St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-07-01


ward conviction that she was pccuIi-
arly untitled, both by nature and edu-
cation for conflict with the world
when Mr.. Meredith entered
The idea that II feeling Of love may
be awakened and become q true and
lasting passion in the space Of three
days, may be scoffed at by some, but
it is nevertheless true. The admira-
ton which the singular beauty of the
young girl had awakened at first, clos
cr acquaintance with her had deepen
ed into a much warmer feeling. He
wished, yet hcsitatcd to reveal the
state of his heart to her; for SO strong
was the guard that her own true mo-
dcsty and sclfrespcct had placed
around her, that he could hardly have
approached queen in her court with
more Difference than he did the home
less girl before him. She began the
conversation by asking him if he had
any friends in Charleston to whom he
could recommend her as a scamstress.
al cannot undertake anything else
she said, with blush, for my cdu-
cation has been so little attended to-
have read a great deal, for my father
had a good library, and it was almost
my only pleasure and write tolera-
bly,; but | know nothing of even the
common branches that are taught in
schools. My father took some pains
with my manners and my conversation
when was child, but nothing else
was thought of so | could not teach,
even if had the opportunity"
Would it not be better for you to
go to my mother, in Connecticut, than
remain here among strangers 5! l
know no one here to leave you with,
and, as | told you, ! am lieutenant
in the army, and expecting, daily, my
orders for Mexico SO that, | fear, if
you choose to stay here, ! can be OF
but little service to you. If you will
go to my mother, can easily find you
an escort as far as Boston, and she
will receive you as her own child"
"But have no claim On your moth
CT" said Adelaide.
"Let me give you g daughters
claim to her Kindness caid Mr.. Mere
dith, earnestly.
Adelaide returned his glance with
one equally earnest and somewhat be-
wildcrcd. 1t was a moment or two
before she fully comprehendcd his
meaning, and then her check flushed
and grew very pale. Marriage had
been pressed upon her in such Il hate
full form so long, that she had learned
to shrink from the thought. She made
no reply, but by an expressive gesture
showed that she wished the subject
to be dropped.
But Mr.. Meredith was too thorough
ly in earnest to be easily put to silence.
He went on--and great is the power
of words. First, he convinced the re-
luctant damscl that she loved him.
She was truth itself, and when she
looked into her palpitating heart and
found feeling there that responded
TO his own, she lifted her eyes to his,
and he read it written there. Then,
if she loved him, why not give him a
husbands right to protect her, and
consent to find in his mother, the moth
er's care and love she had so long
pinned for? lie talked for three hours.
presenting the circumstances, which
were simple enough in themselves, in
every conceivable point of view that
would be favorable to his wish. a
dcsolatc young girl, modern knight
Grant, a tranquil and honorable home
those were the three ideas that
shaped themselves into arguments,
and arguments that Adelaide found
unanswcrablc. She said nothing
but great is the power of silence. lie
knew that in her inmost heart she had
consented.
:" will give an answer tomorrow"
said she at last, and to that delay Mr..
Meredith was obliged to yield.
The next morning Il ycllcw-covcred
document lay beside his plateau or
der to join his regiment Immediately
in Mexico.
- must leave this afternoon" said
he, and Adelaide, yielding to the ur-
gency of the case, consented to ac-
company the young officer to the
house of a clergyman, where they
were married and then he placed her
in the cars, under the protection Of a
gentleman who was returning with
his wife and family to Boston.
Z" have already written 10 my
MOTHER" said Mr.. Meredith to his pale
bride, who looked the sorrow she could
not speak as they parted. you will
stop day OF two with Mr.. Parker and
his family in Baltimore, and the letter
will reach her before you do"
The last adicu was spoken, the last
look exchanged, and Adelaide Mere
dith, found herself soon widely sepa-
rated from the only being she had ev-
er known who had the power as we'll
as the wish to bcfriend her. Large
tears rolled quietly down her checks,
as she sal wishing that lie had not
left her, that he had only taken her
with him, nc matter through what diI-
iiculties and dangers.
Meanwhile, Mr.. and Mrs. Parker,
having found out that all Mrs Mere
dith's travelling wardrobe was con
tanned in the little carpetbag she held
in her hand, after few wondcrings |
and surmisings to themselves, com
menced series Of adroit questioning
to discover if her baggage had gone
on by express. Adelaide, whose heart
was too full of all that the recent
change in her life called forth, to notice |
the drift of their Investigations, an
swered all their questions simply and
truthfully as long as they related mere
ly to the baggage. But when they
found that there were no trunks in the |
case, andprocecded farther, she quietly |
drew back, and checked their curiosi-
ty with her own peculiar dignity. To
this day, when people are talking of
the elegant and extensive parapherna-
liza modern brides feel themselves cal
led upon TO provide. Mrs Parker new
4 II