Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-11-10


debated the question with myself upon all
points. And l believe that am doing
right in marrying.
In defiance, she repeated, of your faith
er and mother? In defiance?
| am sorry that they drive me 10 it.
For several minutes Lady Elhot's agita
ton had been increasing, and it appeared
now, to rise beyond control. Two GRIM
son spots shone on her pale cheeks, her
slight frame shook as with agitation, and
her hands grasped those of her sons.
Listen, William, she said will tell you
painful tale. You may have gathered
something of it in your boyhood, but not
its details. Will you listen? Or are you
gong to despise even my words?
My dear mother! You know will
listen all in reverence. If you would af-
ford me the opportunity to be reverent in
all things!
was happy girl at home. My moth
er died, and then l owed my father
double duty. was bat child, barely
eighteen, when young man, handsome.
William as you are now, was introduced
to us. He was extravagant random; bat
he loved me, and that was ali l cared for.
| Our attachment became known to my faith
er. He deemed this gentleman no eligible
match for me, he doubted his ability in
many ways, to render me happy; and he
put stop TO our meetings. He forbid me
TO think more of him; he said if did, in
spite of his veto, he would discard me
from his house forever. On the other
side the friends were equally averse to 1t.
and his parents bade him, though in all
kindness. TO shrink from the fruits of dis
obedience. His father, a clergyman. beg
ged of him not to brave it; he told him that
deliberate disobedience to a parent was
surely visited on chiId's head. Happy
for Us both had we attended 80 their coun-
sci, but youth, in lis ardor, sees not things
as they are; in after years, when soborness,
experience. Judgment have come to them
they look back. and marvel at their olind-
ness. We, he and I--Oh. William! that
[ should have such an avowal to make TO
you!--set our parents rnterdiction at
nought, | ran away from my home with
him to become his wife. The man was
Thomas Elliot, your father.
She was excessively excited. Her son
would have begged of her not to disturb
herself, but she waved away his in;errup.
ton.
We gloried in having deceived them.-
Not SO much for the deceit, in itself-we
had not quite descended to that--as that we
had obtained our own will But, William
how did il work? How does such sin a.
ways work?
She. paused. almost, as she waited for
an answer. He did not speak.
Look abroad in society and watch the
results, scan narrowly all those who have
thus rebelliously entered upon :heir own
career. sooner or later, more or less bit
terly, retribution comes home to them. 1t
may rarely be attributed to its right cause,
even by themselves. and many there are
who would laugh at what am now say
ing. None have had the cause, that |
have, to note these things; and it is from
long experience, from repeated instances
have witnessed of the confirmation of my
opinion that my firm conviction has been
formed. Some are visited through power
ty; some in their children; some in them
selves. in their unhappy life. We, Will
liam. had taste of all. In the early
years of our union, it was one struggle to
live, perhaps you remember vet. our
pinchngs and contrivances. NY children
died Oft, save you, one after another; and
she, Clara, who remained to us-Ladv
Elliot sank her voice to a whisper--wcre
better off had she followed them. /, and
he whom | chose, have had no mutual
happiness, for we found that we were as
unsuited to each other as man and wife
can be. My father never forgave me, so
for his remaining years. and they were
many, was an alien from him. Thus |
have dragged through life trouble pursu-
ing me. and the conciousness Of my sin
ever haunting me. William, before yoa
talk Of marrying Mary Goring. you should
know what it is 10 brave, and live under a
parents curse.
William Elliot did not reply. but his face
wore look Of keen anxiety.
At morning, at the SUMS rising;a at even
lug, when it sets; in the nervousness of
the dark night; in the glare of mid day
was my disobedience presented to me,
heavily il pressed upon me; would have
forfeited all possessed in life. even Inv
remaining years, to have redeemed it; and
William-I prayed to God that He
would in mercy keep my children from
committing the like sin.
Lady Elliot paused for breath, and her
face. sufficiently young still in years,
was blanched and her eyes were strained
on her son.
l prayed it as the greatest mercy that
could then be accorded me: l have never
ceased praying for it. William, will you,
my ever-loving and dutiful boy, be the
one to set that prayer at naught.
No answer. His lips were as white as
her own.
You are my irst-borne, my first and
dearest. in you rests all the hope left to
me; what other comfort have left to life?
have said to myself. now and then, The
closing years of my existence shall be
brighter than my earlier ones, for my dar-
ling son shall be my stay and solacel Oh.
William. William! give me your promise
nowl kneel to beg III, say that you will
never marry without our consent.
of -. 4.