Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-09-16
An Interesting 5torp.
From the Olive Branch.
ISABELLE.
THE LOST AND RESTORED.
by LILLIAN LYNN.


Had | been blessed with mothers
watehful love, l might have been other
than 1 have been; had her guiding hand
trained my Maynard fec. in infancy,
there might have been less hours Of woe
in store for me, and fewer blighted years.
But no such blessed lot was mine she
only lived to press her babe to her bosom,
and then with kiss and blessing for
her husband and child closed her eyes
on earth for happier land My father,
too, die1 in my childhood. Left to the
care Of relatives who INDUCED my every
whim, | soon learned my power. NV
will was law, my slightest wish obcyed.
Pctted, spoiled and self-willed, / grew
up to wonanhood, with no wish ungrati-
fed, no passion restrained, and at the
age Of eighteen made my debut in the
fashionable world Gay, beautiful and
accomplished, was much admired, and
for a time reigned supreme the life and
the star Of the bright circle in which
moved Yet cath all all ii the pride
and passion Of my nature lay an under
current Of tenderness and deep feeling,
waiting but for some master hand to
touch the hidden spring and bid its warm
fountains guEh forth into new life and
beauty. Suitors throngcd around me,
and with honied words and hollow hearts.
laid their offerings at my feet; bat from
them all ! turned proudly away save one.
Gay Lawrence was perfectspccimen Of
manhood. Handsome, dignifcd and re-
served, so different from tile butterfly
throng; when others Aattcred he only
smiled. Yet there was magic power
in the rich tones Of his manly voice which
drew me away from the giddy taronq
and bound me captive prisoner at his
side. / thought it his wealth and spot
less name which caused me to launch my
bark with his on the troubled sea Of life,
and learned not till long years afterwards
the whole soul worship which thrilled
my being for him. Surrounded with
every luxury which unbounded wealth
could lavish, with husband who idol.
lied me, for time our splendid homo
seemed an Eden of bliss. Gradually
Withdrew from the gay world, till, when
two years had flown and sweet babt
smiled on my bosom. / thought myself
wholly wcaned from its snares and fasci.
nations. 1t was new joy to watch the
expanding Of that immortal bud, and in
tho few brief months Of its young cx,
tistcnce ! experienced new strange hap
piness, unknown before. And vet 'twa,
a little thing which snndered our heart.
and weli-nigb wrecked tho happiness Of
two lives. Had my babe lived my heart
would have remained pure and true, and
its stormy passion waves slumbcred in
their sluggish beds. But God took my
idol from me, and left my soul-sbrinl
desolate- ! watched the closing of the
violet eyes and the last fIufter IF the lit.
Tie life, while DER my heart settled 4
dark despair. In that hour Of bitterness
and trial, my husband forgetting his own
great sorrow, stroye by new acts Of love
and devotion to break the fatal spell
which was well-nigh destroying my yonna
life. We went more into society, frc-
quentcd places Of amusement, and in
sccnesof pleasure anG excitement strove
to drown tho memory bells Which tolled
out their ceaselcss chimes onmy soul =
We went one evening 70 hear an Italian
singer--I was cntranccd, chtrapped /
marked the kindle Of tic glorious eve as
the crowd Numbered their applause, and
noted tho rich hue which nian,lcd her
check and brow as bouquet after bouquet
fell At her feet, and logged like her to
stand where an adhiring world should
cast tlicir giittering laurcis atmy feet.
In that hour new ambition fired my
soul; | went from that place with q
strange, Wild purpose burning within my
bosom. There was a wiIdspark.c inmy
eye, an ubpatural gIow on MY usually
pale check, as on reaching home made
known ny purpose to my husband lie
only smiled at my earneslpess, saying he
never could allow the oliarms Of his dar-
ling To- be exhibited tothc public gazc.
and drawing my head down 10 bis bosom
broathcd soft soothing words Ia nv car,
telling nc THAT there niust he freasurc
he had woocd and won forever rest, shell
tered from the cold worlds snarcs. All,
be little lnsw then, my husband, The