Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-27

years / had alaost unconssioaslya shssl
ishcd ! awoke from bllssful dream, /
with pfN pal tlrs1ayl NV ea4 les J 4
to "a kecspstk niIn s. LII n
tom Sf tS .SukenI ths dark swat2rj
dashed madly over their uneven bed,
their great depth kept the rsurfsce un-
ruAled. About this time I received an
unexpected proposal Of marriage from
my patron, the principal Of the acade-
my. ! had always stood in some ave
of Mr.. Russell, for he was fifteen years
my senior. Whom he came and sat BY
my side in my little parlor, took my
trembling hand kindly in his own, and
respectfully, but earnestly, told me his
love, my fears all vanished. I raised
my eyes to his, and if it was not sin
eere affection he read from them, it was
so near akin to it as to deceive US both.
Ho drew me to him, and made me rest
my head upon his bosom. I burst into
a flood Ct tears. Oh! how sweet to find
d resting place for my weary head, a
noble bosom where I might weep till
my swelling heart had eased itself Of
its burthen. When l became calm, he
quietly lifted my head, and pressed his
lips to mine. !" Mattie," said he, Che
had always called me Miss Kcndrick, }
" this is the happiest moment Of my
life"
We were married, and FIVE years of
quiet happiness passed quickly away.
| received occasional letters from Mel
lie, who congratulated me, in glowing
terms, upon my good fortune, as she
termed it, adding that she feared l
should forget my humble friends.
But the darkest trial Of my life was
yet in store for me. My husband was
alta cked with a malignant fever, and
in one short mouth | was a widow.
1t is said that the most violent grief
cxhausts itself the soonest. In few
weeks | found myself moving calmly
through my new duties and responsible
tiles. l arranged my affairs and re-
turned to my parents. My first care
was to place my family in easier CIR
cumstanees. Ipaid off the mortgage
on my fathers farm purchased a few
acres; erected new buildings;
furnished the enlarged farm with stock !;
sent my youngest brother to school !;
secured the place l had years before
held in the academy for my elder sis
ter, whom 1 had previously educated !;
established my younger sisters who were
old enough to leave home, at good
school for girls, and replenished the
wardrobe Of the whole family. 1 then
placed the remainder of my money in
the hands Of banker for my fathers
use, if he should require it. My ar
engagements all completed, I found that
I had spent nearly one third of my for
tune. But I did not regret it. [ Was
more than repaid by the satisfaction l
experienced in tightening the burthen
Of my dear parents.
Thus occupied, two years passed.
About this time | received two letters,
one from Nellie, and one from a sister
of my late husband. who resided in a
distant city, both containing pressing
requests to visit them. / determined to
accept both invitations, and my first Wis
it was to Nellie, where | proposed to
spend month or two. In three weeks
l was with her.
For eight years I had not heard one
word Of Alfred Fletcher. Nellie had
never mentioned him in her letters, and
l naturally supposed he had married.
l refrained from mentioning him to
her, and strove to restrain the strange
auttering Of my heart, as I found my
self among old, familiar scenes. l
could not realize the great change that
had come over me since labored as an
humble factory girl could not real
ize that, instead Of a young blithesome
girl in her teens, dependent upon her
own exertions, was wealthy widow
of twenty eight. s
But few familiar faces greeted me.
Changes had come to others as we'll as
myself, l left Nellie a sprightly,
laughter loving girl Of twenty. l
found her buxom matron Of thirty
but cheerful withal and the mother Of
three rosy children. Ef.sE
One day l walked up to see Mrs.
Fletcher. l arrived at the spot where,
ten years before, l had parted with AL
fred. ooh, beating heart, be still |!
he is now Thought y the husband of
another; and I, what am 1, that l
should think Of him % l dared not
trust myself to stop, so / walked as
fast as / could up the lane. Mrs.
Fletcher was overjoyed to see me ; her
manner was extremely affectionote and
respectful. l longed to ask for AL
fred, but dared not trust myself.
A miniature case lay upon the table
at my side. I took it up and opened
it. The blood instantly rushed back to
my heart, and l trembled violently -
1t was likeness Of Alfred, but he was
changed too. The lofty brow had ex-
banded, and the brown curls were
brushed proudly back the once rosy
cheeks looked thin and pale; heavy,
curling beard covered the lower part Of
the face, and the large dark, eyes
looked mournfully into mine. a--za
ssVoc bo 10 obonpo1 Mrs. R,ceo1 I.