Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-04-26
4 TRUE STORY.
BY REV. s. H. FORD.
TConcluded.1
THE BETRoTHED.


Il "'.a THE BErRoTHED. a'.+ is
Three weeks had passed. A note
without a signature was placed in my
hand requesting me to visit a lady
at the hotel, who had just arrived
SuspeetiDg whosit was, / obeyed The
summons, snd was soon in her pres
ence. She was a lovely being, with
I graceful form, and beautiful features,
and about twenty years ,ofage. Her
aspect, though modest and winning,
indicated promptness and decision
You are the person who wrote to
the postmaster at Oak-Groye, she
said as entered. siasH gyag az
The same, and you are Emma, ]
presumed" y4e'tgl fsa = ~, ~
"Sir, may have acted imprudently
in coming here, but when you know
it all, you will not blame me. Where
is he, sir?" ,1a 4ts.3- y.4G
Her eye was. fixed with painful
anxiety upon me, e,as though she would
read my answer before it was uttered.
| hesitated a moment, she saw my
embarrassment and sunk back in her
chair. ss5 -f ~te
81 know not" l at last answered,
show to break to you the painful
"You need mol, sir" she sale, IL know
it all; my forebodings ire realized; ne
is lost" !, - s.. ss ii f.-f..
''Not lost, Miss; there is hope to
cheer the gloom however dark"
She was silent,and bathed in tears
Faithful woman, loved image Of heay-
en-. Oh with what tenderness she
olings through every storm and mis-
fortune to him whom she loves. Though
false, though fallen, unworthy OF the
confidence and affections be has won;
yet her prayers are breatbed for him,
and like mercy, she is ready to bless
and forgive. sd.afe
"Shall we 60 and see him, ,Emma?'
"See him! does he live?' she ex-
claimed,as she arose with excitement.
She leaned on my arm,. as silently
we walked towards the prison, where
George still confined to his cell, was
was rapidly recovering from his dam
gerous illness. We entered the
frowning arch-way that led to the
prison gate. Suddenly the H truth i.tl
flashed in upon her mind, Strange
ly embarrassed, /, had thought she
knew it all. She let 60 my arm,
"What place is this, sir?' Oh! for
mercy sake, tell me what means all
this?" r,iz ',s.,-t:ss !.
trembled with a painful excite
ment almost equal to her own, and
with choking utterance, said
otis the penitentiary; did you not
know he was here" -,
p She uttered a low, agonizing shrek,
which ! never shall forget A death.
like pallor spread over her rigid fea-
lures, and she sunk powerless in my
arms. Her servant had followed US
who assisted me in conveying her to
a little cottage not far, from the pris-
Oh. She soon recovered. The pain
ful story Of his fall, bis crime, ,hispun-
Iishment, had to be repeated: -. !, -.
"Oh sir" she said, while she bitterly
wept. al knew him in boyhood; he
was my associate from childhood, and
even then We vowed to be each others
] Though he was wild and dissipated
| never did ! think he could be guilty
of meanness. But it is all over now
i | bid him forever adieu, ''i 's'
Fl "But can you not forgive him.?
ayes, sir; be never injured me-
"And will you who have thus loved
him throughout long and sunny years
Fl forsake him now in this dark hour ~ e @
sorrows" fsa.;,.-
aOh. if it we're sorrow, the darkes
misfortune, but shame, disgrace, never
God help me,vhy did ] cor come le,lle here! {!
.Ana think you God cannot 'waip'
out forever that disgrace, and MAKE z
hima blessing to you and his. his racer : ,
..Yes, sir; but George is an inildel aI'1e
a .blasphemer; twas that pr1eli'c parted US
and led him to ruin. a.g ts.
...No. Emma, he is a christian; !; II
1.-The darkness Of that prison, with ! I'M .
hand ofaffliction heavy upon hln', ), %
fIhas sought God; be has found mercy
!, his cell has been,tbe birthplace oi ne'
,lhopes, and new principles,and togetn
Ter there, haze wo wept and prayed I'll
1.-The star of hope and Joy bsamed y