Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-13

/; She looked curiously at me for a while
then turned and went down without word
r Another dream of life was gone-alas
) what was left now! Only solitude-drear
loneliness. Why should be shut off iron
! the beautiful things of life, having only it.
tolls and weary burdens! And Ada, ft1
whose dear sake had taken up the heav
) lest crsss of life, even she had ceased t
love me! did not weep; only sat there
in silence, feeling, for the first time in IN,
life, it was not SO hard to die young. Their
Ada came up again. Her eyes were full o
tears; and, putting her arms around me, she
said, imploringy,
"Come down. May; Hugh wants you."
"No," said, '.let it all 90 now, Ada; YOU
are to be married. soon and then | will &c
and live with Arthur. You and Hugh will
be so happy-forget all about me-"
"Ol May, May!" aid the beautiful face
wet with tears, was laid against my cheek
81 am SO sorry for what said, and he
would not rest till told you of it. Ever
since Jennie Wilde's marriage have been
tortured BY horrible fear that you loved
him when you met him there, until have
almost hated you; but let it be forgiven,
forgotten; only come down and tell him
that have not forfeited all your love-"
went down with her. Hugh looked anx-
ious, stern, might say; and though he took
Ada in his arms, not feature of his face
relaxed as he said
"My naughty little girl has been telling
me what she said to you; W ill you forget the
cruel words, and love her as you did be-
fore!'
Ada was sobbing, and felt my f-mness
dying away; therefore, said quickly:
"Oh: don't-don't, Hugh; let US talk no
more of it,
"Yes," he continued, little more tender
ly, tive had better finish 1t now. Ada is to
be my wife, and love her better than any
other being on earth; May was to be our
little sister, and share our home until some
one found her better one. Look up, Ada,
and say if it shall still be SO, or if May must
be only a visitor at our fireside."
"No, she must live with u.s." Ada replied,
through her tears; | said long wnlle be-
fore knew you, Hugh, that | married first,
May should share my home and heart. God
forgive the wicked words said to her,"
The old friendship was restored; not
dark shade was .uffered to rest between us.
Hugh treated Ada very senderly; never
felt till then how entirely he loved her; for
with his censure he praised her truthfulness
in coming ts MIN with her troubles, and in
SO 5ravely bearing her faults. We parted
very happily that night, and after he had
gone, Ada chung to me almost in humility.
II there had been any thought in my mind
concerning Hugh Wilton's love, all was
quiet How. turned resolulely away from
The past, and busted myself in preparations
for the future. Ada was to be married short
ly. Mother was anx ous to return to the
country, SO Hugh began to prepare house
fer his bride. She was happy as 4 bird in
all this pleasureable tumrli.
Aunt Wheedon came, bringing a beau
tiful set of jewels. and superintended Ada's
preparations, delighted that she was to
make such good marriage. Then came
the grand event itself; the beautiful bride
was kissed and congratulated, and started
on her tour with many warm, sincere wish
es.
All summer we travelled; it was late in
the fall ere we were settled at home. Ev-
cry thing that wealth, aided by we'll culti-
vated taste, could procure, was brought to
surround Ada, and amid it all she was su-
premely happy; perhaps trae gayer than
Hugh approved of-but she was so young,
so lovely, that he had no heart to check
her.
By-and-by, there came little guest, Per-
cy he was called. after the twin-brother,
who, in far country, seized with pity for
a beautiful Turkish slave girl, bought and
married her. They said the little Percy re-
sembled him, except that he had my golden
curls.
could not tell why this should open a
new era to my life, but it was SO; and, at
times, telt he belonged m,re to me than
the mother who bore him, for her heart was
not in his life. she loved hi i'm very dearly
because he Was her child, and so handsome,
witha; but, in the midst of his caresses,
she would think Of a new dress, or PROM
ised call on some OF her fashionable friends,
and give him to me, saying, playfuly, ''she
could never be as good urse as l."
could see that Hugh was disappointed
in his married life. He wanted a quieter
home, wife who would sometimes devote
herself to him; but Ada was full of the gay
world beyond. Even when Hugh remon-
strated she teazed, or became proud and im-
perious, but always gained her own will
Once tried to reason with her; but she
said, little pe.tishly,
"Yuu don't know anything about it, May;
you have quiet tastes and don't like COM
pany; it's real delight with me. And, af
ter all, only do what every other married
woman in my circle does; no one feels
troubled about them-why should be lee
tured!"
thought perhaps if went away it might
be better, 50 visited my brother, and then
went to spend few weeks with my friend
Jennie, whose married life was like sum-
mer day dream. Ada and Hugh both wrote
for me 10 return soon, for little Percy was
fretting his lie away on account of my alb !
sence.
81 don't think can ever wholly forgive
you for not marrying Hugh" Jennie said,
when we parted.
bell We she understood how it had been
with me.
My absence had not improved affairs
Ada met me warmly; but the tone in which
she said, "Now hope to have little peace
HUGH nnd Percy have done nothing bu! |