Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-05-06
she's homely Maria, and always will be

early morning till night; and Maria j
keeping heart and hands busily emplo,
ed, strove to Danish all thoughts tbs
tended to make her dissatisfied wit
herself. In the evening. her cousi
came home with a violent headache
and by the day upon which he had SCI
tied with himself to return, he was sic
with raging fever. For three week
was Maria at his bedside, night an
day. She hardly allowed herself t
rest for moment, and all the while di
not neglect overlooking the household
Tor attending to the comfort of her age,
foster parents. And sweeterthantongu
can tell, seemed her ministrations to til
invalid. Her hand upon his burnin,
forehead, her, skin to raise the pillow
and place his head Just as he could Ii
easier; above all her cherry smile, he
quiet manner, never prophesying dan
ger, her untlring attention and almos
| prophet eye-these were dearer TO hin
than ever he deemed such service coulC
| be. 0@. faga
And when the fever had spent its wild
course, and the heart moved languidly
but gently, and it was heaven to feel til,
soft air come in and steal wooinaly oyel
his temples, then he priced the gentIc
girl OF when he had thought so little.
Then almost lost in wonder, he listened
to her liquid voice reading with fine po
etc feeling, his some old .fayoritt
authors-or,. while she sang n
her low, rich tones, some old familiar
ballad. Then he saw the eye kindled
that he had thought so destitute OF the
hight of genius; he noted the metam.
orphesis always visible to the drawing
glance of love, and wondered why lie
had called Maria homely. And at last
when he had so far recovered as to
walk slowly around the house, he could
no longer bear to be away from her pres
ence. The unostentatious manner in
which she performed her household ay-
ocations, charmed him. There seemed
"a glance given to the lowliest domestic
duty, and around her sphere of purity,
the result Of carrying her.~~Qod heart in
to all her works.
Yes, he loved at last; the fastidious,
elegant collegian loved with an inten-
sity of devotion that surprised himself.
lie who had declared that his wife must
be beautiful as an angel, accomplished
and wealthy, found his heart irretriev-
ably given to holnely Maria.
Itwas not long before he told her SO,
be sure, reader; and she, frightened at
this result, yet, she could not deny,
gratified, listened to him with tremb-
ling.
Too generous to take advantage of
what she thought might be the promp-
tings of gratitude, she answered him
with her whole heart--a heart that
had, longer than she knew, belonged to
him.
''You must go back to the city," she
said, smingle againwith its fair daught-
ers, test your love amidst its gay scenes,
and if, at the end of year, you still
wish me to be your wife, | cannot say
no; but till then, let us make no engage
ment. And if you should love anoth-
er" her voice faltered-'Er remember, !
shall never blame you, but live in the
sweet remembrance ofyour love for one
so unworthy as Maria"
Entreaty was useless. Maria was
firm, and Frederick at last consented.
Back to his fathers hall he wandered :;
the young and lovely thronged about
his path, and wondered why they had
no lover in him. Every beautiful girl
whose charms were enhanced by stqr-
ling virtue, seemed yet not so beautiful
as Maria, and he was astonished at his
own immobility, when some new star
of lovliness called for worship. 1t was
because he loved goodness for its own
worth alone--it was because his con-
converse with Maria had made his heart
stronger and purer.
1t was nearing the second evening Of
August. Twilight lay in its red beauty
upon the hills and the forests, and the
beautiful fields about the old familyman-
sion of the Watsons. Within, one heart,
at least beat with expectation. Maria
more restless than she had ever been
before, stood at the open window, strain
ing her vision, sometimes through gath
ing tears.
She was the same sweet girl as of old
and there seemed some change. The
eyes were deeper, larger, brighter; her
brown hair hung iii abundant ringlets,
her dark cheeks ere tinged with rich
hue, her lips were more eloquent. A
dress of white made tastefully, set off
her small and pretty figure to adyan-
tage; but yet there was something
spiritual look born Of devotion to her
her lover. Maria seemed better than
beautiful.
But she was intensely anxious
Every moment she would clasp her
hands and walk neutrality-suspicious.
a little outside the old door, picking to
pieces the red roses, and sweet honey
suckle. What if he came not? She
had no imitation that he would, though
the general tone of his letters was un-
altered. He might not come tonight,
or tomorrow, or in a week; August was
the period specified-no particular day
or hour; and yet it would seem SO much
sweeter if he would come early.
At last the twilight fingered only over
the horizon; the quiet stars came out,
the cricket began chipping under the
hearth, the last tinkling cow-bell had
passed, and ''katy did, hung up her lit
tie trumpet.
Maria turned and entered the par.or,
all fragrant with late roses, late and very
rare. She sat down, and a feeling of
loneliness came over her, she had so
expected him-and oh. if he came not
at all-if-
''Maria, dear Maria"
Oh! how she sprang from her seat,
and turning in another instant, was fold
ed in bis arms. What cared she for
beauty then? Sweet triumph and COM
pletei True to his promise he loved her.