Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-24

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the repinings other own troubled heart?
Must the bee and the butterfly only
be free to revel in the bright sun
shine? Had God made her beauty to
fade in the stihed atmosphere of dark
ened parlors, listening to the complaints
Of querulous old age? Every pulse of
her heart rebelled. How could her
mother have thus sold her? How could
Mark Ware have so unmagnanimously
accepted the compulsory sacrifce?:-
Why not have shown her the world;
and let her chose for herself? Oh! any
where, Oh! any where from such a
home!
There was no lack of invitations
abroad, for Mary had flashed across
the fashionable horizon like some bright
comet, eclipsing all the reigning beau
ties. No ball, no party, was thought a
success without her. Night after night
found her en- route to some gay assem-
blage. To her own astonishment and
to her foolish mothers delight, she of
ten found upon. her dressing table some
choice little ornament which he had
provided for the occasion; and Mary,
as she fastened it in her hair, or bosom,
would say, bitterly: "He is anxious
that |, like the other appendages ofhis
establishment, should reflect credit on
his faultless taste!''
Mistaken Mary!
Time passed on. Mark Ware ros
''patient," as he promised himself to be.
His evenings were not so lonely now,
for his little babe kept him company;
the reprieved nurse, only too glad to
escape to her pink ribbons and "chat
with John at the garden gate" Itwas
a pretty sight-Mark and the babe! old
age and infancy are always touching
sight together. Not smile or cloud
passed over that little face that did not
wake up all the father in Mark Wares
heart; and he paced the room with it,
or rocked it to sleep upon his breast,
talking to it, as if it could understand
the strong, deep love Of which it was
the unconscious object.
II am weary Of all this" said Mark 5
young wife, as she stepped into her car
riage, at the close of a brilliant ball.
81 am weary Of seeing the same faces,
and hearing the same stupid nonsense,
night after NIGHT I wonder shall T
er be happy? | wonder shall ever lore
anything, or anybody? Mamma is proud
of me because am beautiful and rich,
but she does not lore me. Mark is
proud of me, and Mary's pretty lip
curled scornfully. "Life is so weary,
and am only eighteen'' and Mary
sighed heavily.
On whirled the carriage through the
deserted streets; deserted-save by
some inveterate pleasure seekers like
herself from whom pleasure forever
fees. Occasionally lamp twinkled
from some upper window, where a
half starved seamstress sat stitching
her life away, or heart broken moth
er bent over the dead form of babe,
which her mothers heart could ill-spare,
although she knew not where to find
bread for the remaining babes that wept
beside her. Now and then a woman,
lost to all that makes woman lovely,
Haunting under the fickering street
lamps, while mocking laughter rang out
on the air. Mary shuddered and drew
back-there was that in its hollowness
which would make even devils tremble.
Overhead the sentinel stars kept their
tireless watch, and Mary's heart grew
soft under the gentle influence, and
tears stole from beneath her lashes, and
lay like pealls upon her bosom.
"Y ou need not wait to undress me- y
said Mary to the weary looking wait
ING maid, as she averted her swollen
eyes from her gaze; and, taking the
lamp from her hand, Mary passed up
to her chamber. SO noiseless was the
fall Of her light foot upon the carpet
that Mark did not know she had enter.
ed. He sat with his back to the door,
bending over the cradle of his child
till his snow white locks rested on its
rosy cheeks; talking to it, as was his
wont, to beguile his loneliness.
"Mary's forehead Mary's eyes
Mary's mouth; no more like your ole
father than rosebud is like a chest
nut-burr. You will love the old man
little one; and perhaps she will, by-and
Uys wiz huoNS. dIlll uCIc MdI , OlCS
trembled.
"She will!-she does!' said Mary
dropping on her knees at the cradle
of her child, and burying her face il
Marks hands; ''my noble, patient hus
band!'
''You don't mean that?' said Mark
holding her off at arms length, ant
looking at her through a mist of tears
''You don't mean that you love an ole
fellow like me? God bless you, Mary
God forever bless you? have beer
very-very lonely" and Mark wep'
for sheer happiness. .r. .-....-
The gaping world, the far sighted
world, the charitable world, shook it:
wise head, when the star of fashion be
came a fixed star. Some said she
health must be failing;;'' others, tha
! cher husband has become jealous a
last" while old stagers maliciously in
sinuated that it was wise to retire OF
fresh laurels. But none said-wha1
zee say-that true woman's heart ma,
, always be won-ay, and kept, too-b,
| any husband who does not consider i
, beneath him to step off the pedestals O