Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-01-28

of flowers and foliage. And tho man who
sat beside mo, whose smile mounted no
higher than his lips-tbe dreamy far-looking
discomfort in his eve every moment grow
ing moro percoptiblo-- was the owner Of
this Eden-lkO home.
We wore met on the threshold by love
ly child Of some eleven summers. Her
eyes particularly lustrous yet mouruful in
beauty, and on the young brow | seemed to
see something's shadow Of sadness nm
unchild-like quiet, as she greeted my new
friend.
Dressed in pure white, she glidcd in be-
fore as, and to her was left the duty of en-
tertaing me; whilo Mr.. c., excusing him
self in the remark, that sickness necessarily
called him away, for half hour or so, loft
the room.
All, thought 1, there is always some i'll.
This man whose manner seemed to me un-
easy, and at times constrained, bears upon
his heart tho dread perhaps that beloved
wife may die.
"Is your mother very unwellr l asked Of
tho little girl, who with those shadow-filled
eyes of hers, was regarding mo gently but
attentiyely.
"Yos, sir. mamma has beon sick long
timc," replied she, dropping her eyes while
her lips tremblcd.
"Did you como from AmOrica!" she
asked tinidly, after long silence.
ayes my dear. Do you know anything
of that countryl' l returned growing more
and moro pleased With her expressive face.
"Only that mamma came from there, and
think" she added, hesitatingly, "that |
did. But Mr.. c. will never let me talk
about it,"
"Are you not then the little daughter Of
Mr.. C.f' l asked, somewhat astonished.
81 am my mothers daughter" answered
the child, with grave dignity in one SC
young-and minute after, she arose and
quietly loft the room.
sat watching her white robes fitting
through the iong shady walk opposite ml
window and know that the child broodec
over some dark sorrow, for her eyes were
filled with tears.
Why was it, questioned myself, Cha
painful thoughts took possession Of me as
sat thsrel L. seemed as if was soiournine
in an enchanted spot, and that some horo
was suddenly TO break upon me.
At my side, nearly covering beautiful
table of lctter-wood, wero several costl,
gift books. took them up carefully for
have a reverence for books-and turning t
the fy-lenf of splcndidly bound copy O
Shakespeare, read
ITO Mary Frances F., from her dc
voted husband-Hcnry E. F"
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran fror
veiD TO vein. My thoughts seemed par,
lyzed. The truth had burst upon mo wit
such suddcnness that the blood rushed wit
shock to my heart.
! knew Henry E. F., had known hil
intimately for years. He was frienc
towards whom all my sympathics had bee
drawn, for ho had seen such sorrow
makes tho heart grow old before its time.
His wife, whom he loved had deserte
, him. She had taken with her his ouI
child. She had desolated a household
and forgetting honor, shame, overythin
: that pertains TO virtue and to God, had fle
from tho country with the man whose art
,f bad won her wanton love. How could
remain under this roof that now SCENE
" accursedi How meet the destroyer Of VII
q tue,--the fend who had reyellsd in such
d conqucstl
d For moment or two strobe up an
d down the apartment uncertain what to dC
. The child entered the room just then. Ho
' my heart bled for her. Sweet innocenc,
," she had been made in some sense a part
r, ker in the consequences of this wickedne
D. "a sufferer and victim through one 81
r. called by the holy name Of mother. Di
she remember the injured father abo
" whose neck in the holy hours of tho pas
!" her arms had clung so lovingly! Alas
= cloud child-lifo with bitter, hsart-breakir
memories, never, never to be blotted o
this side the gate of death
God forgive me, if in my feelings Of de
peration, hard, unkind thoughts toward Il
erring, took Christian charity from my sou
/ could only think of the evil they la
g done-not what they might suffer thrOue
g tho tortures OF romorse. 1t was sometin
a before the seducer came into the roo
IN whore / still sat with the child, determine
L. to meet him once more before / left Il
a. house.
o! how guilty! how heart-stricken b
is appearance Remorso sat on his forehead
a, looked out from his eyes-spoke when
i. when he was silent.
1 "Will you come to dinnerl" he asked.
l. hesitated. Should l partake of
le hospitality; the hospitality OF one Of tho
N tiends in human shape whose steps tai
1t hold on holl | knew his guilt-why d
d. lay to declare itl Why not at once,
10 burning words, upbraid him for his villain
Lh and feO as from pestilence his sin-cursC
ii housol The man noticed my hesitatio
" He could not Of course, interpret its caus
As he repeated his request, the look Of d
rt tross upon his face, excited feeling of pi
a which for the moment slightly disarm'
d. my resentment, and under the influence
v this feeling almost unconsciously pass,
n into the dningroom
or II am sorry little Nelly's mamma, Il W
is glad he did not dare To use the sacred mar
ID of wife)-"is not able to sit down with u,
Sc he said. at is many months since we ha
Ct had her presence at our meals. She
III suffering from the effects Of slow fever
ID ducsd by the climate;" he added graveI
ly as he motionsd me to a seat before him.
lg The table glittered with silver plate,