True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-04-05

Her husband could not like, nor could
/ Iaccount for the vague feelings of dread
and suspicion with which | regarded him.
There was a want of sympathy, an uncon-
geniality between them, which made my
heart ache for that guileless creature, for
| foresaw for her many years Of bitterness
and anguish; but ere long that bright
head was resting beneath the shades Of
Greenwood, andthe weary spirit had found
rest. How often in after years did the
words of her father recur to her, but it
was too late, and she learned from bitter
experience that Hno union can be prospe-
rous from which a parents blessing Is
Withheld"
When freed from the restraint imposed
upon him by the period of mourning for
his wife's father, Mr.. Walton plunged into
edery species Of gaiety and dissipation,
while his beautiful wife evening altar eve
ming, sat wcarily listening for his return
ing footsteps. She worshipped her hus-
band with the most intense and devoted
love, and to doubt his affection fol, her,
was the most agonizing torture; yet how
could she help doubling when few nights
passed which didnot find him in nclub-rooms
and saloons of pleasure His business was
neglected, and he ewas fast Fastening on in
the downward path but still May clung
to him with fond and gentle love, and stroye
to win him back to his olden tenderness.
No one who met Mr.. and Mrs, Walton in
the gay haunts Of pleasure, dreamed that
her young life was one continued torture,
and that the gay smile was worn to conceal
the breaking heart; but this could not last
long. May was no hypocrite, and could
not conceal the anguish'which hpreyed upon
her health andspirits. She excused herself
from society, and at length prevailed upon
her husband to remove to distant city,
hoping that amid new scenes and cares, she
might forget her sorrows, and also that the
change might prove beneficial to her hus-
band. In their new and splendid home
furnished with every luxury which wealth
could purchase, many attracted by theiI
fashionable exterior, thronged around them
and May saw with pain that her husband
was again surrounded by the same class O.
associates with which he had formerly
mingled. She left no means untried tt
restore him to virtue, but all efforts prov
ing unayailing, she formed nonew acquain
tances, remaining alone in her splendic
mansion, where she held silent communing'
with her own heart until at length he
young spirit, crushed and broken by th'
| cares of earth, learned to look up to Coz
for peace.
Fiye,yea had passed since May Leslie
was welded in the village church at Brook
side; and a wild storm was sweeping il
resistless fury over the home Of Charlie
I Walton. 1t was fearful night! the storm
l spiritrode triumphant on the wailing wind
which swept in ftful gusts over that loft.
mansion, and then died away like the fain
sighings of a lost spirit, while the rain bea
heavily against the easement, where a pal
face, shadowy in its spiritual beauty, wa
pressed close to the window-pane as if t
pierce the darkness.
A silver lamp Of exquisite workmanship
shed soft and chastened light upon th
rich and tasteful furniture Of the apart
ment; and as the clock upon the mantl
chimed the hour Of three, May Walto
turned from the window and murmure
sadly, s'Will he Gomez" How likeaspir
she looked as she paced TO and fro in tbs
lofty room, where the yielding carpet gay
no echo to her hurried footsteps. HI
husband had promised to bewith her earl,
and strangefancy possessed her towcarht
] bridal dress. Again the soft Grape drape
\ its graceful texture around her form, an
the rich lace foated over her white arm
but could that wan and wasted face be II
same which had once peeped forth fro
those dark curls Its spiritual expressic
had 'decpeped, and the same sweet smi
/ hoyercd around herlips, but the glad ligl
! had faded from her eyes, and ashado
nestled in their beautiful depths, and droOl
ed the fringed lids heavily upon the thl
! pale cheek. Rsstlessly she had pushf
back her long curls from her cold brov
. until their rich and tangled masses s'FeI
! her neck and shoulders, while here al
/ there diamond flashed amid their dar
d ness like s'stars in midnightsky.Y Fai
: and weary, she paused insher hurried wal