Amador weekly ledger., 1858-04-24

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keeper And she chafed and fretted in her
gilded fetters, while her restless heart cried
out, Anywhere but home" Must she sit
there in her prison-housc, day after day, list
ening only to the repnings of her own
troubled heart? ? Must the bee and the but
terfy only be free to revel in the bright sun
shine !? Had God made her beauty to ft de
in the sitting atmosphere of darkened par
lars, listening to the complaints Of queruous
old age? Every pulse of her heart rebelled.
How could her mother have thus sold her
How could Mark Ware have so unmagnani-
mousy accepted the compulsory sacrifice
Why not have shown her the world, and let
her choose for her self Oh, anywhere, any
where, from such home.
There was no lack of invitations abroad,
for Mary had flashed across the fashionable
horizon like some bright comet eclipsing all
the regning bellies. No ball, no party, no
dinner was thought success without her
Night after night found her en- route to some
gay assembage. To her own astonshment
and her mothers delight her husband never
demonstrated on the contrary, she often
found upon her table some choice little orna-
ment which he had provided for the occasion
and Mary, as she had fastened it in her hair
or bosom would say, bitterly, He is anxious
that ], like the other appendages of his es-
tablishment, should reflect credit on bis fault
less taste"
Mistaken Mary.
Time passed on. Mark Ware soas patient,
as he promised himself to be. His evenings
ware not so lonely now, for his little babe kept
his company the repreved nurse, only too
glad to escape to her pink ribbons aud a
"chat with John at the gate" 1t was q
pretty sight-Mark and the babe Old age
and infancy are always touching sight to-
gether Not smile or cloud passed over
that little face that did not wake up all the
father in Mark Wares heart and he paced
the room with it, or rocked it to sleep on bis
breast, talking to it, as if it could understand
the strong, deep love of which it was the I'M
conscious object
am weary Of all this" said Marks
young wife, as she stepped into her carriage
at the close of a. brilliant ball. / am weary
of seeing the same faces, and hearing the
same stupid nonsense, night after night.
wonder shall | ever be happy? l wonde
! shall | ever love anything or anybody
Mamma is proud of me because am beauti
full and rich, but she does not love me- Mari
is proud Of me-and Mary's pretty lip curl
ed scornfny. Life is SO weary, and an
only eighteenv and Mary sighed heavily.
On whired the carriage through the de
serted streets; deserted-save by some invet
arate pleasure seeker like herself, from when
pleasure forever fees. Occasionally LAM
> twinkled from some upper window, where
half-starved seamstress sat stitching her lf
away, or broken hearted mother bent owe
the dead form of a babe, which mother
heart could ill spare, although she knew no
y where to find bread for the remaining babe
; who wept beside her. Now and then VIC
: man, lost to all that makes woman lovely
Haunted under the Pickering street lamp:
: while her mocking laugh rang out on th
night air. Mary shuddered and drew back
> there was that in its hoowness which nigh
) make even devils trcmble. Overhead, til
' sentineled stars kept their tireless watch, an
Mary's heart grew soft under their gentle il
% auence and tears stole from beneath her lasl
es, and lay like pearls upon her bosom.
" You need not wait to undress me-" sal
:. Mary to the weary looking waiting maid, {
she averted her swollen eyes from her gaz,
and, taking the lamp from her hand, MAJ
passed up to her chamber. So noiseess WI
the fall of her light foot upon the carpe
that Mark did not know she had entered
He sat with his back to to the door, bendn
over the cradle of his child, till his snoy
n. white locks rested on its cheeks-talking
a it, as was his wont, to beguile his loneines
v "Marys forehead-Mary's eyes - al
: Mary's mouth; no more like your old fatht
,e than rosebud is like a chesnut.bur "a
NJ will love the lonely old man, little one; an
III perhaps she will by-and-by; who knows? al
an Marks voice trembled.