Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-09
Marrying for Xonsy-A Few Brief Pages
in0WOman'sLiSA
" Annie Maurie I"

"Annie Mauriel"
The lady looked up-she Shareholder eye
filled with sudden light Of Joy, that died q
rapidly as It came, and left them sadly mourn
sul. She half arose from her seat and gath
cred up the waving folds Of her rich satir
dress.
DO not go-I crave an audience :" and I
detaining hand was placed firmly on the snowy
arm Of the lady. That touch thrilled through
her frame. She trembled-she sank, pale and
silent, on the crimson couch. The gentleman
seated himself beside her he gaxed earnestly
upon the lovely cheek, the trembling form
and the regal splendor with which Il was at
tired. "YOur diamonds dazzle me, Annie.
She looked imploringly into his face, but spak,
not. $50 you are married.-EIow long have
you been happy bride?" Happy Did h,
dot know thai he was mocking hcry She
turned her eyes away from him, and said sad
ly-"Six months"
'Six months! Why, you have scarcely
had time yet to look at your bridal gifts '
and the gentleman took up the claboratcIy
Jcwclcd fan that lay on the lap of the lady,
" And your husband, tell me all about him.
lie is young, or he could not share In the or.
dor Of your youthful feelings; handsome. OF
you could not admire him as | feel you do
rich know he is, or you could not luxuriatC
in satin and diamonds. cannot forbear con.
graduating you on your brilliant match, and
wish you all the happiness it can possibly be.
stow"
There was bitterness in the gentlcman's
tone, and the large hot tears sprang into the
eyes Of Annie Mauric. They fell not, but Law
glttcring OIL the lashcs. The gentleman con.
tinucd-" Adeu now to our long walks and
longer talks; our morning readings and our
evening sOngsl Henccforth, your time, your
thoughts, your actions, yourself, belong to
another; but, in the midst Of your splendor
and happiness, will you not give thought to
the past-that past with it's happy hours ~
Annie Maurie's red lip quivered, still she smoke
not. The gentleman continued, and his voice
and words were full Of pathos-" Over that
past you shed glorious light, but my future
you have darkened with shadows intermina.
ble."
Slowly fell the burning tears from the lady's
eyes upon the rich satin of her dress; but she
stirred not, spake not. At length, moved by
passionate impulse, she threw her white
arms upon the marble table beside her, and
laying her head upon them, sobbed convuls.
lively, in all the abandonment of despairing
sorrow. Her golden curls swept over her face
and covered It from sight.
The gentleman looked on silently, but not
unmoved. He longed to soothe the wild storm
Of grief that he himself had called I'D. but
pride and wounded love kept him silent. It
was just retribution, too, that she should
suffer. However wild the tempest might
sweep through her heart. 1t could never march
with such desolating fury a. It had through
htu Had mot Aho ;enV, hoa1 ~ ao.-o... \
on tho young flowers Of his life, and crushed
oil their sweetness out! What now remained
Alasi alas
- The ball, with all its glitter and Joy, its mel.
ody and light, It's fun and folly, was progres
sing without; within was the deep gloom Of
the heart, sobs and anguish. Borne on the
air molOdiOus strains reached the young cou.
pie; the merry dancers were chasing the
glowing hours with flying feet" and joyous
bursts Of meriment echoed around. But they
noted not these sounds, alive only to their
own misery and gloom. Poor Annie Maurie |
in marrying for money, she sowed the seeds
OF SORROW aRd -was-nOw- FOAping the bitter
harvest Of despair. At length she stilled her
sobs, and looking up, said mournfGlly:
"Oh, why did you come here to mock me ?
You know that am wretched."
"YOu are . wife, Annie" was tho cold re.
Ycs,".. she said bitterly, "a wife, and God
pity me-"
the world says you sought It You gladly
bartered yourself for gold; you would not
listen to the voice Of the pure love that dwelt
in your heart; you tramPled on your hOliest
affections, and -"
~ am miserable" she said, looking up at
him sadly. 40, the bitterness Of being the
wife Of one you despisel" She ceased sud.
enly-the light muslin that draped the arched
doorway was moved aside, and q gentleman
entered.
"COme, Annic," he said, "the carriage
awaits u.s."
my husband, she murmured, in low
voice. Charles Lawrence bowed and smiled.
Tie glanced at Annie Mauric; she was busiy
engaged in clasping and unclasping her dia-
mond bracelet She arose hastily and stood
by the side Of her husband. What picture,
half shade The ono figure plain to excess,
bearing all tho marks of approaching age,
awkward, unsightly; the other radiant as the
sunlight with the youthful beauty, graceful
rs the fawn, charming in the joyOusness Of
early girlhood. Revolving picture Husband
and wife. Where was the love that makes
sacred that union-whcrc tho sympathy that
renders it cndurablc-where the congeniality
Of age, Of tastes, Of pursuitsY Where found
the music of that young heart an echo? Not
in the old MANS surely. Type Of . worldly
marriage, there they stood; youth linked to
age with golden, yet calling fctters.
In the Dusseldorf gallery there is painting
by Ilildebrant, of Othello and Desdemonia.-
Tho painter has represented Othello as a no.
gro, black as ebony, and repulsive in the ex-
treme UpOrr this Ethiopian, gazes the re-
fined and lovely DesdemOnis, her eyes filled
with light Of admiring love. As . work ol
art this painting has been pronounced exqui-
site; we nevertheless turn away from Il with
feelings Of unmitigated disgust The reason
is obvious. 1t was with such feelings as these
that Charles Lawrence turned away from the
picture before him. AS he saw the look oil
uncOncealed disgust with which Annie Maurie
took her husbands arm, he felt that her mis-
erable present fully avenged his wretchcd
past ""Go," no murmured, "be clear Of that
day, when In your girlish fOndncss you let me
sever this golden tress as . talisman to keep
love pure and truei" and he twined around
bis finger long cleaning curl. A mournful
smile passed over his face; he gazed ct the
glittering treasure, then advanced slowly To
the glowing CRATE. Before Il he stood irresO.
lUtei the past was upon him with power