Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-05-10
A Rich Old Uncle and Bilious Fever.
BY OUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

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heart of goodness, as well as personal
beauty.
She was the brightest scholar of Mrs.
IS seminary and was the JOY of her
father, the pride Of her mother, the go-be-
tween and confident of score of little Rays
her noisy young brood of brothers-and
the friend and consider of all the poor and
distressed who came within her knowledge.
Linda was engaged to young Slocum, an
embryo lawyer of fashion and of some talent,
who had only the slender income of his pro-
fession to depend upon, but which, added to
the moderate little fortune of Linda, would
enable the young couple to live "quite com
fortably"
1t was now in the itful month of April
The following June was to witness the bridal
day Of Linda and her lover, upon which event
the happy pair" were to start Immediately
for the springs.
Linda looked magnifcently on horseback
and on this April morning, indulging in Der
favorite exercise, she was sitting like a Queen
of Beauty, glowing with freshness and Ia
diant with JOY, upon the back of her match
less bay-the most knowing and graceful
piece of horse flesh to be lighted upon by
lOnu ana lnuWgchJ parent.
Young Slocum was by her side, and was
descanting upon the beauty Of the morning
queen when suddenly the latter sped from
his sight like the morning breeze. Linda's
bay had taken fright, and was flying through
the air, scarcely touching the paving stones
at fearful speed.
She will certainly be thrown and killed
and Slocum's heart, as he exclaimed thus
or the place where his heart should have been
beat with feeling akin to despair.
When, however Slocum arrived three or
four miles further, towards the edge of the
city, scene met his view that called up
other emotions than those of pleasure at the
safety Of his beloved.
Linda was seated on the turf, reclising
against the trunk of tree. A tall, hand
some stranger was b,nl ling over her, laying
her brow with water, and pouring the mag
netism Of its warm life into her fainting cner
ges.
The look-the strange, mysterious look
that of soul recognising soul, which passed
between them when Linda opened her eyes
and they fell upon him, haunted young Slo-
cum like dsagreeable nightmare for months
The next day the tall, handsome stranger
called on the lovely girl he had rescued from
death, to inquire after her health
Somehow or other it was full three hours
before the "caIl" was concluded Time had
passed so pleasantly in that easy flow of
thought and sentiment, where soul met its
kindred, and both were surprised at its rapid
flight.
Again and again they met, always talking
haI frto
unconstrained and easy was the interchange
of thought between them. 1t generally hap
pened, too, by some strange chance, that Slo-
cum was either out on some fishing excur-
sion or something Of the sort, whenever the
tall, handsome stranger called on the bride
elect.
The middle Of May arrived The we'd
ding day was drawing more near. In maze
of bewilderment the yotng betrothed awoke
as from a sudden dream
DO love him well enough to become
his wfe?' asked she Of her own heart.
Alas deeper depth than the shallow line
Of the groom elect could hope to soundl
But the spirit that had taught her-her
own healt-the meaning Of the word love
the tall and handsome strangeT-he had gone
10 uo lC DuNiiltsS NdilNh
him to a distant country and cline.
True, he had never spoken of love, but
when he was gone, Linda found to her dis
may tlat he had taken her heart with him.
Slocum seemed to her now nothing more
than an automanton man, brainless and heart
less.
But | will be true to honor and my
promise" said the courageous Linda, reso-
utely-"I viii marry him aud make him
true wife; ! will bury my own heart and
its love aud perform my duty faithfully"
Alas! alasl there is many slip betwixt
the cup and the lip"
A rich old uncle of the portionless Slocum
suddenly arrived from the golden East .
sought his nephew made his will, and Slo-
cum, the almost penniless, the almost brief
less lawyer, awoke in the morning a rich
man.
His uncle secuted the idea Of his wedding
the fair Linda, with her very moderate for
tune, telling him that such handsome, ae-
complished and wealthy fellow as he (Slo-
cum could pick a millionaire heiress from al
most every bush His kind uncle bid him
travel and choose from any of the arstocratic
and wealthy beauties of Europe.
Elated with his sudden fortune pulled up
with personal vanity, Slocum followed hiS
uncle's advice, setting with high heart to
cross the ocean for Europe and success.
He dropped careless note to his beloved,
telling her of his determination to travel, and
to leave her free.
Somehow or other Slocum's remittances