The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-07-23
From the Jackson Citizen.
FORGIVE AND FORG EFT.
BY j. II. +.


and benevolent looking person of quiet
and unobtrusive manners.
There was perceptible sadness IL
her voice as she replied, "you would not
do SO after you were married, would you
Fanny !"
4" Certainly-that would be all the fun
especially as Harry is so exclusive in his
! devotion"
at might not always be fun. You
remember Mrs. Russell who resides IN
the low rooted cottage where we stopped
a few days ago 2"
i" Yes | think you told me you had
seen her in far different circumstances.
| have; l recollect very well the first
time we met, near Fremont, IN ONO,
there is thick dense wood extending
some twenty miles in length, and about
ten miles in breadth called Black Swamp.
For many years this place has been ter
ror to the travellers on account of the rob-
berries and murders which have been COM
mitted there by some lawless men who Ind
in these woods. | was accustomed to take
long rides on horse back and ON that occa-
sion had lost my way. lt,was quite dark and
| knew that | was in dismal region
Black Swamp. | saw a light short dis
tance from me; | cautiousl y approached.
There was an old frame house several
stories high, before it stood some weeping
willow trees, whilst OH the other side was
broad ditch entirely dry; i'll one there
was door opening intoa cellar under the
building rang the bell, and the door
was opened by the lady Of the house; her
figure was slight but tall, and there was Il
mixture Of reserve dignity, ease and sim
plicity in her manners that to me was quite
fascinating. Her features were pretty,
and | never saw cOuntenance rorc eX-
prcssive Of purity. There were two gem
tlemen in the room, to the younger of
which sac paid particular attention, smil-
ing on and talking to him in her most
winning tones. Mr.. Russel, her husband
darted angry glances at them which the
the lady observed, and still she lavishcd
her honeyed words, and smiled her sweet
est smiles on the young mar. 1t was late
when he went away, and then her hus-
band upbraided her on account Of her
conduct that evening. She replied, assur-
ing him she would do the same again under
similar circumstances, and that she was
going with Mr. Leslie to bali the noxt
week.
"Do not 80, Eleanor, he is one Of our
most bitter enemies, and believe, would
gladly do an injurc to either of us
Besides, his character-is not unexceptiona-
bic by any means"
"Nonsense Mr. Russell, | Will 90"
4" If you do | will leave you, perhaps
forever, and | warn you if you care any
thing about me, not to 90 with him"
"Pshaw you are only trying to frighten
me me. If you wanted to 90 do you sup
pose that would care much about it :"
Thus one rctort followed another until
the scene closed by her giving way to
violent fit of weeping, and he drew her into
another apartment.
| retired to the room which Mrs Rus
sci had designated me. 1t was just such
an one out of all others as | would have
chosen. There was low bed in one cor
ner covered by neat white counterpane
and carpet on the floor, in which the
predominating color was green. The win
dow was raised," and the white curtains
looped back showing the crimson flowers
of some elegant rose branches which crept
close to the pave. Velvet covered otto
mans looked as if wooing you to sit down,
and on a center table were the skilfully
sketched outlines of several places. /
knew that they were some Of Mr.. Lcslie's
drawings, but where they were | could
not tell. a mist gathered before my eyes
as looked at them, for they recalled
emotions from the depth of my heart,
which / had hoped were forever buried
there. Six years ago that night | was his
betrothed. had no near relative, and |
felt that he was the only one who loved
me. l loved HIM madly, passionately, as
few can, and that evening | was happy
We were to have been married in church
the next sabbeth he did not come. A
few weeks afterwards | heard that he was
Tilted by Miss Ellen c., now Mrs. Russel,
the lady whom | had so unexpectedly
met that evening. had never seen her
before, and it was plain that Mr.. Leslie
did not know me- Few would have rec
ognized the joyous girl of eighteen in the
serious, thoughtful looking woman of four
and twenty. Thought followed and l
was no longer the calm woman, but the
weak trembling girl. l knelt down and
prayed fervently to him who knoweth all
for strength and wisdom. When / arose
| felt such happiness as they alone know
who have placed their affections, torn from
earthly idols, on things above. For a
few moments it seemed as if the air
around me was filled with pure spirits
| could almost hear the rustic Of their
invisible wings, and my soul reveled in
q n atm ,, &C q. L.. 4. Il