Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-08-30

by, Florence"
: Florence tried to speak, but Il
words died on her lips. She graspe
ibis hand, while her eyes filed wit
/, tears, and then let him go.
e. All her pleasures were forgotten {
|, she watched the carriage rolling fol
e the door, and she only remembers
how lonely she would be without hin
d She looked back upon two years {
such perfect happiness, that it SCENE
/ less like reality than a pleasau
dream. Long she stood at thoSir
dow watching, as if she expected hir
, to return, but the voices Of the chil
f dren reused her, and she stifled he
own grief and went to amuse an
lcomfort them. Willie thought pap
was real unkind' not to take them
while Edith clung close to Florence
and hoped that papa would be safe OF
the deep water
! Jessie Lawson and Florence Lang
ford were seated in the piazza Of the
pleasant country house they had hired
for the season, conversing. Edith and
Willie were romping with Rover or
the grass, while ever and anon then
clear, joyous laughter would make the
ladies turn and smile.
4 forgive you now, Floy, for mar
rying George said Jessie, fondly.
Gould l have looked into the future,
I should have done just as you did.
At that instant Jessie felt a hand
laid on her shoulder, and, looking up,
saw her husband; bis face was very
grave, and his whole manner betoken-
ed that something serious had troub-
led him.
Jessie he said, in a low tone,
come into the parlor; want to speak
with YOU
He is Jealous whispered Jessie to
Florence as she rose to obey. Now
for matrimonial lecture
Close the door, JESSIE said Henry,
when they entered the parlor. 4 do
not wish Florence to hear what | have
to say now. Poor Floy! We must
break it gently to herr
why, Harry, what is the matter?
George
Yes. The Eagle the vessel he
sailed in was wrecked, and but a few
escaped; a vessel going to Calcutta
took few of the passengers, but the
rest were lost. George Langford's
name is among the missing
Harry had forgotten the open win
dow, and was startled to see Florence
now standing in front of it. She was
cold and pale as marble, her hands
were tightly clenched, her teeth set,
and her whole frame rigid and notion
less. Harry sprang to her side, and
took her hand to lead her in. The
touch broke her stupor, and, with a
single shudder, she fell fainting to the
ground.
For weeks, Florence Langford lay
between life and death; fever and
delirium succeeded her death-like
trance, and her life was despaired OF.
A strong constitution, however, tri-
umphed, and she recovered; but oh,
how altered! The pale, thin face,
seen now nuder close widows cap,
was so wan and sad that few would
have recognized the once blooming
Florence. .s-
Her sole comfort, now, seemed to
be in the children, his children. She
would hardly allow them out OF her
sight, and her whole time was spent
in instructing and amusing them.
Florence Langford had been al
widow just one year. Itwas bright
summers day, and she sat in the
same little parlor where she had first
heard Of he husbands loss. Willie
and Edith were seated on the floor
besides her blowing soap bubbles.
Florence sat watching their innocent
delight as the sun shone on the pretty
globes, and reflected prismatic colors
in them, and then her thoughts flew
back over the last three years; sadder
and sadder grew the pale face, until
Willie noticed it, and leaving bis play,
went softly to her side; EDITH knelt
beside him, with her face laid caress-
ingly against Florance's hand; i
Tell us about papa whispered
Willie. when is papa coming back!'
asked Edith. sHestays so long.
Hush, Edith said Willie. Papa
can never come back; he isdead.'
But Edith shook her head. She
had always maintained that, as papa