Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-01-27

with far more show of favor than she
had hitherto bestowed upon any of her
visitors. They resembled each other in
many particulars. Both were hand
some, intellectual, pleasant, silent, and
reserved. There was a sort of mystery
about the manners and actions of Your
MIN which piqued the curiosity and ex-
cited the interest of the heiress. He
evidently admired her, paid her every
possible attention-why did he not
speak of love2 He had habit of fixing
his bright, dark eyes on hers, half in re,
veris and half with such an expression
as seemed to declare the approach of a
decisive explanation. Already the
nelghbors spoke of the marriage as a
decided business and Petrowna reioic-
ed at the thought that her daughter
would at length have husband who
was worthy of her.
One morning az the good lady was
seated In her drawing room, Vourmin
entered and inquired for Mari.
"She'sin the garden" replied Petrow-
ma. You will find her there if YOU wish
to see her.
The colonel went out hastily, and Pc
trowna, making the sign of the cross
murmured to herself "God be praised I!
am in hopes that everything will be ar
ranged to-day"
Vourmin found his lady love dressed
IN white, seated beneath tree close by
a lake, with book on her knee, like
any heroine Of romance. After the in
tsrchange of few common place sen
fences, Vourmin, with considerable agi-
tatlon, told her that for long time he
had been DESTROYS of opening his mind
to her, and now prayed her to listen to
him for few moments. She closed her
book and cast her eyes down in token
of assent.
81 love you" he exclaimed, 'love you
Mari then bent down her head little
lower!
" have committed the imprudence
Of seeking you, of listening to you eve
~ day. Mari recollected the first let
-er of st. Preux.) Now it is too late to
resist my destiny. The memory of
your sweet face and gentle voice will
form henceforth the Joy and torture of
my existence. But l have duty to
fulfil towards you. Unjust reveal to you
strange secret, which places between
us an insurmouutable barrier.
That barrier" murmured Mari, sshas
always existed. never could have be-
come your wife,
81 know" replied Vourmin, in low
voice, "that you have loved but death
and three years of mourning, dearest
Mari, did not deprive me of the happi-
ness of thinking that you might have
been mine, if not"
Hush" cried Mari, "you pierce me
to the heart!"
Yet, I have the consoling thought
that you would have been. But am
one of the most unfortunate of men-I
am married.
Mari raised her eyes with look of
amazement.
Il am married." resumed the colonel
these four years, and neither
know who my wife is, no where she is,
mol whether I..shall ever meet her."
wv hat can you mean? Where is the
mystery? But go on, 1 beg of you'll
will tell yon afterwards"
Here, them" said the colonel, care
the facts: In the year 1912 l was go
ing to wilma to join my regiment. l
arrived late one evening at station,
and had just given orders to have the
horses Immediately harnessed, when
suddenly there arose a snow storm
The master Of the house and the postil.
ion both earnestly advised me to defer
my journey; but tempest or no tempest,
was determined to push on. The pos
,illion took it into his head that he could
shorten the way by crossing a river
whose banks he knew very we'll. How,
aver, he missed the right ford and
brought me to place that was totally
strange to him. The storm continued
20 rage, but at length we discried dis
ant light. fastened towards it, and
ound myself outside church, whence
he light proceeded. The door was
open. Sledges were waiting outside,
md several persons were standing in
he porch. One of them called out to
ne, "This way this way!' l got out
# my sledge, and entered the church.
One OF the people in the porch said,
In the name of heaven, what has de-
aged you? The bride has tainted, and
We were all on the point OF returning
lome."
"Half bewildered and half amused, I
'esolved to follow up the adventure
indeed, L was allowed no time to DELHI
'rate, for my impatient friends hurried
ne into the interior Of the church, which
vas family lit by two or three torches.
A glrl was seated on bench in the
'hadow; while another, standing beside
Ter, was rubbing her temples.
AT length, said the latter, "God be
praised that you have come. My mis-
ress was nearly dying"
=, An old priest approached and said:
Shall we begin?'"
"Oh, begin by all means, my reverend
ather," replied / giddily.
:, They assisted the yong girl to rise.
ohe seemed very pretty. Through a
evlty quite objectionable, and, as it
low seems to me inconceivable, / adj
'anced beside her to the altar. Her
servant, and the three men who were
present, were SO much occupied about
1er, that they scarcely glanced at me.
Besides, the light, as have said, was
very dim, and my head was enveloped
n the fur hood, my travelling pelisse.
" In few moments we were mar
red"
Embrace each other" said one of
me witnesses. My wife turned her
pale face towards me. For an instant
she ,gazed as if petrifed; then, falling
backward, she exclaimed, at is not he!
1t is not he!"
Out of the church I rushed. before