The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-11

tnat sue even oHefeu 10 90 10 Mr.. Raven
wood and consent 10 all he should wish
but | sternly and peremptorily forbade
her from giving a thought to such
course. l did not weep any suppose
the tears all settled down on my heart
for there was burning load there for
many day.
Soon after our removal, Gyve Cottage
was let, and tho heir of Ravenwood went
abroad.
X
Hildred and got along very well at
our new home, until | was taken sick of a
fever. This brought us down to absolute
want for my earnings were Of course stop
ped, and IIildred could DO nothing but
attend upon me. Poor child. she was
nearly distracted, and know that she
often suffered for food, and | lying there
powerlejs to shield her from the mt
The expenses of my illness ate up all my
little savings, and we were too proud to
ask charity.
In this time of trial there came to us
an angel of mercy in the young clergy
man of Londsdale. Wolfgang Walsing-
ham was born in England, of a Swiss
mother and English father, and early IN
life he was set aside for the ministry
He had received call to set le at Londs-
dale, and for the space Of four months he
had attended to the spiritual wants Of the
people with a zeal and earnestness which
won for him the love of al. He heard
of my sickness and came to visit us in
the capacity of comforter. lie brought
in the glorious sunshine when he came,
and in his absence the whsle world look
ed dark by comparison. During the
days of my weary convalescence my
heart learned new song whose begin
ming and ending was Wolfgang Walsing-
ham. For the fist time knew what
was the length and breadth and depth Of
love which woman gives to the chosen
of her soul!
But my love brought me no happiness,
even when l knew by the flushing of
Wolfgang's cheeks, and the deep tender
ness of his voice, that it was returned. |
had no time to dream Of bliss, for the
cold reality rose up and confronted me.
Hildred also loved the young minister =
Itw as not very long ere made the dis
covery, and it cost me many fierce wrest-
lings with the n3el Of duty. Love for my
sister triumphed, and rose from my sick
bed ready for sacrifice. But few days
passed until it was required Of me.
One evening, sitting by nay side, while
Hildred had gone to the shop for work.
Wolfgang told me that he loved me. |
do not wish to write his words, because
they are the one great blessed memory OF
my ife-my earthly forstaste of heaven
l heard him through for l wanted all his
assurances to support me through the
fiery ordeal which awaited me, and when
he had finished, / told him, calmly, that
| could not be his. l dared not confess
to him that loved him, least it should
| mako him uneatiSfied in the path which L
had wlled he should walk. When his
first outburst of grief and disappointment
had subsidized, told him that my sister
had given him her affections, and that it
would make me very happy to see him
| her husband! was bold with Tim in
this. because | knew that lie would not
msconstrue my motives.
He went away in great mental pertur-
baton, but the next day he returned and
! said:
Faith, You are the only woman can
ever love with my whole soul and you
have refused me- Still if anything that
| can do will please you, it would he my
greatest bliss to do it! If you wish it l
will ask Hildred to share my life-she is
your sister, and | can love her next to
YOU"
"And so may God in heaven bless
your | cried from out the depths cf my
spirit, and for an instant my head rested
upon his shoulder, and his lips pressed
my forehead. 1t was my first weakness
it was likewise my last.
Two mcnths afterward Hildred was
made happy; and from the grand old
church in Londsdale she went forth the
welded wife of Wolfgang Walsin-
| CHAM.
For years subsequent to this event my
life flowed on uninterruptedly. Iremain-
ed at my lodgings, still earning my living
by my needle, and refusing the many and
urgent limitations of my brother and SIS
ter to give up my toiling existance aud
live with them. knew that l could not