True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-07-25
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THE BROKEN VOW.
BY MRS. CHARLOTTE KILBoRN.

BY MRS. CHARLOTTE KILBORN.
"Upon my word, Helen, I verify believ-
cd you had lost your senses, Or that they
had taken an aerial flight, for | have been
standing at the entrance of the arbor a
long time, and you appeared wholly uncon-
scious of it; tell me my dear, for believe
that should now almost claim right to
read your thoughts, where have they been
straying, that the voice of your lover and
betrothed could not recall them Z"
"Oh," said Helen blushing and raising
her dark beaming eyes to his, "they were
only taking little excursion to the York
Factories" "
"To the York Factories you surprise
me Helen, and what is there within those
huge brick walls, and the buzz of spindles
and Gathering of looms and machinery, to
absorb the heart and soul of my lovely
Helen? I was not aware that any friend
of yours was confined within the precincts
of factory yard"
"Nor is there" and coloring still more
deeply, she continued, "But you Know,
Alonzo, that for many years | have been
adependent upon your fathers generosity,
and to you l am betrothed, and in one
year we are to be united, and l cannot, af-
ter receiving so many favors from your pa
reNts, throw myself pcDnyless dependent
and almost beggar, upon their son who
has nothing but his profession to commence
with and | am therefore resolved to quit
for the present my rural haunts, these hills
and glens, and deep shadowy wildwoods,
and more than all, my happy home and
the society of those dear as my life, for
the dull monotony and clamor of a Facto-
ry Yard"
Oh Helen is it possible that you have
come to such determination? You, the
graceful, lovely and accomplished Helen
Mordant Is this the use you would make
of those rare accomplishments, by ming
ling with the low and vulgar factory oper-
atives, and burying your superior talents
in the earth -
"You mistake Alonzo, it is an honora-
bic, or at least, an honest vocation; be-
sides | shall find many worthy and accom-
plished young ladies there, who prefer a
factory life to the calling chains Of power
ty or dependence, aud many, very many,
go there from choice, who have wealthy
parents So you see I shall not be at
a loss for associates. And as for my ac-
complishmcnts, if few months in fac
tory should tarnish them or diminish their
brightness, they surely cannot be founded
upon the pure gem of virtue and piety. |
know, my dear Alonzo, that you will not
love me the less for being separated from
you, although my occupation may not be
quite so congenial to your feelings. Some
perhaps may sneer, and SANDER may throw
her poisonous darts at me, but know that
you have mind far above those who look
upon honest labor with contempt 1t is
with the greatest confidence that shall
leave you, Alonzo, with knowing that yours
is heart too noble for Inconsistency, or
to be changed by the pernicous breath of
SANDER" .....
"You are noble girl, Helen, and if you
60, never for once suffer yourself to think
that | shall be untrue. No; but shall
love you the better for the sacrifice. You
will have my consent to go; not for the
gains of few months of toll, but to give
you an opportunity of raising yourself
from that dependence, which to mind
like yours, l know is intolcrable. 1t is
not for my happiness that I thus consent
to Iart with you, but yours, solely yours,
and with the blessing of heaven leave
you to your most excellent judgement,
which / know will never misguide you.
May you ever be as happy as you are good.
Believe me Helen, when | tell you that l
shall not long deprive myself of the hap
piness of that society which has for years
been day star to all tho hopes, exertions
and dcprivations of the past, and will be
as secret spring to every enterprise Of
the future. Take this" said he, placing
ring on her delicate finger, "take this as
pledge of our mutual love, and my truth,
and as have told you, never doubt my
faithfulness to you Give yourself no un-
essineSs if sometimes you should be dis
appointed in the reception of letter, for
soon after your departure intend to take
up my residence in the little village which
you have so often admired for its pictures
que and romantic scenery, and the respon-
sibility, care and many perplexities attend
ing young and inexperienced physician,
/ fear will sometimes deprive me the pleas,
urc Of Communing with one I would ever
love and cherish, Let us leave the arbor
and return home by the winding path,
shaded by the dropping branches of the
trees we pruned and cultured when our
young spirits were light and buoyant as
air, and We sported fearless and free as
the passing zephyr; fof sec, the sun has
long since sunk behind The range of noun
tainS far to the West, and the moon is al
ready dipping her smiling face in the pla-