The Shasta courier., 1859-02-05

/ listened attentively.
Had we better telegraph to him p she said.
There is no particular cause for your doing
SO. a letter sent by the mail tomorrow morn
ing viii answer as well. / do not apprehcnd
any serious results from this attack. Do as you
please, however,
We will send tonight, then Walter can
come then in the first train tomorrow answer
ed my father.
Don't, don't send for him. I cried, springing
wildly up. ] you love me, do not let him know
that / am i'll. l shall be better soon. Do not
look at me so, am not delirious; | know what
] am saying-don't send for himr
Why not p asked my mother.
Becausc-because, | faltered, cannot tell
you why
What is it, childr p queried my mother.
Walter will never come here again for me ;
| he is
sWhat2
He is married to some one else read it in
to-day's paper said.
'To-day's paper repeated my mother.
Yes, it is in my room go for it.
! The paper was found, and the evidence of
Walters peridy read by every member OF the
! family before the wretched truth could be real
lied then blank silence followed, and my mo-
ther came to my bed side and put her dear arms
lovingly about me- and said, if all others failed,
she should always remain true; that she would
rather suffer from his fckleness n thousand
times over, than bear up under his guilt it was
| all for the best even though my heart broke
der the burden which bore down upon it.
How from my inmost soul blessed that mo-
ther for the comforting words she spoke, and
while nestled closely in her arms, like fright
ened, greyed child, and felt her warm tears up
/ on my cheeks, her tender kisses upon my lips,
through my sorrow, little vein of joy found its
! 7 H. Id c,-, III
mothers love!
| In few days I was up and about the house
The pride that had been humbled by my first
/ shock of sorrow, took up life again and came
faithfully to my aid. put seal upon my lips.
Upon them should linger no regrets; play no
words of passionate tenderness tarry no names
which had once been uttered with so much of
! gladness. Ny heart should prison all its grefs,
| though in their rebellion it were torn and bro
ken. Pride should be the stern sentinel which
I would set to watch over it. Pride the sexton
which would bury from the eyes of the world
my woes; the mutilated corpses of my once bril-
| liant hopes. The world should have no tomb
stone to look upon, and say, that in such place
my dead heart was lying; ], and only, must
know the silent resting place.
| And thus the days went on, till the time fixed
for Walters coming was at hand The story of
his marriage spread rapidly through the
village. Every gossip was busy with the rare
piece of news. If | went out, was watched as
eagerly as though were a condemned criminal,
or wild, ferocous animal, that was bent upon
some fatal mischief Some said that was most
| heart broken; others that l was nearly insane,
and others still, that had fallen into sort of
stupor from which should never be roused that
in all human probability should live but short
time. God knows prayed that the last might
be so that every day asked earnestly never to
see the light of another that the bridal robes
laid away so carefully might be my shroud, at
the time had thought should become bless
ed, happy wife
The day which Walter was to come dawn
ed at last. l knew expected that it would be
% wretched one to me, and shuddered when its
light broke clear and rosily in at my windows
o, how everything Knocked me on that morningl
The mist rose up like fragrant breath from the
| lowands at the first warm kiss of the sun, and
4 lay like white mantle at the feet of the sweet
green hills. The fields stretched away, glisten-
ing in the sunlight, as though their mantles
were studded with costly jewels; and the birds
hymned out their praises, rich and clear upon
the morning air In all this glory how wretch
edly, how wickedly, cursed the very fate that
bade me look upon it-live to see it.
! wandered out into the woods, where the si-
sounds of human life. ] went back to the vii
lage again YEARLY towards home. l went past
the station. train had just that moment come
in. had promised to meet Walter there, at
that very hour turned back knew not why;
perhaps thought to cheat myself for moment
into the belief that should meet him as had
promised; that the past week was myth,
dream. As did so, well-known voice sound
ed upon my ear. | turned quickly around, the
blood receding rapidly from my brow, cheeks
and lips. Merciful heavens Walter Mayo was
standing directly before me, with beautiful
showiy y-dressed woman leaning upon his arm
'Oh, if could but be away from this spot
thought, as a terrible faintness came over me-
Was pride frighted from her post again p
Should give up there, sink before all those
cold, crlticising eyes? No, nor and with a
strong effort moved on, directly past them. As
did so, Walters gaze fell upon me.
All, there is Annie, he said, this way, Hell
en-, and coming towards me, he held out his
| hand.
4 drew back. A rapid, angry light shot from
my eyes. My lips quiyered, my whole frame
trembled with emotion. | would not bear his
insults, and every word that he might speak to
me, after the great wrong he had done, was, in
deed, an insult l looked disdainfully at his
proffered hand and turned away
why, Annie, what is the matter, YOU are
looking as white as DEATH? he exclaimed, lay
ing his hand upon my arm. Why do you turn
away so-what does this mean p
Oh, how the tenderness of his voice went
down to my heart, and pleaded with the stern
sentinel, pride How it reused my quiet dead
my dead that had placed in their graves
the cold, icy graves of forgetfulnessl
And why do you dare speak to me, sir 7
said, in voice hoarse with passion. l have no
words to waste upon your
Annie, Annie, cannot believe my senses
what is the meaning of this?'
Your heart is baser than thought, if you do
not know the meaning. Let me go, l have no.
thing to say to you. l cannot wish you and your
beautiful bride joy, even, for in my heart have
only curses, curses for you that is all.'
Bride, bride, Annie l-are you mad? l have
no bridep
laughed his words to scorn as he uttered
them. Do not add another fasehood to the
pyramid that you have already raised, said
And yet, what could be the use of such de-
nial,' thought, as the words died away upon
my lips.
| You shall not go until you explain yourself,
he said, grasping my hand firmly, as turned
away again.
Speak, Helen tell her that have no bride,
and never hoped 10 have, but herr
But began, hesitatingly, my voice growing
strange and hollow But what did that mean
your marriage-in the paper2
Nv marriage lis il possible did that