Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-16

| here, as l family hoped, l found her. With
half joyful half moaning cry, she threw her
arms round my neck land l could feel her tears
dropping upon my face, as the whispered
ssOh, Lottie, Lottie, we have met again by
the dear old BROOK
For a few moments she sobbed as if her
heart would break, then suddenly drying her
tears, she assumed a calm, cold, dignified man
ner such as l never have seen in Cora Blanch-
ard. Very composedly she questioned me of
what had done during her absence, telling
me, too, of her travels, of the people she had
seen, and the places she had visited but not
| word she said about him she called her hus-
band. From the bank where We sat the village
| graveyard was discernible, with its marble
! cleaning through the trees, and at last,
her eye wandered in that directions she said:-
ssHave any of the villagers died +? Mothers
| letters were never definite"
! eyes," | answered, ,ssour minister Mr.. Sum-
ner, died two months ago"
| s.Who takes his place 70 she asked, aud, as
| if suspicion of the truth were flashing upon
| her, her eyes turned towards me with an eager
| and startled glance.
ssWater Beaumont. He is to be ordained
next Sabbath, and you're just in time,'' l re-
| piled, regretting my words the next instant,
| for never saw | so fearful look of anguish as
that which swept over her face, and was sue
ceeded by a cold, defiant expression. scarcely
| less painful to witness.
She would have questioned me of him, /
| our ear, sending a crimson flush to Coras
| hitherto marble cheek, and producing on me
| a most unpleasant sensation, for knew that
! the gray haired man, now within few PAGES
| of us, was he who called that young creature
| his rife. Golden was the chain by which he
| had bound her, and every link was set with
| diamonds and costly stones, but it had rusted
and eaten to her very hearts core, for the
most precious gem of all was missing from
the chaIn-love for her husband, who, tortu-
nately for his own peace of mind, was too
conceited to dream how little she cared for
| him He was not handsome, and still many
would have called him fine-looking, middle
| aged man, though there was something dlsa-
! greeable in his thin compressed lips, and in
! tensely black eyes-the one betokenlng vlo-
lent temper and the other an indomitable Will.
| To me he was exceedingly poite-rather too
much so for my perfect ease, while towards
| Cora he tried to be very affectionatc.
Seating himself at her side, and throwing
his arm around her, he called her ''a little
truant,'' and asked s'why she had run away
from him.
| Halt pettishly she answered, ssbecause l
like sometimes to be alone - then rising up
and turning towards me, she asked II ''the wa
| ter still ran over the old mill dam in the West
woods, just it used TO do" saying il it did
she wished to see it. s.You can't CO., she
| continued, addressing her husband, "ior 1t is
more than mile, over fences and plouShed
| fields"
This was sufficient, for Mr.. Douglas was
| very fastldious in all matters pertaining to his
dress and had fancy for soiling his white
pants or patent feathers. SO Cora and sat
! off together, while he walked slowly back to
the village. Scarcely was he out of sight,
however when, seating herself beneath tree,
and throwing herself fiat upon the ground,
Cora annouced her intention of not gong any
further.
Il only wish to be alone breathe so much
| no | looked
iuglv at her. she continued. HNever marry
| man for his wealth, Lo'tie, unless you wish to
become as hard, as wicked. and as unhappy as
! [ am. John Dou glas is worth more than hall
a million, and yet would give 1T all II were
| now the same little girl who six years ago
! waded with you through the snow drifts to
| school on that stormy day. Do you remember
| what we played that noon, and my foolish re-
mark that would marry for money and dia-
| naonds Woe is me, have won them both ~
And her tears fell fast on the sparkling gems
which covered her slender fingers.
| lust then I saw in the distance young man
whom knew to be Walter Beaumont. He
seemed to be approaching us, and when Cora
became aware of that she started up and grasp
ing my arm hurried away, saying, as she cast
back a fearful glance-ssI would rather die
than meet him now. l am not prepared"
For the remainder of the way we walked on
in silence, until we reached her mothers gate,
where we found her husband waiting for her.
Bidding me SOOd InurninS, SHe iotio"eu nun
slowly up the gravclled walk, and saw her
no more until the following Sabbath. 1twas
a glorious, beautiful morning; and at an early
hour the old brick church was filled to over
flowing, for Walter had many friends and they
came together gladly to see him made min
lister of God. During the first part OF the SER
vice he was very pale, and his eye wandered
often towards the large square pew where sat
portly man and beautiful young woman,
richly attired in satin and Jewels 1t had cost
a struggle to be there, but she felt that she
must look again upon him she had loved SO
much and so deeply wronged. 80 she came,
and the sight of him standing there III his
early manhood, his soft brown hair clustering
about his brow, and his calm, pale face wear
ing an expression almost angelic, was more
than she could bear, and leaning forward she
kept her countenance concealed from view
until the ceremony was ended, and Walters
clear, musical voice announced the closing
hymn. Then she raised her head, and her
face. seen through the folds of her costly
veil, looked haggard and CHASTITY, as If fierce
storm of passion had swept over her. By the
door she paused, and when the newly 'ordain-
ed clergyman passed out, she offered him her
hand, which, when he held it last, was pledged
!, to him. There were diamonds on it now-dia-
, monds of value rare, but their brightness was
hateful to that wretched woman, for she knew
, at what fearful price they had been bought.
They did not meet again, and only once
more did Walter sec her; and then from our
door he looked ont upon her, as with her nus
band she dashed by on horseback, her long
, cloth skirt almost sweeping the ground, anu
the pllnaes of her velvet cap waving IN the ar.
ssMrs Douglas is a fine rider, was all tnah
! Walter said, and the tone of his voice indica-
ted that she was becoming an opJect Oh lhoii-
ference. Desperately had he fought with MS
affections for her, winning the victory at last,
Love hao had n