The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-29

a stab through and through its delica
It heart with the sharp dagger of my res
e Lutte will. It was . time when tea
: might well be pardoned, and I wei
J, without restraint.
q On the table before me lay two note
written that same morning. One q
q them was for Leonard, telling him brie
+, ly the history of my misfortune, my de
termination to relipquish all claims W
on him, and desire to put ii llseyetsa RI
power to act as his generosity would,
feared, prompt him to do. It was
cold methodical letter containing DO
one word to show how desolate my hear
twas while wrote; for L had planner
too unslterably to let irresolution b,
visible anywhere, and that great des
pairieg sob Of farewell that I fain woul'
have flung to him, ere our bark
drifted apart forever, was moulded int
formal leave-taking.
The other missive was for good moth
er and sister, thanking them for theil
kindness to the helpless orphan, anG
praying Heaven to rain.iss richest bless
iDgs upon them all. Neither did say
aught of my plans or destination
hardly knew them myself, only that was
wild, wretched, reckless, and was going
somewhere to live, where no one
had loved could ever find mo-
1t was a bright, autumn day when l
left the humble cottage of my foster rel
atives, never to return. had deceived
them in regard to my intentions, evading
d;rect fAlsehcod, yet giving them to
understand that wished to pass the
day with lady for whom had former
ly worked. They made some objections
saying I was not strong enough for the
attempt; /; but overruled all opposition,
playfully 20 remain over night, and not
task myself by returning
The depot was a mile and halffrom
the village, and I vas too early for the
coach so walked along, thoughtfally
drinking in the fresh air, with dreamy
Inconsistencies CT benefit, wondering
what they would all say after my disap-
pearance became known. [ feared to
look the future in the face I had only
vague, unsettled, half formed purpose
in my mind, on which to depend for ac-
ton, and if that failed, 1 could rot i'm
agine what should do. Exhausted as
I was, however, by sickness, anxiety and
grief, I was in no fit condition of mind
to contemp plate the exigencies, or reject
upon the perplexing situation in which
voluntarily placing myself.
The shril! whistle Of the locomotive
startled me from my disconnected rev.
ervie, as Iueared the depot, and the pur-
pie wreaths of smoke that rolled up sky
ward, seemed to me, as watched them,
like so many huge birds Of i'll omen.
I was just in season, and took my
seat in tho cars, faint and dizzy, yet
compelling myself 70 be strong, and fad
ing amusement in watching the peo-
pie on tho platform, as they parted from
or welcomed their friends Suddenly l
caught sight of well-known form and
familiar face. Ny heart leaped to my
throat-it was Leonard He had been
seeking me, at the very time was fly
ing from him. In that very car, per-
haps by that same window, where 1 sat
trembling with the hope OF escape. and
the fear of detection, he had anticipated
the pleasure of a meeting
1 kept my eyes fastened upon him,
taking in, with almost alteration, every
lineament of his handsome face, every
motion of his proud form. All at cnce,
as if conscious of scrutiny, he look up.
He gave quick, puzzled glance at me.
and turned away. Glad as 1 was to es-
cape recognition, there came along with
my self graduation, bitter certainty of
change that had not been realized in
its full extent before. He would recol
lect that unexpected and unknown
meeting, thought, after he knew all 4;
but whether be would ever search for
me or not did not pause to care
All 1 asked was to get beyond his i'm
mediate presence, I would risk the rest.
The signal was given for starting |
with swift, gliding motion, the cars
flew past the little village where 1 had |
seen all knew of life; and leaning my
aching head upon my hands, I wept |
burning tears.
1t was quiet summer twilight. In
the magnificent parlor of the Sanfords,
a few fading rays of sunset still fingered,
lighting up with dim lustre the rich
carpet and velvet lounges In one cor
ner of the apartment, by a window
overlooking the gardens and summer
house, sat alone, calling back the
past.
Nearly seven years before mad fed
from home and friends and lover, to
knit up the tangled thread of my desti-
ny, among strangers. Nearly seven
years before, my heart had bled under
tho fierceness of bitter trial, and all
over my life had been flung the dark
ashes of desolation. remember it all,
the anguish, the flight. the lono sickness