The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-09-29

and fearful eyes. Poor Lilly ! the wreat1
of scarlet rosebuds in her hair were no
withered, the diamonds were yet flashin!
on her breast, yet the sweet blossoms o
hope were dead forever.
Her sorrowful resolution was soon tn
ken. She fel. that she could never place
all wife's confidence in one whose re
solves were SO feeble--so easily broken
She knew that wine was her rival tha
when solemn promise was thus un
needed, all the restraints of prudence Oh
discretion would be of little avail.
And so, although it was like the tear.
ing asunder of soul and body, she laid
away her dead and buried love in the sad
mausoleum of the past, never more to
rise again
1t was mournful night. The perfum-
ed light waned low, and flickered into
darkness /; the bright fire died out into
ashy chillness and gloom, and still she
sat there, her fair young head dropping
on her hand, its bright curls ripping
about her snowy arm, all unconscious Of
the progress of time. And when the
cold gray lights of dawn began to pene-
trate the silken curtain Of the easement,
she felt that the crisis of her life was past.
Mr.. Efingham is below, ma am, -
said servant the next noon, as Lilly sat,
pale and exhausted, in her apartment
"shall say you are not well?"
"Tell him." said Lilly" nay, 1 will
write message"
And she hastily inscribed on a card
the following words
:" The broken promise of last night has pla-
eed an impossible gulf between us. Hereafter,
our paths through life lie in far different direc-
tions, for | cannot trust one who is false to
himself. Farewell torcper' LILLY.
st. James read the fatal sentences with
a shining heart /; yet in spite Of an accu-
sing conscience, he strove to think him
self aggrieved.
"W oman's caprice - he muttered
fercely. 81 was fool ever to trust my
happiness In her keeping. However this
freak will not last long, and for the pres
ent, if my presence is SO disagreeable.
she shall not be troubled with it,
He left the house and the estranged
lovers never met again.
Years passed by. Lilly's health,
which had begun to fail from the excite
ment and distress of mind, was finally
restored on the change Of air and scene
consequent on removal to another city.
Gradually the deep scars of her sorrow
healed up; gradually the memory of Eff
fngham became like a distant dream
She welded one in respect worthy of her
gentle virtues, and in the happy occupa-
tion Of wife and mother forgot the troub-
led incident of her girlhood.
Meanwhile. Efingham had wasted his
fine fortune by course of reckless ex-
travagance and dissipation, and gradual
ly sinking from his position in society
had become a mere wreck Of his former
self. He had also left his native city,
and for years his name was never men
toned among those who had been once
his friends and associates.
1t was late one bitter February night,
that Lilly Brooks, now Mrs Woodham.
welcomed her husband to his cheerful
freside, where home comfort seemed to
have assumed its brightest guise. No
marvel that DR.. Woodham experienced a
feeling of relief and pleasure as he threw
off his snowy outer garments, looked up
on his beautiful wife and lovely little
ones gathered around the glowing hearth
stone.
" But why are you so late ?" inquired
Lilly. You usually kept much better
hours than this"
AZ know it," he said, moving the easy
arm chair yet nearer to the blaze; "but
tonight just as was starting for home,
l was summoned to the hospital to attend
poor wretch just brought thither. So.
to the hospital / went, although, after
all, ! was unable to be of any use to the
poor fellow, who was dying when ar
rived" .
"What was the matter % inquired
Mrs. Woodham.
Why it was bad case of delirum
tremens but | think that long exposure
TO this bitter weather was the more i'm
mediate cause, acting upon an under
mined constitution. II was one Of the
saddest examples of intemperence | ever
saw--the unfortunate man rayed wildly
and unconnectedly, yet in language
which led me to suspect him to have
been ordinarily far above the common
class of drunkards. But he was deliri-
Gus up to the very moment of DEATH
He n,ust baya haap o splapdiI lont N,