Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-02

frequently do women peril and Io,e all bv a
second marriage Such was the case with Mrs.
W. 10 the astonishment OF everybody she threw
nerseii away on man almost unknown in the
dIstrlct-a person OF no fortune, of mean habits
and altogether unworthy of accepting as hus-
band Silas Thorndyke, to whom she thus com
mItted her happiness, had for short time acted
as balltff on the farm; and no sooner did he feel
himself master than his subserviency was
changed to selfish indifference, and that gradu-
ally assumed a csarser character. He discoy-
cred that the property,by the will of Mr.. W.,
was so secured against every chance or casualty
to the use and enjoyment of his wife that it not
only did not pass by marriage to the new BRIDE
groom, but she was unable to ALLEVIATE or divest
herself of any portion of it during life. She
could, however, dispose of it by will; but in the
event other dying intestate, the whole dss,end-
ed to her daughter, Mary Woodley.
Incredibly savage was Thorndyke when he
made that discovery; and bitter and incessant
were tho indignities to which he su bjected his
unfortunate wife, for the avowed purpose of
forcing her to make will entirely in his favor
and of course disinheriting her daughter. These
prosecutions failed of their object An unex-
pected. quiet, passive but uncomfortable resist
ance, was opposed by the in all other things
bowed and submissive woman to this demand
of her domineering husband her failing
health-fOr, gently nur,ed and tenderly cher.
lshed as she had ever been, the callous brutal
lty of her husband soon told upon the unhappy
creature-warned her that Mary would soon be
an orphan, and that upon her irmness it de-
pended whether the child of him to whose men,
DRY she had been, so fatally for herself unfsith-
full. should be cast homeless and penniless upon
the world. or inherit the wealth to which, by
every principle of right and equity, she was
entitled
Come what may, this trust at least should
not, she mentally resolved be BETRAYED or nal
tered with. Every imaginable expedient to
vanquish her resolution was resorted to- Thorn
dyke picked a quarrel with Ward, her father,
who had lived at Dale Farm since the morrow
OF her marriage with WOodley, and the old
gentleman was compelled to leave and take up
his abode with distant and somewhat needy
relative. Next Edward Wilford, the only son
OF DeighbOring and prosperous farmer. who
had been betrOthed to Mary Woodley several
months before her fathers death was brutally
insulted and forbidden the house All. how
ever, failed to shake the mothers resolution:
and at length, finding all bis 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
EllzaDeth arelng-a woman approaching
middle age, whom, under the specious pretense
that Mrs. Thorndyke's increasing ailments
rendered the services Of an experienced ma
tron indispensable, he had lately installed at
the farm. 1t was quite evident to both the
mother and daughter that much greater de-
gree Of intimacy subsisted between the master
and housekeeper than their relative positions
warranted; and from some expressions heed
lessiy dropped by the woman they suspected
them to have been once on terms of confiden-
tlal intimacy. ThOrndyke, should have mem
TONED was not a native of these parts he
had answered Mr.. WOodley's advertisement
as bailih, and his testimonials appearing sat
isfactOry, he had been somewhat precipitately
engaged. young man, calling himself Ed
ward, the son of Elizabeth Wareing. and
SAID 10 be engaged in an attorneys Office in
Liverpool, was also a not unfreuuent visitor at
Dale Farm and once he had the insoleut pre-
sumption to address IA note to Mary WoodIey
formally rendering his hand and fortune
HIS however, did not suit Mr. ThOrndyke's
views, and Mr.. Edward Wareing was very
efectuaily rebuked and silenced by his pro-
posed father-in-law
Mrs. ThOrndyke's health rapidly declined.
The woman Wareing, touched possibly by SYM
pathy or remorse, exhibited considerable ten
derneSs and compassion towards the invalid:
made her nOurishiDg drinks, and administered
the medicine prescribed by the village practi-
tioner-whO, after much delay and pooh. pooh
ing, by Thorndyke, had been called in-Uitb
her own hands. About three weeks previous TO
Mrs. 1hOrndyke death, a sort of reconciliation
was patched up, through her instrumentaIity,
between the husband and wife; and an un.
wOnted expression Of kindness and compassion,
real or simulated, sat upon Thorndyke's fea.
lures every tImo no approached the dying wo-
man.
The sands of life ebbed swiftly with Mrs
Thorndyke. Infolded in the gentle, but deadly.
embrace with which consumption seizes its vic.
TINS, she wasted rapidly away; ; and most per-
picking symptoms of all, violent retchings and
nausea. especially after taking her medicine
which, according to Davis, the village surgeon.
was invariably of sedative character-aggra-
waited and confirmed the fatal disease which was
hurryirg her to the tomb.
Not once during this last / lness could Mary
Woodley, by chance or by stratagem obtain 4
moments private interview with her mother,
until few minutes before her decease. Until
then, under one pretence or another, Elizabeth
Wareing one of Thorndykss daughters, or
Thorndyke himself, was always present in the
sick chamber. l. was evening darkness had
for some time fallen; no light had yet been
taken into the dying woman's apartment; and
the pale starlight which family illumined the
room, served, as Mary Woodley softly ap-
preached on tip-toe 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 massive furniture.
ucdrl, lhhry w cooley
drew back the the bed curtain nearest the win.
dow. The feeble, uncertain light flick cred upon
the countenance. distinct in its mortal pale
ness, OF her parent; the eyes recognised her,
and glance Of infinite tenderness CLEANED for
an instant in the rapidly darkening orbs; the
right arm essayed to lift ITSELF as for one last,
last embrace.
Vsinly Love, love only, was strong, stronger
than death, in the expiring mothers heart, and
the arm fell feebly back on the bedclotbes
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
accents Of the mother murmured, Beloved
Mary, 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 heaven-ward jour
ney, and the unconscious shell only of what
had once been her mother remained in the sob.
bing daughters arms
will not deny that this narrative, which
feel have but coldly and feebly rendered from
It's earnest, fearful, tenderness, as related by
Mary WOodley, affected me con siderably case
hardened, as, TO use IN old bar pun, we barris-
ters are suDDOsed tn he nor will tha reaiar ha