The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-03

since. You and Isabella were to young
know all the sorrows OF that dreadful time.
: believe it killed mamma"
In how many families is there some sorrow
ful mystery, some fault committed by ono
, beloved and esteemed member Of the house
) hold, and over which is cast the veil Of siienc
moistened with the secret tears of vain re
gret.
On the day Of the BRIDES arrival at he
future home, and while she was sitting wit
her husband and his children in their com
Portable dning-room, another and very dill
ferent scene was passing in another quartz
of The same town.
CHATTER II.
Our readers must proceed with us alon,
one Of the Oldest and filthest streets o
Brankleigh; where the rumble Of cart,
passing along from the coal-staths and corr
| and iron warehouses, added to the uncouth
cries Of the dirty children playing about in
the mud, and the oaths and loud talking OF
the brutalized men who pursued their several
callings in the midst os the smoke and i'm
pure smells of the place, formed by no means
a fitting atmosphere for one who had to gain
her hard-eurned bread by the labors of her
pen. Yet there she sat, in the close, confin-
ed room of u small lodging, leaning her head
upon her hand, and endeav oring to elaborate
from her confused brain short tale for one
of the periodicals.
"Mary, dearest" called faint voice from
the adjoining bedroom
The authoress obeyed the call with sigh,
which she smothered as she drew near the
bed of the invalid.
"What is it, dear!" she asked, in her most
cheerful tone, as she gently drew back the
curtain. and leaned over the bed.
81 think, Mary, shall be able to get up.
feel little stronger this afternoon, sweet
wife"
THANK God for it, darling. But take care
you are not exerting yourself too SOON"
The sufferer raised himself in the d.
Feel" he said chow much better my pulse
is."
She took his emaciated wrist between her
fingers, and counted its feeble throbbngs.
"Yes, it is improved. Fuller, and not so
ntermitting. How pleased Mr.. Fairlegh will
be to find you so much bettcr!"
"By the by, Mary, where is the paper he
brought me yesterdays"
"Here, love, in the closet. put it out of
your way until it was proper for you to read
it,"
"Have you looked at it! Any particular
news!"
"No, have been too busy. Dearden, the
editor of the 'Lady's Scrap-Book," you know
wrote to me to send him an article on par
ticular subject SO set to at once, and have
been busy at it until now."
swell, that is good news, at any rate
Now, darling, help me to dress"
The invalid was speedily attired in his old
blue dressing gown, and laid on the little
hard sofa in the sitting-room.
"The room feels Close" he said. "Have
you had the window open to-day!"
"No, dear. The carts make such noise;
and, besides, though don't know where it
comes from, there is most disagreeable
smell. | just put my head out early this
and it made me quite sick. So |
closed the window again; and here | have
been writing-writing-all the day, even
while you enjoyed that sweet slumber which
has so revived you. No wonder you feel the
room close. | will set the door open, if you
don't mind that crying child in the opposite
chamber"
"No, never mind. Let us have tea; and sit
by me on the sofa, my dearest. While you
make tea, will have look at the paper"
So Mary gave her husband the paper, and
set handily about her business of preparing
tea. She put two little spoonfulls of congcu
in the pot, with pinch Of carbonate of soda,
to make it draw. Then, going. to the old
mahogany side board, she took from one Of,
the deep drawers at the side small pot of
marmaade, little loaf, and some sugar and
butter. These, with "a pennyworth of cream
which was brought by the mlkman to the
door, and served them for both tea and break
fast, constituted their meal.
Just as the delicate looking little woman
seated herself upon the sofa, as her husband
had requested, and proceeded to pour out the
tea, she was startled by violent exclamation;
and, looking anxiously at him, perceived his
emaciated face all in glow.
"WAat is the matter, dear Henry!" she
said. "What affects you 50 much!"
'oometnlnS that concerns you, mary, mucn
more nearly than myself VINO would have
believed it! What strung things do happen,
to be sure! Iwonder what your sisters will
say TO it,"
give me the paper, dear, and let me see
this wonderful news for myself You are far
too excitable, Henry. Where is the place!
Do show me-"
There, little woman. Who is exctsble !
now!"
Mary looked fondly in her husbands face,
md took his long, thin fingers within her own
while she read:-"On the 18th instant, at !
St. James's Church, Cotterell, by the Rev.
Walter Thomas-." Why, Henry, this is
never my father who has been getting marri-
I'd again.! 1t must be hoax. My poor dear
mother! Surely he would never wish to re-
place her."
"The 18th instant" musngly remarked
he husband. "The l2th;-what is to-day,
oye!"
"wednesday was the 10th. 1t is the 18th. !
There must be some mistake. Why! the pa
per is nearly month old, and we have been