Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-05-07


of them touched my heart
On looking back, | can see that was alway
waiting with an underlined expectation of some
thing that never came.-Was it for Leander tina
waited? If it was, never acknowledged
to myself, but it was with a terrible panp.
dumb; but very real sorrow, that served as al
excuse for illness. it was so like it. that heart
| after two or three years, that he was married
/ My step-mother wrote it to me-this weddins
news-dilating maliciously upon the wealth
and beauty of the bride, who had come from ,
distant city to live at Holme Place. Upon thu
planting and fencing, the painting and glazing
and identifying of the old house. and upon the
loads of beautiful furniture which the brides
father had sent to re-furnish the old rooms
| l answered weary calmly that Leander Holme
was worthy of any lady in the land, and babe
ner congratulate him in my name, if she saw
him, hoping thus, believed, to disarm, her sus
picions and convince him that had forgotten
my love for him.
went more into society after this, and it was
remarked that / was gayer than had formerly
been was not aware Of it, for only knew
that was striving to forget. / had no other
object in life now
The years seemed very long and weary.-So-
clety did no: satisfy me, and | came to be look.
ed upon az coquette when, one after another,
l rejected the suitors whom my gaiety and bril-
liancy of manner brought to my feet. became
restlessly unhappy, with a craving for some OBJ
Ject for thought and duty that would not find
satisfaction in the life led
AT that time my aunt had severe illness, and
the new cares which then devolved upon me
were very for good me; from this illness She new
er fully recovered and for two or three years be-
tore death came to relieve her from suffering,
and while was busily occupied in administer
ing to her comfort, grew more patient and quiz
ct
Bye-and bye was alone. laid her who had
been all that mother could have been to me for
so many years, in the grave, and l was LETT with
out care or duty. My means were now ample,
for my aunt had bequeathed her property to me
and, except a tender sorrow for the dead, l shoe
have been very happy. But | was not.
brought one of my little sisters to live with
me, very glad to receive her from such a home
| went for her and while on my visit attended
the village church. and from beneath my black
veil saw Leander Holme and the woman who
occupied the place which should have been mine
She was looking pale and i'll. 1t was said she
was unhappy, and that her husband treated her,
although always courteously, with great cold
ness. | felt miserable, a choking feeling, half
delight, half bitterness, at the thought that he
did not love her, but bafiled even my step mo-
theirs curiosity by my impenetrability. | am
sure she did not learn whether took any inter-
est in the dwellers at Holme place.
More years passed. | still had offers though
no longer young. At last determined to accept
one. Arthur Meriden was man worthy of my
estcem-worthy of my love, only that had no
love to give. lie was satisfied when | told him
and promised to be his wife.
But as soon as l had promised the old wretch
ed, waiting feeling, came back. 1t seemed as if
vaguely expected something to interpose and
prevent the contamination of that unholy en-
gagement And, as the day approached, grew
mn tbe1 Eno e,,1
den impulse, determined to go down to my "a
TIERS to look once more upon the old familiar
scenes, the village church and Holme Place be-
fore should have promised away my freedom,
miserable as it made me of thinking of past love
went, and the first sound that greeted me as
entered the village, was the tolling ofthe bell,
and the carriage drew up beside the road, as
long funeral procession passed. In the first car
riage sat Leander Holme, very pale but calm 1t
was his wife-she whom had always thought
as occupying my place-that they ere convey
ing to the tomb
remained at my fathers for many DAYS. not
that hoped or wished to see Leander Holme
but because literally lacked the strength and
energy for my homeward journey. My sole
thought was that now Leander was free If he
stu loved me, he might at some future time,
seek me, but was about to place barrier be-
tween us, and to become the wife of one whom
now knew more than ever l could not love
At last, as the day came that was to start on
my return.i felt that had gone to far to retract
and must fulhl the promise that | had volunta-
rily made to an honorable man. / little knew
that freedom would always have given lie it.
self to secure, was already mine.
L had scarcely reached my home, when a mes
senger arrived to beg me, in the name of Arthur
Meriden, TO go at once to his house. He had
been thrown from his horse that afternoon and
fatally injured. He was still living and sensi-
hi and
only knows how Ireproached myself for the first
intense feeling of gladness that flooded my soul
as heard these terrible tidings.
stood beside him to the last, determined, as
apenanee for my unfeeling joy, to spare myself
no one of his painful though short sufferings-
In a few hours, on the very morning that was
to have dawned upon our wedding, he breathed
his last His death set me free.
Yes, was free, but my freedom did not bring
me any hope. Leander had gone to Europe i'm
mediately on the death of his wife. Holme
Place was closed, and it was said the farm was
getting into ruinous condition as years passed
on and its master did not return. He held no
correspondence with any one at home, except in
the briefest business letters
SO, more years passed away busted myself
in the education of my sister and introducing
her into society, as she grew up beautiful and
brilliant girl, While ceased to feel sensitive to
the title of "old maid" and took my place pla-
eddy among the elders, and brushed my still
luxuriant hair, now thickly streaked with gray,
beneath tasteful cap
had become almost satisfied with my lot, and
had ceased to think very frequently of Leander
HOlme, when | was startled out of my usual
placidity by hearing that he had returned to his
home. The letter that brought these tidings
stated further that he was making many atera-
items and improvements in the old place and
that it was conlectured that he was again about
to bring bride thither.
That old mani" exclaimed my pretty sister,
as she read this ITEM "S:ster Katharine can
you conceive of a man marrying at his age!"
smiled, and reminded the blooming little
beauty that the man she called old, could not be
over forty-five, although it seemed great age
to her. l sighed little as l glanced at the mir
ror and saw my faded features as reflected from
Soon after, my sister married. ! gave herEto
the man whom she had chosen well pleased, for
felt that he was worthy of my treasure But
it was with very lonely, saddened heart, that,
after the wedding breakfast was over, and the
newly welded pair and all the guests departed,
l went to shut myself into my own room.
wept little, for | was growing old and was all
alone, and the future seemed very bleak and
drear to me as / thought what might have been,
what should have been, had been loyal to my
hearts allegiance.
Ny maid knocked at my door. A gentleman
was in the parlor and wished to see me.
'Did he send his card or namel'
"No madam; he said he was an old friend, and
would detain you but few moments"
$50 back and say that | can see no one to-day,
except on business-tel him that my sister has
lust left me-that am not WE'LL
The girl went back and | listened as / lay
for the cang of the street door. But, instead.
il was with feeling of vexation that / heard
her footsteps returning. She came in, and,
perhaps, seeing my impotence of interruption,
laid card in my hand and retired without spea-
king:
"LEANDER HoLME."
The letters swan before my eyes, and trem-
bled so that could scarcely stand, as l tried to
adjust my cap before the mirror. At length.
with unsteady steps, descended to the parlor !;
| opened the door, and stood in the presence of