Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-06-06

! no obstacle to their union; on the contrary,
q strong reason for Fastening it. But how
to communicate to madeleine the condition
annexed to the old gcntleman's bequest was
n matter to be gravely considered. Fred
suggested my wife. spoke to her privately
about it, and she called me q Gorgon, for
thinking Of such q shameful thing. No need,
she remarked, Of wounding the dear girls de-
licacy OF all why didn't Fred go to her IA
ther2 he would consent to their union, of
course, under such circumstances and that
was all they wanted. She said we we're cou-
pie geese. I agreed with her, and added,
that, after all, Fred was counting his chickens
before--Here she put her little hands
over my mouth, and pushed me out of the
| room.
"I'rue enough said Fred. "What fool
l was not to think Of that myself" He took
! dozen adieux of NJ Madeleine, obtained her
fathers consent in less than twenty-four hours
and three days after they were the bappiest
welded pair in America. Fred took his bride
TO N a "home station" 70 which he had
the good fortune to be attached, so that no
necessity existed for the "seperation" which
Madeleine feared more than any other thing
in the wide world. "As happy as two pi.
geons on the sunny side of q barn" she wrote
to US shortly after their marriage.
Time rolled on--one, two, three years
Madeleines father died and left her three
thousand dollars--all be possessed; the CO.
veted epauette graced Freds handsome
shoulder; he was proud of his wife, aud she
oil him; but-there appeared no prospect of
possessing the estate in Surrey During our
occasi onal visits we began to notice that, in
spite of their tender devotion to each other.
both wore troubled expression, till at length
Madeleine came to grow pale and thin and
at times, there was quiver in her very smile
when speaking of her husband. Fred told
me, privately, that he thought "that cursed
will would kill his sweet wife" He didn't
care rush, he said to own the whole Of Sur
rey but, as he spoke, he kicked the pebbles
from the pathway with an impatience that
told different story. My heart ached for
them both, and felt rather glad than other
wise, when the news reached us that he had
been ordered to the Mediterranean on a
three years cruise. lie took Madeleine to
Savannah, where she was to remain during
his absence, with the hope that, in the more
genial climate Of the South, her health might
be entirely restored. The letter from my
wife tells the rest of the story. 1t is from
Madeleine, dated at Savannah.
"My dear, neglected Frend,-What q
wicked little wretch your Madeleine has been
X.
long time But this letter is to make up, be-
cause it is to tell you-oh. so much !-prov-
ded (there's always proviso in a woman's
brain, you know you don't leave your hus-
band see it. Promise? Yes? And then
break it Fly! That's just the way | do. |
say to myself, Now, Madeleine, my dear, you
mustn't breathe this to a living sour-and
the very first thing, Fred knows it all strange
that we women are so treacherouS to our
selves!
81 couldn't write to you, dear, when Fred
went away, it was so dreadful to have him go;
and then my health WAS bad. My spirits
we're bad too, for couldn't help feeling all the
time that was keeping him from that estate
in Surrey. Sometimes really wanted to die
for his sake; and then wanted to live for
my own. But we cannot choose, you know,
and it pleased Heaven to keep me here. and
to make me, oh, so unspeakably happy!
Fred made me promise to be cheerful in
his absence. At first it was impossible, but
pretty soon, my natural disposition asserted
its supremacy, and rode, and danced, and
dressed with the rest. All little dreamed
what the dressing would cost me
had been iE Savannah about six months,
when Mrs. H., Of New York. made her ap-
pearance in hoops. AS it was the dawn of
we're in futter Immediately, and ere fort
night had passed, every dame and damsel in
the place was sufficiently pulled out-in the
petticoats-to pay court to Queen Anne her
self. had great difficulty with my hoops
being short, in spite Of heels-and really suf-
fered mariyrdom almost, in vain attempts to
cooper myself within the bounds OF propriety
and dignity. One morning, when Of rather
larger circumference than usual, Lieutenant
McB was announced. ] was sitting at the
secretary, writing to Fred. and had just made
funny sketch Of myself for his benefit, pre-
paratory to giving him my hoop.experience
| rose quickly at hearing the name of my
visitor, upset chair, tilted the poor, little,
surprised kitten heels over head, and, in short
committed so many dwkrdrdneSScSS that my
sell, possession quite deserted me. TO add
TO my embarrassments, the uncomfortable man
was this morning more intolerabe than ever.
lit eyed me from head to foot, with an eX-
preston Of concealed amusement, and-can
you believe it ?-the wretch absolutely asked
| if We had not some idea Of going to live in
Surryl do think that every drop of blood
in these veins rushed TO my face. 1t was in
vain | tried to converse, and at last ! was
about to plead on engagement and beg to be
excused, when he rose, saying that his time
was short, and therefore his call must be the
same that he was en- route for Norfolk,
where he expected to join his ship and sail
for the Mediterranean; that he should pro-
badly see Fred in few weeks, and-glancing
at the secretary would be happy to carry
any message or letter. Now, was really
glad OF the chance, and so, quickly signing and
sealing the halfwritten sheet, gave it to
him, and bade him good morning with great
satisfaction. thought no more of the man
until two months afterward, when there came
package from Fred with a few hasty lines
accompanying, to say that he was just the
happiest husband in the world. He had seen
Lieutenant McB, and was charmed by his
report of my appearance, as well as by my
own sketch. He child me for keeping him so
long in ignorance, and then imp!ored me, as
| valued bis love, to take every possible care
of myself, aud spare no expense whatever
adding, that it was quite likely he should see
me in few months, as the commodore wish
ed to communicate with Secretary d., and
had promised to make him bearer Of des
patches.
"Do you know, was so stupid that Fred's
meaning never reached my brain till opened
the package2 Then it was plain as day