The Shasta courier., 1859-02-05
ONLY A JOKE.

ONAh n JOKE.
And when are you to be married. Annie q
asked my friend Lucy, as | carefully laid aside
my bridal veil and wreath which had been
showing her.
There was something in the tone of her voice
that struck pang to my heart though knew
not why, and answered hastily, while the warm
blood mounted to my cheeks
In two weeks from Tomorrow evening, if
nothing happens to prevent
and that there will anything happen YOU do
not expect 2 said Lucy, looking seriously into
my face.
OF course not; why should I, dear2 Two
weeks is not a very lengthy period, certainly,
and before half that time has expired Walter is
coming to Elton
You are sure of this p queried Lucy
'As sure as We can be of anything replied.
tAre you prophecies Can you peer into fu-
turity, and tell me if there is any reason why
this shall not be so?
am no prophecies sighed Lucy, and yet
and yet phatP' demanded, impat;ently, ir-
rtated by her manner.
And yet, Walter may never come to you. If
he should not" She did not finish the sem
tenee, but fixed her eyes keenly upon my face
There no ifs about it., | said. What
has taken possession of you, that you appear so
strangelyf
L dare not tell you,' was the slow spoken re-
ply, but to-day learned something dreadful
Dreadful What can it be? Walter-no
nothing has happened to him, l am Tell
me, do not torture me momentp =
Walter -. a,
what, Lucy2 7 shall 60 crazy-youTl kill
me if you do not tell me ? | cried, grasping her
hands and holding them firmly
Walter is married 7
married Iucv-morried that s1l9 hid
you think to frighten me with such an absurd
story as that2 Shsmer l laughed hystercal-
ly as said this, and tears gushed freely from
my eyes.
1t is true, Annie. read it in to-day's pa
per: Mr.. Walter Mayo to Miss-Miss-E can't
think -
Helen stickney2 gasped, grasping her
Yes, that was the name. They were married
in Boston,
Have you the paper? cannot credit what
you may have seen. | must read tread it
myself
She drew it from her pocket, and pointed to
the marriage list. Ny eyes seemed starting from
their sockets as | read. My senses were not to
be trusted--it could not be; and yet, there
it was, plain, simple, and indisputable Mr..
Walter Mayo, of Elton to Miss Helen Stickney,
of Boston,
Walter Mayo-my, my Walter-married to the
proud, wealthy city belle
Go from, me, Lucy, please said, turning
away
Forget this-me-gor
staggered to a chair as she left the room |
pressed my hands to my throbbing temples. |
tried to believe myself in the midst of some hor-
rid dream, from which should soon awaken
Lwould not keep back the tears would not
suppress my wild sobs of grief; would let them
come-the dreadful spell would sooner pass "a
way. But no. there was no change. My heart
grew heavier every moment. The light that
streamed into the window was not that of the
early morning, upon which my eyes had just
opened. There were sounds of busy life about
the house; the children were out upon the gras-
sy lawn had heard their merry shouts, and
watched them at their play nearly all the long
summer afternoon. There were flowers upon my
table-real flowers, that my little brother had
brought me in the morning, when the dew was
on them. | was awake-alivel The dreadful
weight on my heart and brain was reality.
Before my eyes was proof of my wreichedness
In my hands held it. God pity me ii was real
real
Mr.. Walter Mayo to Miss Helen Stickney'-
that was all ! But my heart breaking; my
brain whirled like maniacs. This mighty
truth clasped itself about everything. 1t was in
me and around me-above me and beneath me.
There was no leaving it-no forgetting it. There
was no rest for me constantly my heart must
bear up its terrible load of grief
And yet it no wonder thought, while
the calmness of despair settled upon me no
wonder that he should prefer the brilliant, ac-
eompished city belle to meme, the simple,
quiet, unpretending country grill had often
heard him praise her; she was like a sister to
him, he had said. Perhaps, of sudden, he had
found that he loved her better than me; God
only knew But oh it was so cruel, SO hard to
bear could not, could not live 7
Did people ever die suddenly when such
grief came upon them !? | wondered. If so,
believed was dying, | rose, and went to the
mirror Ny, face was as white as snow, my eyes
as wild and staring as though | was wrestling
with the great conouerer. Lines of purple lay
about my lips, which looked as if they were
frozen-frozen with such pitiful expression OF
woe daguerrcotyped upon them | clasped my
icy hands over my eyes to shut out the picture
which had not strength enough to turn away
from. Ny senses seemed leaving me, as, with
low moan of agony going from my lips, sank
helpless upon the floor.
When awoke to consciousness, was IN my
mothers room, lying upon her bed, with her
dear face, anxious and fearful, bending over me-
She had found me lying like one dead upon
me moor OF my room. How long | had been
there she could not tell. She had not called me
Al tea-tlme because she thought went out with
Lucy Currier, and had not returned. The doc
sor SAID must be quiet
The doctorp l repeated, wonderingly, star
ing absently into her face.
Aes, dear, the doctor-good doctor Owens /;
Aere he Is, now and she stepped aside that
might see him. But turned my head. mur-
mnring-
Walter, Walterr
10 yon wish to see him ? asked the good old
man, pressing his cool hand upon nv forehead
gee MN ., no, no, sir 7 l cried sudden
SIenstn coming upon me at the thought Il
shall never see him again.
Well, we'll you needn't dear, don't mind il
he said, soothingly, believing m. lelrions
There, there ?