The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-06-29


and how he would come in and stir the fire
and speak, il only 10 break the silence
which he thought was breaking the hearts
Of his. master and mistress. 2 And then my
mother would look up with mournful earn
es,ness In my fathers face, and burs
into tears, and my father would soohe her
with loving words, and talk 10 her OF the
old days Of their love, and tell her they
were not forgotten. Noble hearts that had
kept close together all through lie, pressed
eachio the other. Men said my father wa,
cold, and that he was stern and naughty
Perhaps he was so on the worlds side, bu
where his proud heart touched her heart,
and Mary's and mine, il was warm,-how
VAIN |! 1t has grown cold with death since
then
I crossed the sea with Mary. Her hus.
band was kind and gentle, and had almost
forgotten my early suspicious when The ship
reached England. He carried her 10 q
princely home, where left her while l ar.
ranged my business. This occupied the
two months next following,-and when ]
next saw her ] fancied an expression Of
care was on her face. The moment we
were alone, she gave me her usual frank
statement OF all her troubles. She feared
that M'lvor was man OF bad habits, and
she had reason 10 believe that he had had a
disagreement with his father.
The truth ere long came out. He had
long been gambler, and vices Of deeper
die stained his fair name. His father, a
gentleman Of unbending determination, re.
fused him supplies Of money and obtained
al length an order, sending him on foreign
service. In vain did Mary beg on her
knees Of his father remission OF his sem
lence. He was firm, and yet lifted her in
his arms, assuring her that il was all out Of
love for her, and Tor his son, that he had
thus decided. His own plans, however,
were overturned by an unexpected change
in the destination of his son, who was order
ed 10 America.
Mary's position was now not little en-
barrassing. War was declared, and her
husband was an officer in the army which
was invading her country. M'Ivor's treat
ment OF her had grown cold and unkind,
and she was miserable. She had never
known unhappiness before, and her mind
again and again went back with involunia-
~ bitterness 10 The Christmas night few
months before.
Imust hurry on with my history. Her
husband sailed 10 Canada, while she nc.
companicd me 10 New York. 1t matters
nothing now how we managed our depart.
.urs from England. Enough that the old
homestead was glad again when we came
home,, and ,ha, fond arms encrcled US.
The war continued, and Mary heard fre
quen,ly OF her husband, whom she loved
with devotion have never known sur.
passed. II now became manifest that a
fatal disease had seized on her; and at last.
worn Gu, with the progress Of her malady,
as well as with her anxiety, she insisted on
going 10 him. She would hear Of no re-.
fnsal, and The physician a, length confess
ed his belief that il would not harm her.
SO accompanied her 10 Canada, where
M'Ivor then was.
They met with tears ofjoy on her part,
and impaiien, anger on his. There were
reasons why the presence Of wife was ,c
him eminen,ly unpleasan, just then.
With an idolairy Of love, Of which none
but she was ever capable, she yielded 10
his wishes and leit him. But at the very
ins,an, Of entering our carriage we heard
that he was ordered ou, on service, and she
begged me TO stay till we heard The result
Of that expedition.
never knew its object. He, with small
party. entered the forest. Day afer day
passed, and Marys suspense grew in,olera.
BILE. She resolved 10 follow him and, un-
known 10 me, provided herself with The ne
ccssary conveniences, hired party Of men
and then asked me to accompany her.
could nei,he. prevent her going, nor refuse
my services.
M'Ivor and his company were on their
return from the service, which had been
completed, when they were attacked by an
overwhelming force of savages.
They were but Tour to twenty; and with
their backs against a rock, fought bravey
with these fearful odds. Strangely, The
sayages had either no rifles or no ammuni.
iioe, and il was hand TO hand battle, ahe
the English had fred their pistols.
Sou, blows were those their heavy.hilet
hoseman's swords showered on the swar,hy
limbs Of the red men, and they went dowr
by fours, Till only eight remained. Blu
British blood ebbcd drop by drop fromIchan
nels that gave life 10 those stout arms. Amor
one of the brave men fell, struck by I
ha,che, thrown from outside the ring o
savascs, but supporting himself on one arm
as he lay unheeded on the ground, loaded
his pistols, and with uneuing aim shot dowr
two more Of the cowardly foe. As'onished
and dismayed, the surviving six fled, ant
the English remained on the field vic,ors
But a, fearful cost, for M'Ivor's strength
was failing fast.
The others assisted his feeble steps 10 III,
brow of hill, and lelt him there while tho,
wen, 10 seek aid. A fair and placid river
flowed along The base Of The hill, and mur
INJURED pleasantly TO the forest on its banks
A summer twilight came on, and with
came storm OF terrific violence. Th'
dyinu soldier heard The roar Of The ihundU