Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-11

may, this trust at least should not, she men.
tally resolved, be betrayed or patered with
Every imaginable expedent to vanquish her
resolution was resorted to. Thorndyke pick
ed quarrel with Ward, her father, who had
lived at Dale Farm since the morrow of her
marriage with Woodey, and the old gentle
man was compelled to leave, and take up his
abode with distant and somewhat needy re-
lative Next Edward Wlford, the only son
of neighboring aud prosperous farmer, who
had been betrothed to Mary Woodley several
months before her fathers death, was brutal
ly insulted, and forbidden the house. All,
however, failed to shake the mothers resolu-
ton aud at length, finding all his efforts
fruitless, Thorndyke appeared to yield the
point, and upon this subject, at least, ceased
to haraSs his unfortunate victim
Frequent private conferences were now held
between Thorndyke, his two daughters and
Elizabeth Warelng-a woman approaching
middle age, whom under the specous preteuSe
that Mrs Thorndykes increasing ailments ren-
dered the services of an experienced natrOn
Indispensable, he had lately installed at the
farm. 1t was quite evident to both the mother
and daughter that "a much greater degree of
intimacy subsisted between the master and
houSekeeper than their relative positions war
ranted and from some expressions heedlessy
dropped by the woman, they suspected them
to have been Once on terms of confidential in-
timacy. Thorndyke, | should have mentioned
was not native of these parts he had an
swered Moodleys advertisement as bailiff
and his testimonials appearing satisfactory, he
had been somewhat preciptately engaged. \
young man, calling himself Edward Wareing,
the son Elizabeth Wareing, and said to be en-
gagged in an attorneys Office in Liverpool, was
a not unfrequent visitor at Dale Farm and
once he had the insolcnt presumption to ad-
dress note to Mary Woodley, formally ten
dering his hand and fortune This, however
did not suit Mr. Thornkvke'S views, and Mr..
Edward Wareing was very eifcctually rebuked
and senced by his proposed father-in-aw
Mrs. ThOrndyke'S health rapidly decIined- :
TIE woman Wareng touched possibly 10y
sympathy or remorse, exhibited considerable
tenderness and compassion towards the inva-
lid made her nouriShing drinks, and admins
tered the medicine prescribed bp the village
practitioner-who, after much delay and pooh
poohiag, by Thorndyke, had been been called
in-wlth her own hands About three weeks
previous to Mrs. Thorndyke'8 death, sort of
reconciliation was patched up through her in
strumentality, between the husband and wife
all unwontcd expression of kindness and com
passion, real or simulated, sat upon Thorn
dykess features every time he approached the
dying woman.
The sands Of life ebbed swiftly with Mrs.
Thornkyke. Infolded in the gentle, but dead
ly, embrace with which consumption sezeS its
victims, she wasted rapidly away /; and, most
perplexing symptoms of ALL violent retching
and nausea, especially after taking her medi.
cine-which, according to Davis, the village
surgeon, was invariably of sedative charac.
ter-aggravated and confirmed the fatal dis
ease which was hurrying her to the tomb.
Not once during this last illness could Mary
Woodley, by chance or by stratagem, obtain
a moments private interview with her mother,
until a few moments before her decease I'm
til then, under one pretense or another, either
Elizabeth Wareing, one of Thorndyke'S daugh-
terS, OF Thorndyke himself was always present
in the sick chamber 1t was evening dark
ness had for sometime fallen no light had
yet been taken intofthe dying woman's apart
ment and The pale starlight which family il
lumined the room, served, as Mary Woodley
softly approached on tiptoe to the bedside of
her, as she supposed, sleeping parent but to
deepen by defining the shadows thrown by the
full, heavy hangings, and the old massive fur
niture. Gently and with beating heart
Mary Woodey drew back the bed-curtain
nearest the window. The feeble, uncertain
light fickered upon the countenance, distinct
in its mortal paleness, of her parent the eyes
recognized her, and a glance of infinite tender
ness CLEANED for an instant in the rapidly
darkened orbs the right arm esSayed TO lift
Inc 7
Love, love only, was strong stronger than
death, in the expiring mothers heart, and the
arm fell feebly back on the bedcIothes Mary
Woodley bent down in eager grief, for she
felt instinctively that the bitter hour at last
was come. Their lips met, and the last ac-
cents Of the mother murmured, Beloved Ma
ry, II have been true to you--no will-no"
-. A slight tremor shook her frame, the
spirit that looked in love from the windows of
the eyes departed on its heavenward journey,
and the unconscious she'll only OF what had
once been her mother remained in the SUlbing
daughters arms. H
will not deny that this narrative, which |
feel | have but cOldly and feebly rendered
from its earnest, fearful tenderness, as related
by Mary Woodley. affected me considerably
case hardened, as, to use an old bar pun, we
barrlsters are supposed to be: nor will the
reader be surprised to hear that suspicious,
graver even than those which pointed to for
gerry, were evoked by the sad history Much
musng upon the strange circumstances thus
disclosed, and profoundly cogitative on the
best mode of action to be pursued the small
hours" the first of them at least, surprised me
in my arm chair. Istarted up and hastened
to bed, well knowing from experience that a
sleepless vigil is wretched preparatve for
morrow of active eXertion, whether of mind or
body.
was betimes in court the next morning,
and Mr.. Barnes, proud as peacock Of fgur-
ing as On attorney in an important civil salt,