Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-02-16
me a few questionsa"
aCertainlY, fair lady. !"

"Were you ever in California;
ssI have just returned from California, where /
have met many strange adventures, which, were
your ears willing, I would relate as OtheHo
told to Desdemonia, his hair breadth escapes!'
The lady's agitation was still visible, though she
Iendeavored evidently to control it.
.sIn truth have, lady. I have laid on couch
of suffering for over year from wounds received
in an affray from a band of robbers-have been
published as dead-have been worth hundred
thousand dollars, and within an hour have seen
the scorching flames shriyel my fortune to ashes"
sa..Will you tell me your real name, sir.''
evil you, kind lady, permit me one glance at
yonr face, or even let me see those lips that speak
$50 sweetlya"
"Not now, sr--n time you may"
son the condition that you sign your real name,
which, if l mistake not, is Edaoard Belden? All,
you start, it is so-it is So"
Speak, am lost in surprise"
II know her whom you have lost. l know your
Josephine, and her last words were: if ever you
see my Edward, tell him loved him better than
life, that from the hour he left me was dead to
all the world"
-"Had she read the rumor of my death. fear
ed after had read the mislaid letters, had heard
of her removal from Quincy, that it had broken
her heart and caused her DEATH"
''She had heard the report, but something whis-
pered to her. heart that you still lived, and-I
ought not to speak it, yet solemnly vowed to her
that would endeavor to find you if you lived, to
bear your blessings, and 8.
The lady paused and seemed still more agi-
tated.
$50 on angel of kindness, 60 on-your words
are more than life to me-" -
"She bade, who had lost noble husband, try
to win and wed you, to be to you all that she
would have been, had she lived to see you.''
"Lady, / am already won-yet in loving you as
Ifeel must, must love her dear memory. This
you will permit-you who were her friend, who
closed her eyes,"
sYes, and you, if indeed we we'd must call me
Josephine, / will love you as we'll; will strive to
make you happy
sYou can, know you can. But now certain
ly you will permit me to see your face''
"No; a whim (for all women have whims,) has
seized me. If you will not consent to it, shall
feel that you have no confidence in me, and if you
do not confide in me before marriage, we may be
unhappy afterwards. t.5-7
tBefore you speak your wish consent to it. 1
know not why, but feel that l love you-that
with my honor, my very life, 1 would trust you
Ask what you will
at is that until the marriage vows are spoken
between us, you do not see my face. That even
at the altar stand yeled.'' @
ssWhat a romantic creature you are. am dy-
ing to gaze upon your face"
ssYou promised to accede to my wish.'
ssTrue, and do. But when shall the happy
hour arrive that will permit to raise that env-
Gus veil, which like cloud that obscures the face
of Menus in the sky, casts shadow my heart. "
"Whenever you please"
"Then let it be to-night-now, soon as we
can find minister to perform the sacred rites"
ssYou are indeed in hurry. Had not been
well prepared by all that dear Josephine had told
me of your beauty, your noble but rather jealous
heart and your manly virtues, should object to
such haste. But as it is, assuring you that love
.s.You bade me call you Josephine. will, for
it is dear name to me. Sweet Josephine, it is
not late. You have two friends, lady an a gen.
tleman, with you, in whom you can confide.
will call carriage, we will take them along as
friends and witnesses, and drive at once to the
Missouri hotel, where lodge. A minister shall
be sent for, we will b e married, then that mask;
oJ IL chs oil hn
thrown into the fire, and your bright eyes and
lovely face, for know you are beautiful, shall
shine out like May sun, as it rises from the
fiowery east.''
"Perhaps you may not find me so beautiful. u
The lady sighed as she spoke.
$50 long. as I hear your sweet voice l shall
love you nevertheless. Go find your friends; be
ready will order carriage.
& x
| 1t was an hour later. In an elegant parlor o
the hotel, before spoken of, stood Edward Belder
still in his cavalier dress, but unmasked, and by
his side the fair stranger whom he had met at the
ball, but she was yet masked His fine form ant
manly face now bronzed by exposure, elicite'
the admiration of all who were present, for he hat
invited the guests of the house to this singula
wedding A scar which scanned his right brow
did not impair his beauty.
The minister arrived; the usual preliminar,
questions were asked-the ceremony proceeded
1 and Edward Belden and his new found love wert
pronounced man and wife. Then all eyes wer
turned towards the bride. AS her husband lai
his hand upon her mask it trembled with excite
4 ment, her form quivering too with agitation.
4 He lifted the mask. Two fearful eyes, tearfu
with Joy, gazed up in his own-a soft voice mur
INJURED, edward, my own Edward!''
i aJosephine, my God! have you come dow