The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-05-18
WHOLE NO. 1876.

her, with his arm round her waist, sat Nj nj.
ter Harbury! This was the end Of my
agreeable surprise! This was what had
flown on the wings Of love to see stood
perfectly specchless, transfxed. Walter
and Mary remained in exactly the same
position, and neither uttered word. |
wanted to speak to reproach her, but no
voice came, and in silence left the room,
walked down the little garden, closed the
gate gently after me, and returned without
word to the city.
For three days fled from thought as from
a demon. Of Mary, and Mary faithless,
dared not think. The fourth day l blamed
myself as fool for caring about one so
false and coquettish. The fifty day l fan
cied had been too hasty if had spoken
it might have been xplainod-perhaps it
was a mistake; there might be no love be-
tween them, after all. The sixth day
broughtwith it . letter from Mary herself
S..ah letter ] newer read before nor since
fairly wept over it. had been an ass, an
ignoramus, scoundrel to suspect her for
one moment; it was clearly an optical delu-
sion. So took my place in the train that
very night and went down to Wellington.
Mary met me at the gate all smiles and
tears, and looking more beautiful than ever
1T was strange behavior" she said, ito
come and look in upon her, and then go
away without one word She would have
thought it was ghost, if Mr. Harbury, who
happened to be in the room, had not seen
me too. She had not slept since for think
ing and wondering, and she was, 0, so glad
to see me again
Of course | was very sorry and penitent,
and Mary behaved beautifully, and forgave
me like an angel, as she was "She never
thought" she said, ''any thing of Walter !;
he was just like brother; they had known
each other from childhood. As for sitting
beside her, he never should do so again if |
objected to it," So we were reconciled, and
became better friends and lovers than before.
was very anxious to be married now, and
resolved to allow as little time as possible to
elapse before I took my jewel out Of Mr.
Walters reach. All went on smoothly, and
Mary promised me one Sunday evening to
talk the matter over with her mother, and
fix the day for our wedding the next time
came.
was to 60 down on the Sunday, but from
some cause now forget, had tho Saturday
at my disposal, and resolved to spend it with
Mary. All that day felt an unusual op-
preston Of something upon my mind |
could not shake off, As neared the cot.
tage, my presentiment Of coming dread in.
creased. The door was open; as crossed
the vestibule, trembled so violently that l
could hardly open the parlor door, but did
open it, and there on the sofa again sat my
Mary, not this time, however, with one OF
w alters arms around her, but both, and
| bor, 1-,,,r. ro,al h.- pooly ,,,;%h e,,,I> o,
embrace as had never been bestowed upon
me. was resolved it should be no optica
delusion this time, SO walked quietly up,
and laid my hand upon his arm. At my
touch they started, colored violently, and
separated.
MIR. Harbury,' said l, you are welcome.
Thank you, said he.
Il shall not interfere; you have nothing
further to say 49,
| Then turning to Mary, said, Miss Col
Inns, where is your mother!' AS she did
not move or attempt to call her, rang the
bell, and desired the servant girl to request
her mistress to come Mrs. Collins entered
Madam said /, you and your daughter
have played double game with me- Ii
goes no further. Irenounce all pretension
to her in favor Of this gentleman. | will
send you all the letters written by your
daughter to me, and l request that those
she has Of mine may be returned. Ladies
| wish you, and you, Mr.. Harbury, a very
good evening" turned and left Rose Cot
tage forever.
For years after that evening, terrible
load lay at my heart-a load Of love des-
pissed, hopes blighted, and energies wasted
that seemed sometimes greater than |
could bear. Wherever l went, thoughts oi
Mary followed, she seemed ever present, SO
beautiful, so treachcrOus-her very faithful.
ness helped to render her more dear.
pitied her much-so young, so false; with
her wondrous beauty, thousand dangers
threatened her.
1t was five years after | had lost my
Mary; five prosperous years for me, that
one night, woman who was brought into
the hospital, of which l had then become
the principal physician. Here was very
bad case Of consumption, prostration and
weakness, arising from destitution and
starvation. The poor creature was SC
emaciated and swollen, that the moment ]
saw her perceived there was no hope OF
recovery, and directed all the attention o1
the nurse to the tiny, shivering infant in
her arms. The poor mother lay all nigh,
as though quite unconscious of what was
passing around. In the morning, when
came to her bed in the course of my
rounds, there struck me as being in hel
face something familiar. must have seer
it long, long ago, when and where l coult
not recollect.
| AS took her hand she opened her eye.
and looked long and fixedly upon me; thel
she exclaimed with awful emphasis, Charles
Boulding, 60 away, away! Are you going tt
haunt me? You torture me! Oh, go away
But could not go.
Mary, is it? Can it possibly be Mar,
Collins?'
| No. she shrieked, 4 am Mr.. Harbury'.
WIFE, How dare you come to my bedside
Away-awayr
She would not be soothed, but talked
wildly and loudly until they brought hel
child. Then, when she looked into its little
helpless face, and watched it's feeble efforts
to come to her, she softened, and, with al
the mother in her eyes, held out her arms
and pressed it to her heart Perhaps the
t1uttering, irregular pulsations Of that hear
warned her how soon its beating woult
cease forever, for she turned to me, and
with look so full of humility, of grief, ant
love, said, 'Ah, Charles, forgive me.
wronged you cruelty; but l have been
cruelty punished married him, and my
life has been-oh! what life ! but it is
over-I am dying now-he knows not
cares not-deserted-we might both die
for him; but my child-my little girl =
You will not let her starvel Promise me
Charles
| promised swore would be fathe,
to the helpless infant lying by her side
She seemed easy and happy after that; and
lay so still and passive, that when she sank
away from her calm, earthly sleep, into the
sleep Of death, the change was so peaceful