Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-17
MORNING LEADER.
MY GHOST.
From sharpo's London Magazine.


year. Do what would, Daisy still haunted my
dreams-always the same, sometimes even t.
the small inkstained fingers cramped with long
holding of the pen. laughed savagely about
the marriage. This was woman's cOnstancy
Not three years, and she was married, and tC
Lowther too, who from "reminiscences of old
days, must constantly remind me other. Icon
fessed now that still loved her-confessed If
as penance to myself, pressing it down on my
sore heart like cauterizing iron, and wrlthing
under the pain of my own self contempt Still
from week to week / was not sure that the
marriage had taken place. l always hoped that
it was not yet eonsummated. Not to day; let
it be to morrow. Some six months after left
home there was sentence in one Of my moth
er's letters, which settled the matter.
"Your friend, Sir Hercules" she wrote, twas
married last week. have seen the announce
ment in this morning newspaper" Certainty
is better than uncertainty; the fall of Damocles'
sword is more bearable than its suspension.
My mother died before reached England
again. Nevermore could that sad quarrel be
renewed.
l settled down to my profession, and worked
hard. Ny miseries passed away, and the acute
ness of my feelings became numbed under the
influence of close study. Ambition awoke
within me. The more succeeded the more l
wished to succeed; the further l advanced on
the road, the longer grew the road before me.
Aided by favorable circumstances, my progress
was faster than usual at the bar. At the age
of thirty-fve my practice was large.
Abont this time l determined to marry l
was rich, l had many friends, but | had no
home; felt the lack of those domestic COM
forts, and that social position which only mar
riage can give.
So began to look round for wife. My
friends soon learned that was marrying-man
and recommendations came to my ears of So
and SOS sister, and Such-an-ones daughter
Mammas smiled on me with increased favor,
and melted their lovely offspring to display for
me their virtues and accomplishments.
Very opposite was this marriage-proiect to
the foolish engagement of fifteen years ago
Then, an insane fancy for the child like myself
had nearly hurried me into matrimonial eondi-
ton for which both of US were yet unripe. We
were untitled for each other. It would have
been sacrifice on both sides. How unsetis-
factorily would Daisy have filled the office which
1 now looked for in my wife The woman of
my search was the very antipodes to her.
had professional business in the North of
England, and arranged to stay for night; on
my way, at the seat of friend in one of the
midland counties. Of course this friend had a
daughter. Iwentto seethis daughter,ss l should
have gone to look at the points of horse which
thought might suit me if l had wanted a
horse Ihad seen Miss Dalton in London, dur
ing the last season. She had all the requisite
advantages which / have mentioned above; and
to this favored person I, the Grand Seigneur.
felt inclined at length to throw the handker-
chief / would see her at home, and then make
up my mind in the affirmative or the negative.
On the railway platform / met an old friend
no other than Lowther. He was in deep mOur-
ming, and his black dress, together with the
change which time had worked on him, made
me at first uncertain of his identity. However,
in moment we recognized each other, shook
hands, and took our seats in the same carriage
Nv heart gave one throb, and slept again. |
had not seen Lowther since his marriage. He
had broadened into portly country gentleman,
and his stolid countenance had gained gravity
which looked not unlike wisdom. His deep
voice had majestic roll in it, and bis slow
speech deliberatiOn suggestive of wel-weigh-
ed words. l was amused at the form into which
his Juvenile stoIidity had ripened. learned
from his conversation that his wife was not long
dead. Again, the throb at my heart, and long,
quivering tremor, ere it subsidized to rest. Poor
Daisyl Her girlish figure rose before me WV
idly for q moment, and then gradually faded.
noted on Lowthers finger a memorial ring of
brown hair, and round it imprinted Margaret" "
Lowther was bound for an estate of bis in the
north, not far from my ultimate destination
He made me promise to come to him for day
before l returned to London. A meeting with
an old collegian is always pleasant; the social
ty of those early days retains Its hold upon US
through life. Lowther and 1, for this and for
other causes, were glad to see each other, and
shook hands heartily and warmly when we sep
arated.
Ny reception by the Daltons was kindly, and
had that domestic charm about it which is won
drously agreeable to the bachelor. 1t is some
thing to be received en- tanlillc when one has not
a home of ones own. liked Amy Dalton bet
ter in the old-fashioned country-house than in
the London ball rooms. liked her kindness
to the children when they came down after din
ner. Children cannot be bribed or scolded into
acting love where they do not feel love. l liked
the hints which heard of her household hand
iness, and of homely duties diligently performed
by her. | liked her stories about the village
folks, showing, not in the way Of public exhibi-
ton, how she visited their cottages and read to
them. Above all, liked her because she did
not try to captivate me, did not parade her &C
and her virtues before me.
had seen too much of that lately. All these
little favorable traits were so much thrown in
over and above the essentials in the bargain
which 1 meditated.
At night I retired to the library. 1 had
writing to do, which must be done for to-mor-
rows post. wrote my letters, and then threw
myself into an easy chair by the dying fire
Instead of Amy, thoughts of Daisy rose with
in me-thoughts long stiAed and dead. Those
summer days came back-the wanderings in
the Landship, the sketches, her childish petu-
lance, her wild spirits, her melancholy, her
foolish dreams and speculations. remember
ed how she used to disappear in the hazel
thickets; how her little head had lain upon my
knees; how at that parting she had thrown
herself into my arms and passionately kissed
me. Now that she was dead, it seemed as if
her marriage with Lowther was wiped away
She was mine once more. The old feelings
rushed back in a torrent. tried to stem them.
but in vain. Ny heart a1oke from its sleep,
and proclaimed its omnipotence; and my fngid
reason shrunk away before its fiery sceptre.
There was a sound. The handle of the door
turned, and door creaked and opened. Good
God was mad
There in the doorway stood Daisy-a little
figure dressed in black, the same thin face, the
same heavy hair. The same treble voice ut
tered my name. A moment, and she was gone /
rushed forward, and there was nothing.
A lamentable weakness this. Ny head was
affected My will came into action, and beat
down the strugglings of my heart and strung
nv nerves with It's iron fingers, and brought my
wild thoughts under control. This, / Impress
ed on my mind, has been a phantom Of my ina
gination. am tired and feverish after my jour
ney, and 1 have suffered old thoughts 20 get
the better of ne viii never let such aJsnr-
dities conquer my reason again. l have been
s fool.
lighted my candle and went to bed. Not
will and reason. there was
reaseless whisper within, saying: sit was no
- e - --... 1sAtI. |