The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-18
MISCELLANE e o q S.
THE TOLLING BELL.

Not many months ago. IN one oi my sum
mer rambes, found myself On beautiful
Sabbath morning the guest Of a worthy AMI
intelligent family, in quiet c"untry village;
The early breakias, was over parents and
chidreh had joined in reading chapter IN
The Bible Mr. Sedgwick, the head OF the
family, had then offered up lervcn' prayer,
nt the conclusion OF which we all arose from
our knees when our ears were greeted by
the clear deep peals Of the ringing church
bell. .... .. :.
$50 latew exclaimed Mrs. Sedswick.
looking at the clock. "Our time pleco must
be slow"
'rhat is mol the first bell for church" re-
Piled her husband solemnly. ''rhere has
been death in the village. The bell is
going 10 toll for Marin Lord"
Such hen is his unhappy end !" unused his
wife. "Well, it will he wrong to mourn his
death. II death was ever mercilul pro'i'
dence, il is so in this case"
lis it a person who had been long sick !"
| asked. -.
Instead of answering my question directly,
Mr.. Sedgwick said,-
There is a very melancholy history con.
nected with that young man. IL Is now
someime since the excitement accustomed
by this strange tragedy died away but the
IollinS of the bell This morning must bIing
il back forcibly to every hear. Perhaps
YOU would be Interested ~ hear The str
ry!p
ration upon which my friend gave me The de.
tails of the following story, which | relate
with only sligh, deviation from the origin
al:-
Martin Lord was once a flower and the
hone of one OF the most respectable families
in the village. His amiablc disposition and
spperior Intellect procured for him uniyer-
sa love and esteem.
Although of slight figure, and pale fea.
lures. which indicated u constitution by no
means robust, Martin was remarkable ior his
uncommon beauty: and indeed his tne no.
ble forehead, shaded by locks Of soft brown
hair. his large expressive blue eyes, straight
nose, with thin Grecian nostIils, and rather
yoluntuous mouth, entitled him IN some mea-
sure to that consideration.
Martin was n grea, lavorile with the Ia,
dies. old and young; but he never showed
auy marked partially to any one, un'il he
came intimate with Isabella Ashton, the
daughter of our late clergyman, who died OF
grei about a year ago. ,
No two beings could be more different.
Isabella was the most lhoughlless girl in the
village. She could have little sympathy
with a person OF such deep ic-lings and ele'
rated intellect as Martin; and beautiful us
she was it seemed strange that he should
huye giyen his love tO her. There IS no
duubt but she was attached to him; perhaps
she loved him as well as she was capable oi
loving any one hut in this Instance, us IN
all others, her affections were secondary to
her love of sarcasm and mischief,
Martin and Isabella had been pointed out
as lovers, by village gossips, ior several
months; he was now nineteen, and she was
of the same age, when the tragedy occurred,
which The toliiug of the bell has recalled to
my memory.
1t was ON an Autumn evening, nearly live
wears since, that Isabella took advantage
of the absence of her father to have social
gathering Of young people at their house :
Martin Of course was present with the iaif'
est youths and maideus and being under
no restraint from the gravity oil the clergy
man who was not expected home TILL late, tue
company enjoyed themselves freely with
tests, songs, and social games. :,
The hour ut which such parties usua lly
broke up had already passed and there was
no relaxation in the gaiety ol the young peo.
ple. when some one mentioned the suhgec, ot
Ghosts, something of that description having
been seen in the vicinity OF the chnrch-yani.
alt is n silly report said Martin. No
body can believe that a ghost was really
seen there; and doubt 1t person here
believes at all in the existence oil ghosts,
"You do, youiseli--you know you do:
Martin. although you are ashamed ofit'
cried Isabella. but Martin only laughed.
"Come now.n continued the thoughtless
pirI :" ] can prove that you have some idea
that such things may exist. Go to the
eburehyard alone in The dark, and then dc.
clare, il you can that you have iels no
fear. "
"And what would that prove"
"Why. YOU will be frightened. though
you should see nothing Your ears would
put your belieI to the test. How could you
be afruid il you did not feel that there was
something to be afraid OPP .n -
81 do not think your logicis tho best in
the world" replied Martin, iaughing.-
{" Men are often troubled with fear, when
their reason tells them there is no cause to
fear. But deny, in the first place. that a
journey to the churchyard, even at midnight
would brighten me in the least" 80"
/ "How brave!y you can talk " said lsa-
bella, iudulging in her customary tone oI