Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-11-17

! desolaiien came upon me. If my aunt had
been alone | would have returned, and
swallowed my words, and prayed on my
knees to be taken back; but thought oi
Josiah's TRIUMPH dare not face that; and
turned away and left rhe house.
4 shall never forget the cruel doubts
which beset me in that short walk to Mrs.
Huntly's, the sad possibilities which throng-
ed nv brain; not that doubted OF his love,
hut knew that he was not rich; he might
have lpoked for something on my part to
enable US to marry. At the very least, l
was throwing myself on his generosity. not
only accepting. but seizihg eagerly at his
offer, as drowning wretch catches at
straw. Then my Circumstances were so
totally changed since the offer was made.
that my pride revolted st the idea Of forcing
him, out of honor, "a. tske me as bis wife,
THE isIe & lsf giving 70 ~ Huntly s. Mhirh.
on the spur Of the moment, bad sppeafe
perfectly natural and proper, began to seem
no.hing short of utter bcldness and impud-
ence.
Il am sure must have given it up, and
gone back humbly to my aunt's had he
Mr.. Hun,ly-not evertaken me on the COM
mon; he only bowed and would have passed
on (he said afterward he though he had no
right to address me till his letter was an
swered). spoke his name only very low,
bu, he caughtii, and turned. j feltterribly
frightened, and could scarcely speak, but
this was only at first; few words from him
and doubt was over. and he took me home
to his mother.
MRS. Huntly was very kind to me; she
called me from the very FIRST he' daughter,
listening With mothers sympathy to all
had to say. Twas TO call their house my
home; and in very short time it really was
nv own home. We were married as speedy
as arrangements would permit .a
Il did all in my power to obtain my aunt's
forziveness, hu. in vain. The day after |
was at Mrs HuntIy's, my wardi ODE, and
everything possessed. were sent to me,
but no letter or message; and though
wrote very often, received no reply. This
was the ONLY drewback to my happiness
Though Mr.. Huntly's income was small. II
was quite sufficient for every comfort. He
was SO ,houghtfully kind; he bought Lucy s
brother out of the army; and Lucy. poor
girl, Mrs Huntiy took at once iato her ser
vice, and she never left us till she went
away to be married many years afterward-
Il had been married three months, aud
had never chanced TO meet my aunt In my
walks, but heard of her from time to time
from mutual friends
.One day, intelligence was brought me
that she was seriously lila paraiytic
seizure. In the greatest anxiety hasten
ed 10 DIE i7puse,- the dvotcr' -ee~rfsge- was
az the DOOR | asked how my aunt was.-
The butler said she was very III. Could l
| see her! The man said he had strict orders
! 70 refuse me admi;taDce. Whose orders!
inquired.
sMr. Josiah's,' was the reply. ! was re.
fectinp upon what had better do, when
the doctor came down siairs. He had al
wnys been very kind friend of mine.
"I'm SO glad yor are here.' said he; i
think /, might do vcur aunt good; she has
nae 1tionea your name seversl times He
begped to have few words " ith me in the
dining room:
s.I,m refused admittance.'
..Mr. Josiah's orders, SIR ssidthe butler
puzzled what to do.
.I,u be Responsible replied the destor
and I followed him into the diaing-room
ssThe doctor did not disguise from me tha
IL was most serious attack. 1t was agreed
tha, should enter nv aunt's room as
nothing had oc cured between US. and bus
myself with the general arrangements.
.My arnt's face did brighten up when
approached her, and she smiled faintly.
j was very distressed to see her iE SO sad
condition. was on the point Of referrin
to the past, and begging her forgiveness
$ but the doctor drew me back, and motione
:. to me to be silent.
MY presence and attentions seemed
! cause nv aunt SO much satisfaction. th'
u the doctor expressed strong wish, if pos
sibJe, that | should remain and nurse her,
I could sleep on the sofa in the room. II
{ feared shat nv services would not be veI
Il long required. ] was SO very glac to be
u auy comfort to my aunt, that readily agret
> to the proposition; then Irecollected abo'
Josiah, and reminded the doctor of the pt
&c culiar circumstances in which was place
% He promised me that should have no Al
noyance or anxiety on that score. wi
~ thus fully established as chief nurse. N
'e first meeting with Josiah was not nearly
. embarrassment as I had feared; he W
certainly cold and distant in his manne
r but he expressed himself verv pleased tn
60 nv aunt should have me with her; neve
10 theless, I heard afterward. that the unfc
'h tunate butler who had admitted me was pc
u empiorily dismissed.
AT the first, when my aunt was so i'll a
0e helpless. Josiah came very little into t
40 sick room; but as soon as she grew bett'
te and began thoroughly to regain her cons
II business and The use of her limbs, he was
er and out of the room all day. On the pl
ou that should be over-fatigued, he want
ny me to let the nurse sleep in the room.
he would not consent to this; ! said, that
mr. aunt was so accustomed to my nursir
iei | knew she would never like anybody e.
o. with her. He was very reluctant 10 fore
90 his proposal. The nurse slept in the br
e." doir, and observed that she became
'or more active and attentive in the night I'll
= she had been during the worst OF the illne
ne If got up ever so softly to go to my aun
VI bed, she ives sure TO be in the room; q