The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-03

me for my seeming thoughtlessness; for.
give me Tor what am now about to
write.
"Long before I met you, I was be,roth.
ed, by my parents, to Glare Leslie, q gen.
tie, fragile girl, who loved me from child
hood. We wcrelo be married as soon as
| should have completed my travels,
which would have been many weeks
since, had not met you, on what | then
intended should benny last day in Ameri>
ca. Your face attracted NE charmed
me, as woman's never had before.
Estrove to forge, it, to Danish it from my
mind; but could not, AMI | have linger.
ed by your side--havc watched she eyc'.
varying expression of your dear face
have drank in the music of your voice
have told you | loved you.
"Lasl evening, | had just finished a
note to Glare, telling her Of my love for
you, and was preparing 10 visit you,
when received letters which have ava.
kencd me from my dream of bliss TO the
foil consciousness of what have been
doing
"My parents write to NE that Clate's
health, naturally delicate, is fading fast;
that it is her wish to see me, and be my
wife before she dies,
Can | refuse that uest--askcd, per
haps, upon bed Of DEATH and write to
her that loved another? Were | TO do
so, ere one month she would be lying in
the cold grave, and should feel that |
had placed her there.
ooh, Maud! God alone knows the az.
ony have suffered for the last eighteen
hours. The struggle has been very, very
bitter, between my love to you and my du
ty TO her-b but know your noble nature
so we'll, that think you will say have
done right, when ! tell you that have
made arrangements 10 leave America for
England tomorrow, and in all probabl.
,ty shall be married as soon as arrive
there. 1t will be sweeter far sweeter,
for me to feel that have smoothed her
pathway to the grave than to know that
| have shortened her days, and hurried her
there. Still, even now. Maud, if you bid
me remain, | will do so; but I think you
will not.
MAUD, am vely wre,ched and sad to.
day. have done wrong in gaining your
love, and then wedding another. ask
your forgiveness; let my wild, deep love
for you excuse me. Will you not write
me one little line, and tell me am for.
given? Strive to forget ME; eAace me
from your memory, or think Of me only
as on crrng, though loving brother
You are young, and can forget; but IL
never shall, yet | will strive TO be con-
tent if you are happy.
"And now farewell. Oh, Maud, par.
don, forgive, and in your hearts great
depths find some pity for
Pn,Llp VERE.
Manl read the letter to its close with
a rigid, dcath.ike look upon her fece -
When she had finished it, she sat in 81.
lence for some moments; and then, with
half SIN othered sigh, she seated herself
al her desk and wrote:
"PMHp-You have chosen wisely
and though my li(e.hopes havoc been
bound up in you--though you have we'll
rieh crushed and broken my heart, will
forgive you. You have done wrong, but
| will not blame you.
81 could have wished that had known
Of your engagement before now we
should both be spared much sorrow; but
perhaps it is better as i, is. |, at least,
Will not replnc.
"Philip, you have mistaken me, if you
have for one moment supposed would
bid you remain; for never, nerer, though
my heart would break in the sacrifice
though knew that, ere the June roses
bIossomed again, | should be lying in
the silent grave-never would | consent
to be your wife, knowing that my happi.
ness was purchased a, the cost OF an.
others; and that other, one who had
loved you-one who, even now, waits
your coming upon bed Of sickness.
"You say am young, and can forget.
Philip cannot. havenever loved be-
lor--l shall never love again; but will
think Of you Is the loving husband Of one