The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-03-14

mothers complaints. @
"My love-" said her father, +" Mr.. Hough.
ton has been speaking to me of your marri-
age to-day. Come into my study"
Isabel, pale and red by turns, followed
her father dreading both his acquiescence or
refusal. In one she heard her mothers
sobs, in the other her lovers despair.
"He says, Bell, that you have been en-
gagged about year. We must not be hard
on him. He is naturally desirous to have
the affair settled. What do you say! Will
month from this seem to you too soon for
your marriage!" .g naas. .......
GAS you wish, papa" said Isabel, breath
ing up a spray of honeysuckle. '." .'
"No, no, as you wish, my dear child. Do
you think you would be happy with Mr..
Houghton :! Have you known him long
enough!" .a. -aa'f -r'
eyes, papa; but" .
"But what, love!"
"l hesitate to leave mammal" Cher head
soEIoWluliy OeHL uoWu') | r.
"That is the trial of life, my child" said
Mr.. Gray, in a low tone, his face full of that
quiet sorrow of firm nature which repress-
es all outward expl ession, lest it add dou-
Bile burden on another. "Yet it is one which,
by the nature of things, must be borne. We
cannot expect to keep you with US always !;
and, although it will be dark day to us
when thou art gone, yet if it is for your hap
piness, it ought to be SO for ours. Tell me,
Bell, what answer do you wish me to give!"
"Will he not wait little time yeti" and
the girl crept closer to her father.
81 see must act without you," he said,
smiling and patting her cheek.
"Poor Charles!" she half sighed.
Her father smiled still, but this time ralh-
er sadly, and said, "There, 60 back to your
mother, child. You are baby yet, and do
not know your own mind better than girl
who has to choose between two toys. You
do not know which to leave and which to
take. must, it seems, choose for you.'' .,
so, papa!'' ...a.
"Yes-you need net look SO distressed
Trust to me, and meanwhile-go; your
mother will be wearying for you."
Although this little scene had sunk and
old sorrow deeper into his heart, Mr.. Gray
was, when he joined the family calm, al
most merry. He challenged Charles to a
game of bowls on the lawn, and ran q race
with Isabel round the garden. When he
returned to his wife she told him pettishly,
"that it was marvel to her how he could
be so unleeling. See how she suffered from
this terrible marriage! And yet she had no
right to suffer more than he; but" sighed
the lady, '' no man ever loved as much as
woman loves" ........
Sand don't you think | feel, my dear, be-
cause l don't talk! Can you not understand
the duty of silence! Complaints may al
times be mere selfishness." .
He spoke very mournfully. She shook
her head. ...a.
"People who can control themselves SC
entirely" she said, shave seldom much to
control. fyou felt as do about our darl.
ing child, you could neither keep silence
nor feign happiness
Herbert smiled, but made no answer; ant
Mrs. Gray fairly cried over Isabel's hare
fate in having such an Indifferent father.
| X X X
1t was all settled. Isabel was to be mar
red in a months time. Charles mildly
complained of the delay, and thought fort
night ample time for any preparations; bu
Isabel told him that a month was ridiculous
ly soon, and she wished her father hat
doubled it; "only long very much to SCI
Scotland" They were to go to the High
lands to spend their honeymoon.
Mrs. Gray was entirely inconsolable. Th'
poor woman was not we'll, and her nerves
more than ordinary irritable. She gave her
self good deal of trouble too-much NOR,
than was necessary-and took cold by stand
ing in a draft, cutting out gown for Isabel
which the maid would have done grea
deal better, and not have complained of tn
fatigue of standing so long, which Mrs. Ora.
did all day long. Her cold and her grie
and her weariness made her the most painfu
companion, especially to devoted daugh
ter. She wept day and night, and coughe
, in She intervals. She did not eat, and an
swered every one who pressed any kind Q
food on her reproachfully, as if they had in
suited her. She slept very little, and de
: MED even that little. She was always lar
guild, and excess Of crushed hopes and unre
quilted affection stimulated her into fevel
The marriage day grew nearer. TIL
preparations, plentifully interspersed wit
Mrs. Gray's signs and damped by her tear:
/, savored less Of wedding than Of funera
at which Mrs. Gray was chief mourner. Th
d father, on the contrary-to whom Isabel wa
(; the only bright spot in life, and who woul
4 loose all in loosing her--was the gayest {
t the party. Isabel herself, divided betwee
0 her lover and her parents, was half distract
ed with her conflicting feelings, and ofte
d wished she had never seen Charles Hougt
!, ton at all. She told him SO once, to hi
. great dismay, after scene OF Mysteries an
b faintiDg fits performed by her mother.
Q It wanted only week now to the maj
e riage, when Herbert Gray came down to hi