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

can ever love Lizzie or Susan, or
Mary, as I love Margaret. I do n
think my mother has ever been to n
what mother ought; the cold hear
less world of fashion in which she live
runs like great barrier of ice betwee
US. The only sister I ever had close
her blue eyes in death while was
babe; and so you have become to M
not only the. dearest divinity my heal
acknowledges beneath its maker, but th
type and essence of all womanhood.
repeat i'll do not think I can be ha
thankful enough that in little tim
our lives will be united by ties SO stron
that neither death nor eternity can VI
bind them"
] crumbled the letter in my hand as
finished reading, and crouched down i
the bed, drawing the clothes over me S
closely as to shut out every iota of sun
shine and sweet air. Why should sucl
a man as Leonard Sherbufne, 1 thought
to myself, passed by all the other womel
whom he may have met. to offer me hi
heart ? He found me poor, ignoran
serving girl, with nothing but my look
to recommend me. He poured sunshin,
over my life, till every barren rock anc
desert spot ran out the rose tendrils o.
Ian DyiDaas lna- @ban -. I'D
known all the while, that had my face
been plain as my heart was simple, and
my life lonely, we would never have
been more than strangers to each other.
Were not his last words to me, God
bless you, my beautiful Margaret Pr
What Else could be love for, un :ducated.
poor aud humble ss am did not
care then, if the key was frail one
that opened the portals of his heart to
me. was coufi1ent that at some timo I
should be great and noble woman:
one whom he would not be ashamed to
acknowledge as his wife, even before
he proudest and most accomplished
tLat some time I should win his respect,
IS I had done his admiration that he
would take me to his heart and say
!. ou are all 1 have desired" But
now if he could see me raoa0! bU-
-ied my head in the pillows to choke
back the great sObs of agony that swell
ID up from my heart.
He shall not see me-" I almost
screamed, in my disappointment, as
sudden and desperate thought flashed
through my mind. at is enough that
[ must give him up, without being q
witness to the gradual cooling aud with
travail of his affection. Ills first sud
len start of surprise and pity would
quite kilt me-"
6 But perhaps" suggested a weak
rope, that cluug to him and would not
ct him go SO easily, perhaps his love
Toes lie deeper than the surface, after all;
perhaps he nonld caro- for you all the
ame."
This thought was bitterer than the
'ther. Should I, who had only beauty
o bring to him as dover, in exchange
or the wealth, Injury aud position he
7ould confer upon rne, now that that
7as lost, 60 empty handed to the altar ?
be should, as brave honorable mau,
epeat his offer of marriage, would it be
enerous in me to accept it? How the
'hite veil and orange flowers would be-
ONE that hideous scar upon my cheek
low proud he would take mewith my
isfgured face, before his naughty, fash
,nable mother, and her circle of rich
cquaintances, as the beautiful woman
g had singled out from all her sex,
le only one fitted to be his bride 1
lughed bitter, mocking laugh, as 1
,ought of it.
No! would go away. would spare
i'm tho pain and myself the mortifca-
on of a meeting. I would be gerer
US, even in my grief. Somewhere in
le great world, I knew I could go, and
hile 1 labored for livelihood, GOO
ould help me be the noble woman I
ad planned, even though climbed the
eep alone and maybe, in his own good
me, whether on earth or in the bless
! home beyond, he would fill up the
acant place in my heart with q holy |
lin.
My resolution was taken, my only fear
as, that Leonard would come before l
ould put it in execution. With zeal
is eagerness, / hurried on the cure
hich my own anxiety retarded. 1
'olded the doctor for keeping me SO
ing confined to my room, when, bat for |
lie new purpose that actuated me,
lould have been PROSTATE with weak
ess. l ate when I loathed the sight
I'D smell of food, that they might think
y health returning with my appitite.
walked around my apartment when |
required all the combined energies of
hysical strength and a determined will,
, keep feet steady and my head firm.
had no time to lose, and could not
:op to get we'll naturally. I insisted
pom it that I aooulI recover because 1 |
INST and my haste came near defeat
g>itself several times.
One morning, as I sat alone, after
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