Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-24

bosom. l was alone with my deadw
My mother paused, and clasped me wilt
ly to her heart, then releasing me, she cor
tinued: - ...-.-
"Hanne, l know in those early day
your father loved me, as he could iove.-
Not with the worship of the dead, but b
was proud of me, and strove to make m
happy. He suffered much. The wife
whose head rested on his bosom, slept i
her dreams upon another's heart, mike
with grave mould. When he clasped hi
arms about her. ever between their foldin
and and her slender waist, were those col
arms of the dead. pitied him, but M
vey soul was sick unto death; l could no
fein love my heart could never feel. l
was two years, Hanne, before you wa
born. He had learned Of late to seek hi
happiness elsewhere. 1 did not trouble
myself to inquire the nature Of his pursuits
for was grateful to be left alone. Whel
you were put into my arms, l rained tear
of blessing over you, thanking God tina
my hart could love still.
"As l lay there in silence with my eye
shut holding you on my heart, heard hin
say:
"Perhaps this child will win her Low,
for me. God grant it: we may be hap
pier!'
at was vain hope, Hanne, l was cold
er to him than ever. We both loved you
l would hold you in my arms hour afte
hour, raving madly over the dead who
should have been your father. One nigbl
as l held you thus my husband entered.
"Katrine," said he l shall die tonight
die by my own hand. 1 have lost my al
at the gaming table whittier your coldnes.
has driven me. l am sorry for your sake
for the sake of our innocent child, but OF
you deserve little else, woman, who could
sell yourself for station, when your very be-
ing was another'sw
81 knew his reproaches were Just, and
sat still in defiant silence, holding you tc
my heart. For five minutes lie stood 81
lently looking on us. Then he spoke again
with softened tone:
"Katrine forgive me. Perhaps you did
not know your own heart until too late
Let not our parting be in anger. l have
done you many wrongs, but have suffered
terribly. God will judge me, and he is
merciful. Katrine, kiss me once before /
die. Once let me hold you to my heart
You are my wife. Your hatred cannot be
so remorseless as to refuse me this my
last request!'
"Hanne, knew not what demon ruled
me, but sprang up from my seat, l held
you aloft from my arms, and cried:''
"Go! do not touch me! loathe you
1 hate you! But for you my darling would
not have died. Before your coming ]
was happy. Go! You cannot suffer as
have suffered, ever since your hateful lips
called me wife,"
"Then holding you still, I sank down
upon the floor, weak, helpless, in a position
of sobbing. can remember nothing dis
tinctly, but I have faint, indistinct mem
ory of kiss of fire upon my forehead-ot
seeing your baby face covered with pas
sionate caresses, and of being reused from
the darkness of my long faint by the re-
port of a pistol. Your father was dead
Hanne, do not quite hate me. 1 have
loved you, suffered for you, lived in your
life. Ifmy crime was great, the the pun
ishment of my lifelong remorse is terrible ~
I clesped her bowed figure in my arms
and pressed my lips again and again 10 her
flushed brow shuddering the while at the
tho't that fate as terrible had been mine,
but for the story and its warning. Oh, how
much dearer my heart acknowledged her
in the utter hopelessness of her fearful sor-
row, than she had ever been in what l
had supposed, the cold pcrfectness of char
acter.
There was quick ring at the door
Ny mother gathered about her the heavy
folds of her shawl, and, then turning on
me the appealing glance of her fearful eyes,
passed from the room, even as Hunt Hen
nesly entered. He knelt at my feet;
whispered pleadingly of the future Lis care
should make so bright, and involuntarily
l shuddered, as l drew my hand from his
clasp.
.'"Mr. Henesly," said in low, earnest
tone, 81 have heard that tonight which
has made the distinction of this world seem
of little moment in contrast with a calm,
true. love which shall last for eternity.
do not so love you. cannot be your wife! y
Ny words left no room for hope and he
went out silently into the storm. l never
looked upon bis face again. Before the
evening was over, Morgan Philips also
sought my presence, and his errand was
to say farewell. Sitting beside me my
hand in his he murmered -
"Hanne, my beloved, dare not ask you
to be mine but | will not stay and see you
given to another. / leave you to your
bright destiny"
There wasn't much pride left in my
heart then, and / bowed my head upon
his shoulder, and said, in a whisper so low
that only ears of love could catch the
| sound =
morgan, stay; for my sake, stay%
Oh, what an expression of beautiful
light and eagerness, of morning sunshine
broke over his face then. But the rest is
my secret | am Mrs. Morgan Philips now,
| hear of Hunt Hennesly sometimes, stand.
ing among the proudest and tie noblest oi
the land, but bis name brings with it nc
regrets. Dearer than the brightest skies
Of far off Italy, are the blue eyes that meet
my own so lovingly; sweeter than the whole
worlds homage, the tones which murmur
as stand among my idols-"My wife, my
beloyed"
| p.r P,rzz,rn "A far,,,ar onoa t,ld l.;