True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-22
EBRoM THE OLIVE BRANcF.lA
: ,. 'a' ISABELLE, '
The Lost and. Restored.
BY LILLIAN LINN.

Had been blessed with mothers
watchfpl love, / might have been other
than | have been had her guiding hand
trained my wayward feet in infancy,
there might have been less hours of
woe in store for me, and fewer blight.
ed years. But no such blessed lot was
mine; she only lived to press her babe to
her bosom and then with kiss and bles
sing tor her husband and child, closed
her eyes on earth for a happier land
My father, too, died in my childhood.
Lett to the care of relatives who indulged
my every whim, | soon leprned my pow.
or. My will was law, my slightest wish
obeyed. Petted, spoiled and seIf-wilIed,
l grew up to womanhood with no wish
ungratifed, no passion unrestrained. and
at the age OF eighteen made my debut in
the fashionable world. Gay, beautiful
and accomplished, was mnch admired,
and for time reigned supreme, the life
and the star of the bright circle in which
! moved. Yet underneath all the pride
and passion of my nature lay an under
current of tenderness and deep feeling,
waiting but for some master hand to touch
the hidden spring aud bid its warm foun.
tains gush forth into new life and beauty.
Sutors thronged around me, and with
honeyed words and hollow hearts, laid
their offerings at my feet; bu, from them
all turned proudly away, save one.-
Gay Lawrence was perfect specimen Of
manhood; handsome digniied and re,
served, SO different from the butterfly
throng; when others hattered he was ST.
lent; when others praised he only
smiled. Yet there was magic power
in the rich tones of his manly voice
which drew me away from the giddy
throug and bound me a captive prisoner
at bis side. though.it his wealth and
spotless name which caused me 10 launch
my barque with his on the troubled sea
Of life, aud learned not till long years af.
terward the whole soul worship which
thrilled my being for him, Surrounded
with every luxury which the most deli
cate taste and unbounded wealth cou(
lavish; with husband who idoized me-
for time our splendid home seemed ar
Eden of bliss. Gradually | withdrew
from the gay world till when two year:
had fswn and sweet babe smiled or
my bosom. thought myself wholly wean
ed from its snares and destinations. L
was new joy to watch the expanding o
that immortal bud, and in ,he few brie
months Of its young exis,ance | expert
enced a new, strange happiness unknown
before. And yet twas little thing
which sundered our hearts and well nigf
wrecked the happiness Of two lives
Had my babe lived my heart might have
remained pure and true, and its stormy
passion waves forever slumbered in Their
sluggish beds. Bul God took my lido
from me, and left my soul-shrne dessolate
watched the closing Of the violet eye'
and the last Autter Of the little life, while
Ger my hear. settled dark despair. II
that hour Of bitterness aud trial, my hus
band forgetting his own great sorrow
strove by new acts of love aud devotion
to break the fatal spell which was destroy
ing my young life. We went more int
society, lrequented places of amusemen
and in scenes of pleasure and excitemen
I strove to drown the memory bell whicl
,oled out their ceaseless chimes on my
soul. We went one evening to hear al
Italian singer-I was enraplured, entran
ced; I marked tie kindle of the gloriou
eyes, as the crowd Numbered their ap
plause, and noticed the rich hue. which
mantled cheek and brow as boquet alle
boquet fell at her feet, and longed lik,
her 10 stand where an admiring worll
should cast their glittering laurels at my
feet. .., ...... .... .-, .,..,.r. ....,.gl
In that hour new ambition fred my
soul; | went from that place with
strange, wild purpose burning within ny
bosom. There was wild sparkle in m,
eye, and an unnatural glow on my usu
ally pale cheek, as on reaching home
made known nv purpose TO my husband
He only smiled at my earnes,ness, say
ing he could never allow the charms 0
his darling 10 be exhibited TO the publ
gaze, and drawing my head down to hi
bosom blealhed soft, soothing words il
my ear, telling me that there must the trea
snre he had wooed and won forever rest
sheltered from The cold worlds snales
All he little knew then, my husband
the fatal spell which had even then tskel
possession Of my soul. 1t haunted m,
night dreams. and day by day gained new
strength upon me till my whole life an,
being seemed centered in that one will
desire. We had many subsequent con
versations on the subject, and by ever
method and entreaty strove to gain m
object, but all to no purpose, he VIII
was gentle and yielding in aught else
was firm and unbending in this, On
day sought my husband with firm re
solve to gain my point even though hi
priceless love should be the sacrifice