True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-05-30
anxious | should do so.

-NN -" PPO'Ni s1"iVNj AAA' A1Shholu IA
rives in your absence, what shall | tell
him?" said Mrs. Morton, with smile.
"Mother, you must forgive my first
breach of confidence, for was too unhap-
py, too wounded in my pride and love to
speak of what | anu going to tell you,"
said Edith, her listless attitude now aban-
doned for one Of energy, and the usual
musical tones were rapid and more harsh
--'yes, mother, my very first. Mr.. Len
nard will be at Old Point soon after l reach
there. Yesterday received letter from
him, and such letterr' Edith's voice
faltcrcd, but Indignantly driving back the
tears which were filing her eyes, she
drew from her pocket letter, and hand
ingit to her mother, told her to read it.
Whilst her mother arranged her glasses,
Edith sunk back into the chair with d
slight frown and heightened color, and
one could see from the clcnchcd hand how
determined she was te overcome the agita-
ton which was increasing BY her disclo-
sures
"NEw YORK, June, 1877.
"DEAR EDITH,-You must pardon my
seeming neglect in having left unanswered
so long your last, | have been very i'll,
and had it not been for the unexampled
kindness of an American family resident
in Rome, should long ere this have slept
my last sleep. And though barely rceov
cred, feel that my strength needs recruit
ing ere can be considered aught but an
invalid, and will therefore set out for Old
Point Comfort the last of this month.
hope need not assure you that | feel my
exile from your presence most sensibly,
and | anticipate the pleasure of visiting
you in A as soon as | am better |
know, my dear Edith, that this is but a
sorry return for your long and afectionatc
letter to me; but never did excel in put
ting my thoughts and feelings upon paper,
my weakness now, must excuse even this
poor attempt. l know your kind heart
will make every apology for me, and you
will look upon this as only the announce
ment, from myself, of my return to my ma
tive land, aud Of course, to you. Believe
ME, dear Edith, as ever,
Trul y yours, CHARLES" 3D.
Mrs. Morton folded the letter slowly,
and gave it back to Edith.
"He may be as he says, Edith, too un-
well and too weak to write as he wishes"
"Unwcll y said Edith Indignantly
were l dying l would not have written
such letter to him. Yes, l will 60 to
Old Point, and show Mr.. Lennard that I
can resign him, and still live, an deter
mined he shall never triumph in the
thought, that ], a foolish girl, would weep,
and pine away, because he has forgotten
me, hero the tears ran freely from her
beautiful eyes; and, with her voice broken
by sobs, she continued-as she knclt be-
fore her mother, burying her tear-staincd
face in her lap-"and then, dear mother,
| will be all your own Edith again: NO
parting from you, for I will never, never
love any one, or believe in their love as I
have DONE"
Her mother suffered her to weep, know
ing it was the best for that poor, grioved
heart thus to find vent from its bitterness;
but she showed her sympathy in her child's
first grief by her loving words, and by
softly smoothing the ringlets on her hot,
thrObbing brow, and by many tender kiss.
And Edith, with her head resting on her
mothers lap, sat on the floor, as of old,
when little child she would listen to sto-
rics from her parent; and her mother, very
judiciously, sought to impress upon poor
Edith, the instability of all things earthly,
and begged her to lay her griefs, in prayer,
at the feet of that kind Father, who is
never tired Of inviting the sorrowing and
weary to lay their burthons upon him, ex-
horting her to pray for strength, and firm
faith, so as tosay from her hcart-"Though
thou slaycst me, yet will trust in Thee p
Some days were past in preparation for
her trips and, at the appointed time, she
accompanied her cousin Frank and his
wife, The Hygcia Hotel was crowded
with fashionablcs and inyalids from every
section of the Union, and our party found
they had arrived in excellent time for the
fancy ball, to aketplace Che ensuing week.
Edith was only eighteen; and though re-
ally grieved at Charles cold letter, and
supposed faithlessness, yet her indignation
and wounded pride made her still bear up
against her sorrow, at tho thought of rup-
turing her engagement with Lennard--
whom she really loved, with all the warmth