M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-10-23
.StltttrO Stories.
HARLTON's FIRST WIFE.
BY LIMA LlNwCoD..

al dent think HarltOn and Alice Lee will
ever marry" said my friend to me The other
day. charlton so well educated. so refined
in his manners, So noble and generous and
go handsome Can you believe he would
think of wedding a poor lorlom glrl-a
sewing girl in his fathers family? ! tell you
'tis ali moonshine when Harlton marries,
it will be one with beauty and wealth his
equal, " and Kate's dark eyes flashed and
her cheek flushed as she spoke
"a queenly beauty and Cieopatress beau
ty-you mean that dark flashing beauty which
carries heart by storm. Oh, Kate! because
Alice is not so sparkling beautiful as your
own proud self, don t call heI plain. Did
you ever see softer, brighter golden hair wav-
ing over lairer, purer brow? Did YOU eve:
see eyes so clear, so laughing, so loving, in
their gaze or a rounder cheek, or pretter
rosy mouth, or moIe graceful form DID
you ever hear laugh that was merrier' or
step lighter than Aie Lees?
"NUw," continued, mschievously, Edo
you suppose Harry HarIton would rather win
this little sunbeam. or the fash OF lightning.
Yousay it is moonshinc. but think it will
be sunshine, if ever Harry and Alice we'd"
"Well perhaps so, said Kate with s ign,
taking up her embroidery, Il suppose She
will do to make his clothes, and do his work;
for my part wouldn't exchange places with
her.
"Do YOU no the reason, Kaie?"
"There, don't trouble ne; you are such O
ouiz;" and Kate took n seat at The OPP
posite side of the room, and we changed the
subject.
think never witnessed more joyous
bridal than that of Harry Harton and Alice
Lee. Harry, with his dark sparkling eyes
and noble brow, seemed the very personilica-
tion of true manliness, while Alice, in her
white bridal dress, with her beautiful brow
wreath with pale orange flowers, shaded by
her snowy veil, seemed the loving, trusting
creature that she was. Sweet Alice how
happy she was, with her noble sOuled high
minded husband, how she loved-yes almost
worshipped him. ltwas wrong,perhaps, yet
that ioyousness subsidized to calm and quiet
peaceluness-a strong, firm and mistaken
love and confidence in the one of her
choice.
1t was pretty little cottage, with wires
climbing over the lattice and ever the window
That was Alice's home after her marriage =
Alice, as was before noticed, was penniless
aud her husband was not very wealthy 50
with one servant To aid them in their garden
Alice ATTENDED 10 the household duties while
Harlton was away at his Office and when
night came, there " as always bright happy
face to welcome him, and charming loving
words TO greet him. o! those days they
passed away. They parted as the waves
glide on they died as stars go down." There
is a little grove with petty white fence
around it--a plain, white marble slab with
simply "Alice Harlton, aged nineteen, engra
we'd thereon. She died young; il is such
the good Father calls home, ever surrounded
by love and tendemess-perhaps TO show
us how vain it is 10 place our affections
here.
Poor Harlton he wondered broken spir
tied man. There stood the little cottage
Another summer had come on. The vine;
clambered again over the window where
Alice year before would wait his return
How lonely, how disconsolate. There was
no Joyous lace 10 smile welcome ther,
was no soft melodious voice to beguile he
evening hours away. For while he gave
up TO solitude and sorrow; then came fortt
into the worlds gayities as if 10 drown in
mirth the deep heart sorrows.
1t was beautiful evening. / sat alone
in my ruom, and confess my thoughts were
sad Thoughts of loved and lost come tC
mind, and the pure sweet imsge ofAlice was
among them. The door was suddenly thrown
open, and the sparkling, beautiful Kate Ell
tered. She smiled gaily, yet came thought
more gently than usual, and seated heriel
by my side.
"You will be surprised, Mary DEAR" wish
you to be my bridesmaid"
You are then going to be married" ;" ex.
claimed, looking at her dark eyes She only
answered b. laugh, then replied soberly, Il
am going to wed the only man, eyer loved
HAIRY Harlton.
! was struck dumb with astonishmert.
had no answer 10 give. AT last lsaid
"And when 2"
aIn two weeks. You must be sure and not
disappoint me. Let me see; this is Thurs
day. Come put on your bonnet, aud 60 with
mo shopping. We will select our dres-