for over year.
from wounds received In an afray with
a band of robbers-have been published
as dead-haye been worth hundred
thousand dollars-within an hour have
seen the scorcl,;n<r foroae Shrivel NV