Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-07-27

tlC W itl CuttIIulueSS 10
which she had long been stranger.
For nearly week from the interview
just narrated. no allusion was made in
the presence Of May to the dreaded sub :
ject Of marriage with Cow; and in the
respi te thus allowed her she began 10
hope that her peace would no more be
disturbed by any further recurrence of
those scenes which had lately caused her
SO mech distress and perplexity. And
this hope added to the cheering expecta-
tions she now daily entertained Of receiv-
ing n letter from Ashley, impaired new
But this happy quiet was not long to con-
tnue; and like the decei;ful calm OF ele-
menis which often precedes the fearful
tempest, soon proved to be but the pre-.
lude 10 new and aggravating sorrows.
May said Mrs. Martin one day, as
glancing through the window she saw
her husband approaching the house in
company with Cow; May. did MIR. Mar
tin bring you any letter Yesterday from
the vi.lage!'
ANY letter! no. did he 60 to the vii
liage yesterday? | knew nothing Of it..
Yes, he went, said the other with an
affected common place air. and | tho't
likely he might have found a letter for
you there by this time-but there he
comes himself, and can tell you whether
he inquired for oae-Ill warrant he did
not though. he is such forgetful crea-
ture-say Mr.. Martini she continued.
turning to her husband, as he now enter
ed the room; did you inquire al the posi-!
Office yesterday for letter for May?'
There now!' exclaimed Martin with d
seeming abashed and sell condemning
manner: We'll if that don't beat all! /
should not blame May for ScOlding now
for. of all forgetful fellows. l believe
must be the wofst-Yes, did call at the
office, and got her letter. from Ashley.
| conclude, and here | have carried il in
my pocket ever slnce!'
%, how could you--but where is it,
0 where is IT, eagerly exclaimed the an.
imated girl. starting up and advancing.
Here. replied Martin. pulling out the
letter and presenting it; here it is, and
now we shall see no more of you Till that
is read and re-read dozen times. | sup
pose
As the hungry bird darts upon the lu,.
cious grape accidentally revealed to his
sight while wandering. weary and fam
ished for food. 50 did May upon the val
ued prize before her; and scarce was ii
,,t hor h.( h., hn,
off. with eyes sparkling with joy and tri-
umph to another room. there 10 feast ap.
on its anticipated contents which. in fan
cy. were 10 fill her OWN bosom with de-
light, end at the same time, TO furnish
an ample reputation Of the unjust and
ungenerous surmises of Martin concern
ing the fidelity of her beloved Ashley
No sooner was she alone, than with tire m
bling haste she tore open the seal and
read in the known hand of her lover as
she thought. as follows:
Miss May MARTIN,
Knowing you would expec. letter from
me about this time, and considering il a
duty 10 apprise you of some changes rela-
tive to myself. have thought best to
write to you briefly. On my arrival a;
my old residence, | there met with one
whom omce had considera Bile intimacy.
which was broken off by some misunder-
standing between as, and supposed the
separation 10 be final. The misunder-
standing is now, however. satisfactorily
c'eared up. and with n renewal of &C
quain;ance, feelings which, when with
you | supposed dead. have revived.
presume you would not wish to marry
man who en,ertalns preference for an
other-l think know you too we'll TO be-
lieve you would for moment endure the
thought of such n union. And there
fore it is extremely doubtful whether
return at all to Vermont. have luckily
found man here who has taken my land
settlement off my hands. Do not think
that shall ever entertain any other feel
ings towards you than sincere frierdship
and the highest respect.
WILLIAM ASHLEY.
During the perusal of the first part OF
this unlovelike epistle. the countcnance
of May exhibited surprised and disap
pointed expression. produced seemingly
by the formal and unaccustomed intro
ductory address. as we'll as not meeting
with anything she expected 20 find. Blu.
this impression as she continued soon
changed into a look Of blank bewilder-
meut. like one utterly at loss to COM
prehend the meaning OF the writer. and
it was not till she reached the concluding
line that the painful truth which the
writer with apparent reluctance, seemed
irnpelled by sense TO communicate.
flashed for the first time across her mind
then it was that the paleness Of dismay
spread over the quivering muscles of her
face; and with hurried mechanical kind
of motion she again commenced reading
trembling morc and more violently as
she proceeded till her agitation became
100 great to continue the perusal. she
dropped the fatal letter on the table, and
lifting up her hands with a look of utter
hopelessness and misery indistinctsy ex-
claimed oh! may not this be some dread
ful dream from which shall awake~
And she pressed her hands hard upon the
swelling veins Of her forhead, as if 10 re-
cover her consciousness. No. no. she
at length uttered in tone of despairing
sriei--'no. MOI wretched. o. wretched.
-. .,,l x,;DaJt a,,I Ill H..