Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-06-13

and reluctance, though about to be united
to him who possessed her undivided affec-
tions.
The wedding cero mony over, Mr.. West
bury Immediately took his bride to his elc-
gantly furnished house threw it open for
week to receive bridal visits; and then
gladly oboyed summons to Philadelphia,
to attend to some affairs of importance
On leaving home, he felt as released from
bondage. A sense of propriety had con-
strained him to receive the congratul ations
of his friends with an air of satisfaction,
at least while those very congratulations
congealed his heart, by bringing to mind
the ties which he had formed with one, he
could not love, to the imp disability of his
forming them with one whom he idolized.
When he had been absent about ten days,
he availed himself of an opportunity to
send verbal message to his wife, inform
ing her that he was well, aud should pro-
badly be at home in the course of one or
two weeks but when that pcSiod was draw
ing towards close, his business was not
completed and as homo was the last place
he wished to visit, he resolved to protract
his absence, so long as he had q reasona-
bic excuse. ~ must write, and inform her
of the change in my plan" thought he,
"deccncy demands it, yet how can l write I!
My dear Julia my dear wife No such
thing-she is not dear to me!
She is my wi(e--sho is Mrs. Wes!bury,
she is mistress of my house, and must
share my fortune--let that suffice he-l 1t
must have been for these that she married
me. A namcl fortune an elegant es-
tahlshment | Mean! ambitious heart
less! Thou, Maria-bright, beautiful and
tcnder-thou wouldst't have married me
for myself Alas l am undone O,my
father /" Under the influence Of feelings
Ike these, he wrote the laconic opistlc
which cost his bride so many bitter tears.
1t was at the close of about two weeks
from this, that Julia IVES sitting one even
ing in her parlor, dividing the time betwixt
her work and book, when the docr bell
rang, and minute after the parlor door
opened and Mr.. Westbury entered. With
sparkling eyes and glowing checks, she
sprang forward, her hand half lfextended to
meet his-but his ceremonious bow, and
cord "good evening Mrs; Wcstbury" re-
called her recollection; and scarcely able
to reply to his ciyility, she sank on her
chair. She thought she was prepared tc
see him cold and dist7nt--though she OK
pcctcd it, Notwithstanding all hag s.uci
ruminationa On her husbands inGiIyr,u,e
twards her, there had been ljtLo undal
current Of hope, playing at the bottom o
her heart, and telling her he might return
more cordial than be went. His cold sal
utation, and colder eye, sent her to he
seat, disappointed, sick at heart, and near
ly fainting. In a minute, however, shC
recovered her sclfpossession, and made
those enquiries concerning his health and
journey, that propriety dictated In spite
of himself, she succeeded in some degree
in drawing him out. She was gentle
modest, and unobtrusive; and good sense
and propriety were conspicuous in all she
said. Besides, she looked very pretty
Her figure, though rather below the med
ium size, was very fine, her hand and
foot of unrivalled beauty. She was dres
sed with great simplicity, but good tast,
was betrayed in every thing about hel
person. She wore her dress, too, with {
peculiar grace, equally remote from prccis
lon and negligence. Her features wer,
regular, and her complexion delicate bu
the greatest attraction of her face, was tn
} facility and truth with which it expressed
, every feeling of the heart. When Mr.. W
first entered the parlor, an observer nigh
have pronounced her beautiful; but tn
bright glow of transient joy that then kin
died her cheek, had faded away, and LEI
her palc--so pale, that Mr.. Westbury in
quired, even with some little appearance
of interest, "whether her health was as goo
as usualp Her voice, which was alway
} soft and melodious, was even softer an
sweeter than usual, as she answered "tha
it was" Mr. Westbury, at length went S
far as to make some inquiries relative t
her occupations during his absence, whothc
she had called on the new bride, Mr.:
Cunningham, and other questions of sim
liar consequence, For the time he forge
Maria Eldon; was half unconscious tina
Julia was his wifc-and viewing her onl
as a companion, he passed an hour or tw
very comfortably.