The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-10-23


getting late the two friends fastened home
ward to prepare for grand bali which had
been given in honor of Mr. Gray. The bellies
Of the village especially were highly elated
at the prosoect Of introductons, and tete
tetes with the handsome stranger, AS he was
called, and various wero the consultations with
the millncr and mantau maker, and with
each other about dress, ornaments, etc, etc,
they were seconded by their anxious ma
mas who advised them TO put on their sweet
est smiles and bring him captive TO their feet,
il would bc such nice trip down tho o.river
occasionally TO New Orleans, to sec their
daughter and her family. The ball, indeed,
was beautiful affair, the bellies went home
contcntcd, each one thought that she had
made the conquest; and the calculations that
were being made would hayeastonished those
who were uninitiated in such proceedings,
however, they were all doomed to disappoint-
ment. As TO Mary, she seemed perfectly
flSsinatcd, and many and grave were the re
marks of certain spinsteS in the village, for
there many such, certainly no neighbolhood
is complete without such appendagcs, that
MIR. Everett, had better keep bright lookout
ut home, however, il was thought that old
maids must talk about something always, so
no attention was bestowed on their prophecies.
by the way is il not curious that maiden Ia
dies should be such singulary abused part
of the community, not only by their own sex
but by their would be superiois, the weares
of spurs and moustachcs, for my part con-
slider them the best part of society, having
came to the conclusion that shall be obliged
10 be one myself; | must of course advocate
their cause and conciliate their esteem and
good will, else woe unto me.
Ono bright sunny morning, as Mr.. Everett,
his wife, and Mr.. Gray, were sitting in one of
their parlors convcrsing with some friends
Mr.. Gray announced his intention of depart
ing the following week. They were surprised
that he should think of leaving them so soon,
and joining with their friends cndeavorcd TO
persuade him TO remain longer, but he said
he must return home before winter, as thore
were great many places that he had a great
inclination to visit, he had already remained
much longer than he had intended to. 1t
was finally arranged as Mr.. Everett had some
business to transact about so miles distant
that he, (that isl Mr.. Everett and Mary
should accompany him as far rs there. On
the evening preceding their departure Mr..
Gray was suddenly seized with a violent in
disposition, physician was Immediately sum-
moned but il was of no avail, he continued to
grow i'll until all hope was sivcn up of his re-
covering SO us to be able to proceed on his
journey on the morrow. MIR. Evcrct's bust
ness however, was ofsuch a nature that il
could not be postponed, and it was so arranged
that llc should set off the following morning
alone, and Mr.. Gray, and Mary should re-
main until his recovery, when they should go
TO meet him on his way home; and Mr.. Gray
should proceed on his journey, and Mary return
with her husband. Oh! unsuspecting hus-
band, couldst thou have seen the consequent
ces of such an arrangement, thou wouldst
have been the last to propose it, but thou
couldst not for moment suspect her TO whom
thou hadst given thy heart to be guilty of such
periidy. With heart full of love and ancc-
tion to his young wife and her beauteous chill
drcn, Mr.. Everett took leave, imagining not
that the next time he saw her whom now his
heart held so dear, he would spurn her With
his foot as though she Were the vilcat worm.
A few days after his departure she received a
letter from him in which he says, dearest
wife, how incomparably slow the time passes
away while am absent from you. | do not
think that l shall ever venture to 90 away
from home again without taking YOU with
me. The separation has filled my heart with
indescribablc sadness, / do not know but
shall have TO leave my business untransacted
and fly 10 your arms. If write, | gct your
name strangely mixed in, if dream, It's of
you, and when awake, if | think, my tho'ts
are invariably of you, no dearest, il is impos-
siblc for me to be happy when from your
side. Dearest Mary, shall soon bc with YOU"
When Mary received this letter it sc, m ,d
ms though she could not be unfaithful to him
who loved her 80 well, and when she came
to take leave Of her children il did seem MS
though her heart must relcnt and when they
helped her into the carriage, which was 10
conpey her 10 her husband she tainted. Her
parents who were present thought il was love
for her husband which prompted her TO 90,
when it was such trial for her 10 leave her
children. But they were mistaken, she was
in the circle of II charmer.
Nearly two weeks after her departure Mr..
Everett returned alone, having imagined that
something had bcfllen his wiic 10 keep
her away from him. Picture to yourself dear
reader, his CONSERVATION when he learned that
she had been gone n fortnight, Ills lonely
babes came 10 meet him inquiring for mama.
He was obliged to put them ofwth some cx-
euse for the present, which satisfied them
IIc sought lis wife's chamber and found that
she had taken all of her most valuable jewels
with $4,000 in money. In one of her draw
crs he found the following letter:
.'My IIusDANp: How shall impart 10 you
the dreadful truth. You will dispiso me when
1 tell you what have done, but you know
not how l have been tempted and tried, you
know not how, by the most impcrccptible APP
proaches the citadel Of my heart has been tt
| ken 'Tis not that love you less, but love
another more. am mad, mad, mad with
tho bowildering excitement in which | am
! uhirlng, as in the charmed circle Of a facina-
ling serpent. feed that if did live with
YOU my whole life would be rendered misera-
Nile, forgive me, my husband il you can for
pive and optre my forgiveness of yOur Hcav-