Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-12-16


"That | WILL" | exclaimed, my cheek
burning with shame; sand now" and put
my arms around her and kissed her, edo be
good, and tell me about mamma"
Mrs. Mason stood out against me long
time; but by coaxing brought her around,
and she said, "then you shall know all, my
faults and folly, and perhaps you will des-
p Sc me-"
Never. never!" I exclaimed, my cheek
flushing at the idea; but she only laughed
bitterly. ,--
"Well, Nellie" she said, at length, "when
was o. your age, believed in love;
because | did love one who worshipped me
His name was Temple. You know my
name was Temple once. and Charlie Tenn
pie is my first husbands nephew"
j started in surprise, but only said ego
on.''
"Well," she continued, sif we both had
been humble-spirited, good people, we
probably would have been jogging along in
comfortable poverty now; but we were both
proud and fierce, and, after our marriage,
t family cast US both off; for, Nell, was
the governess and he was the eldest child,
the son and heir, and the hope of the house
was centred in him. As the romance wore
off. and with great difficulty we maintained
rur five children, We began t. see our folly;
reproach followed repro5ch, and quarres
became frequent. His family urged him to
leave me, but he would not; but /, in a fit
of anger one day took my two youngest
children and left him. Soon after he applied
for divorce, and obtained it. Nell, if he
had come to seek me, it would have hum
bled my pride, | should have been a better
woman; but as he did act, al my love turned
to hate; you cannot imag inc the bitter, IN
tense hatred with which | regarded the
whole family. Nellie, ,mylheart was setupon
my boy and girl, taught small school to
support them; and just as Freddie, my boy,
entered college. which by hard exertion
had prepared him for, he died. Oh, ! thought
my heart would have turned to stone, it
closed to every living thing but my beauti-
full girl; she only lived few months after
her brother, then she too left me. D Nell!'i
she cried. bursting into tears, 81 do believe,
in my anguish, | cursed Heaven, and re-
solved TO revenge myself. Yes, | live for
revenge, and it is sweet. The Temple fam
lily saw in afiliction and poverty when
might have helped them. After all this
she wen: on. saying, Il went to Mr. Browns
asS COVER iess to his sop. He addressed me;
but your mamma wanted him, Nell; SO she
told MIR. Brown my story, and as he told me
he didn't wish to marry divorced woman, he
iran sferred his addresses to your mamma.
Nell, was very passionate; am now; and
| was wrought up beyond control. cursed
your mamma and Mr- Brown, and acted
more like a mailman. We'll, ell," she
continued, With assumed gayety, 81 married
Mr.. Mason, rich old miser. and he died
soon after, and lett his money 20 me-"
"And your first husband" | said, "what
of him, and your chidren!'
She gazed abstractedly at me long time
then said, "They all died young; and Fred
erick Temple" and her face darkened as
she called his name, "perishet in India two
years ago; but my children she said, "my
little Angels, they are in heaven; hope to
meet them again"
was crying bitterly. Mrs. Mason bert
down over me and uried ts soothe me- She
stroked my hair, and kissed me, and called
me her darling child. "Dry your tears"
she said, her voice quivering with emotion,
"none but foolish little girl like on would
weep over my troubles. Your mamma sevs
am wicked, Nell" she continued; "you DO
not think SO, do you!'
''No, indeed!' exclaimed, passiunately;
"she does not understand you. | love you
dearly, and am SO very, very sorry for you"
There is pardon for Us all, through Him
who came to save Sinners" she said, in a
low voice, land shall get to heaven at
last"
This was Few belief M4mma's creed
is that We have all to be good certain
length OF time. Well, well, mamma has
not begun yet, and will not bother my
head
Our conversation ended with this. Mrs.
Mason ba de me goodnight, and has left me.
What strange world and who would
think one could live such a romance! The
old adage proves good: "Truth is stranger
than fiction"