St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-05-12

cheek, she was frightened at the cvi
she had done, and strove, by ever.
means in her power, to undo it. Blu
the wound she had made was too deel
q one for words to heal. It's etlec
was destined TO last lifetime, in
stead of an hour.
Was this the man she had though
perfect above all others? How ruth
lessly was the idol torn from its pedes
tai The blow was too heavy, and
in mercy to her, Inconsistencies came
and robbed her of all feeling for a
time. Still robed in her bridal dress,
they bore her to what they feared was
the couch of death, while Mary, near.
" distracted. wept over the ruin she
had wrought. But life throbbed IN
Lucy's veins with too much vigor to
be soon extinguished. She recovered
slowly, though the bloom did not come
back to her check, and her step was
less elastic. From first returning
consciousness, she had chung to the
hope that the charges against her low
er were false, that he was yet all that
was noble and good. In justice to him
she sought every means of learning
his true character but the reports
were only confirmed He himself had
not one word to offer in denial, though
many in begging her forgiveness, and
making promises of amendment. She
demanded to be released from her en-
gagement. He plead with her, and
even wept, for he loved her-but with
n selfish love. How terribly her heart
was racked in this painful trial, nc
one but herself can know. She had
lost faith in him she could never res
tore him to the place her husband
must occupy in her heart so she per-
sisted in her demand. And when she
told him all this, he finally yielded to
her.
And Lucy Young was widow. For
she had given to one all the love she
had TO bestow upon husband. And
she had seen that one taken from her
by as unrelenting hand as deaths.
1t would not have been so bitter for
her, if she could have wept over his
grave in the full belief of the many
virtues which she had accredited to
him. But now the agony of separa-
ration was doubly great, and daily
felt for she must endure his presence,
and look upon the features which had
once been SO dear to her, and know
that all which ennobles manhood had
died within him.
Then there came long and dreary
years to her, bringing the misery
which those feel who have no object
to live for, and a bitter memory to
feed their thoughts upon. At last the
death of her parents recalled her to
the present and when the first bit
terness of this new affection was over,
she began TO ask herself if she had
not something to accomplish in life,
the neglect of which, in dwelling upon
her sorrows, was sin which she was
accountable for. Thcnceforth she re-
solved to embrace every opportunity
to make others happy. There was no
one who had claims upon her, for she
had been an only child. So she took
up her residence in the village, now
grown into a thriving town and as
the years wore on, she became the
cheerful, patient woman she now is,
ready to extend an assisting hand to
all, and spreading sunlight wherever
she goes. Though she has no children
to arise, and call her blessed" many
there are who bless her name, and
thank God that He put it into her
heart to serve her fellow creatures.
"Am not justified in calling her
widow ?" asked my companion, when
the history was finished.
"Truly, her heart is widowed" l re-
piled. Bat what became of Hart
well?'
"Necd you ask this question? l
thought you could not fail to recog-
nize him. DO you see that carriage 7"
pointing to splendid equipage pass
ing along the road, and which con-
tanned the presiding Judge and his
wife. you know Judge Hartwell, do
you not Z"
YES"
He is the hero of my story. He
has attained eminence in his profes,
sion. Few men in the country can
compete with him. He has riches, and
everything which the world says is
necessary to produce happiness. But
you see, from his bloated face, and TO-
tund figure that he is sensualist.
He is not one to make gentle and
refined woman happy. Nor is his wife
happy. You must often have remarked
the care-worn look she wears. For
the first year or two after their mar
riage, he turned, in measure, from
his evil courses. But at length lie
went back, forsaking her society for
his convivial and dissolute compan-
ions. You must know who he mar
ried. No other than Mary Hall ="
(what satire upon the character of
woman y But l do not believe that
Miss Young, when she meets him in
his carriage, surrounded by all the
evidences of wealth, as she is upon
some errand of mercy, ever for mo-
ment is envious of the woman at his
side, though she may sigh in remem-
bering the past. No; not for worlds
would she exchange places with her"
The STEAM ENGINE.-Of the inven-
ton of the steam-cnrine Francis JEFF