Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-06-06
hand OF my only sister.

manu- OF my only sister.
l sounded her feelings, and found my
. dear Maggie, (as l have tonight that
her woman's heart was all permeatcd with
love which made her resent the slightest
hint of his hypocrisy and baseness.
But true to my affection and duty as an
elder brother l told her all and warned
her of her fate"
"But the villain"
"Oh! he was my father" sobbcd Mag
gle
'Truc, darling, and though he deserved
all 1 can give him, for your sake l will
speak respectfully. He foiled me at every
turn, and at last turned my sister cOldly
from me, forged letters that gave her con-
fidence in him and made her distrust me,
and at length made both my mother and
Maggie believe that was his enemy with
out cause"
81 was young and impulsivc, and sfter,
in the most solemn manner warning Mag
gle of her coming fate, left home.
Shortly after with my mothers fullest
c,nsent and concurrence, they were married
and Immediately, according to his wish,
sailed for Europe.
Eighteen years ago. the property of the
wife, became legally the property of her
husband at the marriage, and my sister
would have been shocked at the idea of
Withholding dollars and cents, houses and
lands from the man to whom, in all conf .
dcnce and loving trust, she had given her /
self for better or for worse till death should
part them. As soon as | knew that my
aged mother was alone in her WidOwhood,
l returned home, to find my worst fears
more than realized.
maggie had given over to him all the
deeds and papers belonging to l.cr part of
the estate. and houses and lots, and bank
stock were rapidly changing hands to pay
debts contracted before lis marriage
Ono year went by, and VIC heard from
her often, and she wrote checrfully and
happily. The second year welost sight of
them. Month after month passed, and no
trace of the fugitives could be found. ~
gents received letters from London and
Paris, to turn the property into money and
send it to agents on the ether side of the
water
Three years of terrible suspense and
trial passed over us-the property was all
disposed of-not a dollar was left in the .
name of the original owners Ny moth .
cr's health was falling, and she had made
up her mind that some terrible accident
by sea or by land, had occurred, and that
both husband and wife had gone to that
bourne from whence no traveller returns. y
I encouraged this idea. though did not =,
for one moment accept its truth in my
own mind"
Il should have crossed the sea and
searched for her through all Europe had !
not my dear failing mother clung to me
as the only hope of closing years.
"One cold, dark, wintery night, when the !
winds howled like wild beasts around the
old casements-yOur grandmother and |
sat here alOne-as We do now, only that
she sat in the arm chair and l set crouchcd
at her feet, trying to make her happy and
cheerful-with mirth and merriment which :,
did not feel--when suddenly we were :
both startled by loud and imperative =
knock at the door, :
sprung to my feet-fear then shot
through my heart feeling that the knock >
vas in some way connected with my sister. ',
Mother clasped her hands at the same in
slant, and exclaimed who knows but its :, :
Maggie?" y
/ reached the hall with a bound, and
hrcw wide open the door, and there on the :
'tep stood rough looking man, his gar !
nents hung with icicles, and supporting :, :
With his right arm, woman. envelOped in :, a
/ faded shawl, with a sunbonnet drawn
lown closely over her face :.
GOOD evening to your honor" said the !
abruptly, Il brought you here : :
'oung oman that would be coming tonight, :.
through the storm, though 1 tried hard to :
'ursuade her to stay at the Station office ~
}ut must be leaving her with We, at onst y
S my hosses amt Oer good at standing ,;
Whoa Jim''-"The poor shivering creature :.
Talked past me into the hall, and on into :.
he parlor-a shrek, and cry: oh Moth =,
T. mother"
The coachman descended the steps as :,
ct go the door; l know not how / came :.
here, but with my next consciousness OF :.
found myself lifting from the m
Oor where they had both fallen together: :,
ny mother and sister. r.
That night, dear Maggie, you was born de
he poor weary wanderer had come home ali
D die; for six months she had not seen the ala
-reteh, who had so deceived her. All his sb.
oOdness had been assumed to win her for lin
lne; with it beyond my reach; he gave as
pose reign to his base passions; still hoping ba
irving, and pleading, she had clung to ne,
i'm, asking God day by day, to hear her
rayer for his repentance and amendment.
ut all hope was vain. 1t took but few vii
lonths to waste all her substance, then on,
18th woman's generous nature, (for she
ad been taught us all other girls have, but idl
'Olishly taught that it is wifc's duty to 70
ling to husband. no matter hew base he
lay be. She applied herself to earning
or living; being a fine musician and expert the