Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-03-11
From the New York Weekly Dispatch.
THE FATAL BLOW
by r. c.

1t ii a cod, winter evening, the wind
whistles aud means without; from another
apartment the merry shout and ringing
laugh OF childhood is borne to my ear, but
in their joys have no part. | sit in my
SOLITARY roOm,and as | gaze into the glow.
ing embers, faithful, cruel he rory, tells
ue a0hy sit alone,
From my earliest years | longed for
love aud sympathy. Left alone in the
world, without one friend, how often |
have wished that God had left me a moth
'er or a sister ;aud then my rebellious heart
would blame Providence, that | alone
should be desoate.
But was forced to crush such Thoughts;
and with none Oh whom | might lavish
jIny affection. grew up wild, ungoyern-
able bOy-my temper was like the slum-
berlng volcano, ready at any moment to
burst forth with fury; yet none who look
ed into my face, in my calm moodS,would
have rreamed that in a moment might
be changed into demon. need not tell
where, or how, | met with Ellen, tie
Ibeiutilul-tho glorious embodiment Of al
my dreams. Enough, that she was the
idol Of happy ZONE. can see her
now, her bright eyes filling with tears, as
she listenedto a tale Of woe, and anon,
flashing with Indignation over a recital of
wrong. Aud this high souIed, beautiful
chid-(or she was little more than a'chill
loved, and looked up to me with de-
voton that sumetimes sent pang to my
heart. ...
"Eon," sail, one evening, | trsmbe.
least in takin! you from your h me |
should not make you happy"
S g raisel her confding eyes to mine
and as she nestled closer to lie, softly an
bwered, Il have no fear"
but, darling, you DO not know me, as
am; my temper is like a whirlwind-
md you have no fear that it may over
whelm you?"
"Never mind your temper" she gaily
answere |, 81 will mend that; and | mean
. to make YOU such perfect dove, that you
won't know yourself"
Well, we were married and as / heard
those innocent lips pronounce The VOWS to
be mine-mine forever-my heart swelled
with rapture, and l inwardly swore that
she should never repent that hour. l bore
her to the home which l had prepared for
her, and there, in that simple abode, were
passed the only hsppy days of my life
My hopes were realized. | had love far
beyond my deserts, and j lived in dream
of holy and tranquil bliss. And Ellen
knew she was happy, Often, when l
have taken her hands, and asked, have you
repented, ElenG she would fix her earnest,
truthful glance on me, and laughingly re-
ply, ,"Do yon see eontrition in my eyesY"
Blessed time How could the fend find
entrance to such paradisel
At the time of our marriage, had just
entered into business, and with a very
small capital, consequently had great
many hard struggles in meeting my en-
gagements. 10 Ellen, never revealed
these trials, from mistaken notion, that
the dear child could not understand busi-
iIiess matters: and therefore it would give
her needless pain.
had a notei in Bank, which must be ta-
ken up on certain day. My mind was
harrasoed fearfuly. Should / fail in meet
ing it, my credit would be ruined. For
several days had used every exertiorj
and the evening previous TO the last day
ofgrace, found me without the necessary
amount.
.ssI was about to close the store for the
night, when an old companion of my bach
elor days entered; and, seeing my dejec.
tion,h jestinsly inquired if ] were mourn
ing over my lost liberty. / candidly told
him my situatron, He studied for few
moments, during which / finished the
work ofshutting up, then eheerfully ex-
claimed-@I think / can let you have the
money Tomorrow" We left the store
together; and as my companion proceeded
20 tell me that if l would call upon him,
at nine, The next morning, he would lend