The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-21
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY OCTOBER 81 1859

wander returned, and he disappeared again.
Zone chilly, rainy day, 1 was sitting alone
in my room, amusing myself with my frs:
child-then about six months old-when
there was ring at the door. Our domestic
had gone out, and there being nobody in the
house but me, 1 left Ella playing on the
floor. and went to open the door.
81 started back with an exclamation of
alarm. Gilborne drenched with the cold
and rain was standing on the steps. My
first impulse was of fear, and l would have
shut the door in his face, had he not looked
up to me and said, in melancholy voice
"' 1t rains. May come imp
I" l was touched. held the door open
while he entered. There was fire in the
sitting room, and made him sit down before
it to dry his clothes. For ten minutes not
a word Was spoken by either of US but his
wild eyes followed me about the room wher-
ever l went. l trembled with indefnable
dread, and oh how ardently l longed to
hear the footsteps of Edward in the hall.
tried to speak to the wretched man, but
for some reason l could not, and his eyes
still followed me in silence.
CAT length, to my dismay, l heard Ella
crying in the next room. Gilborne started.
"' Is that your child p he asked.
al trembled as l replied that it was.
Turning deadly pale, he started from his
seat and approached the room whence the
cry proceeded. Much as feared him, l
caught his arm The thought that in mo-
ment of frenzy, he might do violence to my
child made me desperate.
You must not 60 there !" l said. l
cannot hardly tell what followed. remember
that his eyes glared upon me with moment
arysblaze of maniac passion, that he pushed
me from him, that he dizzy sickness came
over me, and fell upon the floor.
"When l recovered my senses 1 saw him
bending over my darling Ella, as she lay on
the rug, gazing up with baby wonder into
his face. With cry of terror 1 sprang
forward. He raised his head. There was
no frenzy in his eyes but tears gushed
from them, and rolling down his sallow
cheeks, fell like rain upon the lace of my
child.
"He kissed her, and raising from his
knees, begged my pardon in soft melan-
choly voice, and words so delicate, that l
burst into tears. Before could speak he
was gone.
"How singular" exclaimed Isabel.
From that day Gilborne's insanity
disappeared. He is now minister in c."
Is that the man, the pious, benevolent,
mild preacher, whom everybody loves so
we'll 2"
"The same. He turned to Heaven the
affections which he had thrown away upon
my unworthy self. l believe he is happy,
but even now, when L hear Of thoughtless
firtations, I am panied with the reflections
which they call up"
"But they seldom ever have such mel
ancholy termination, dear aunt" timidly
suggested Isabel.
"True. Disappointment in love general.
ly leaves sorrow in the heart, without shat
tering the brain. But there are beings of
such fine and sensitive natures, that the
health of both the mind and body depend
upon the soundness of their Affections ~
Isabel bowed her head to hide blush
and tear and from that time she was never
known to indulge in thoughtless firtations.