Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-04

You have nothing to fear"
'.Then may hope, and will get well 90
bowed afirmatively The nurse again
passed q cloth, saturated in cologne, over her
face and neck, and in a few minutes the luxu-
rant sleep Of the convalescent stole over her
To reassure myself of her condition, L re-
msined for half hour to see the physician, en-.
gagged, in the meantime, in looking at the
books and ornaments of the room. -
The physician came in and pronounced Mary
entirely out Of danger. He gave her permis-
sion to sit mp in bed the following day, and
left orders for her future nourishment, saying
he would not call again until sent for This
last remark had telling effect. Mary's eyes
beamed with hope and joy. / was taking my
leave, when she called me back and requested
that would call the next morning to listen to
a recital that would be as strange to me as it
woaid be important to her that should know
it. made the appointment.
AS entered the room I was surprised at
seeing Mary sitting on the side of the bed, her
legs hanging down, partly uncovered. /
charged her more with indecency than impru-
dence; told her that L had done for her to the
extent of my services, and that it grieved me,
where there was so much promise, to see so
early departure from it. She threw herself
in the bed, with her hands clasped together
under the back of her head, while her arms
protruded beyond and half concealed her face
She remained for a while silent; at length she
looked Celeste and alternately in the face, to
awaken in US some new development. Seeing
we said nothing, she exclaimed
" Mr.. -, you have seen me through the
fever, but when had it 1 did not foresee the
dangers that waited on recovery What shall
do? o God why did not die 9''
L asked what new phantom troubled her.
I" 1t is in remaining here-here, where
scorn myself, and from whence 1 have not the
means to leave without submitting to a degra-
datiOn that L loathe more now than ever
Though, if it is inevitable, it will not be long
and maybe my God will forgive me-"
Explain yourself, but without excitement
to yourself"
She began:
81 believe I am WE'LL or out of danger
Now seek friend, such as never knew the
value of until now; but you have done so much
and l have so little in only a grateful heart
that dare not ask you to continue your kind
acts"
replied that she was precisely in that situ-
alton Of dependency that made our acts the
moro pleasing to ourselves.
Then hear me through; will tell you all
My father lives at -. He sent me to neigh
boring convent, where 1 was educated, and re-
mained until was eighteen years of age He
Is wealthy farmer, and my brother, older
than am, is associated with him. My mother
died before l knew that had lost one On nv
married to young lady, the daughter of a
neighboring farmer. 1t was settled upon by
both families that was to marry her brother
whether would or not. had before formed
an attachment which was warmly reciprocated
for young man who was clerk in a neighboring
town Without any dislike to my intended, |
nursed an affection for the other in a spirit of
oostinacy and wounded pride in having dicta-
ton in matters of affection NV father no
ticed the GOODNESS with which received my in
tended, and threatened me with exclusion from
the world until | was of lawful age unless COM
piled with his commands. Appreheusive of
such an event, listened to the proposition of
my lover to elOpe. With the monney he had
saved we left home five weeks ago and took pas
sage in steamboat for New Orleans, determin-
ing to be married as soon as we landed here
Not being acquainted with your laws we were
much surprised that we could not fulfill our in
tentions; knowing no one to youch for us, we
could not obtain license. To each other, our
pledge was as strong and binding, and as sacred
as parson or priest could make it: we were man
and wife. Well, we put up at the - Hotel
After being there week, Charles found his
scanty fund much diminished and with the
hopelessness of obtaining a situation, certain
misery ahead. Another week of board would
exhaust our resources, and we had not enough to
return to our home. The yellow fever, which
was then prevailing to great extent, raised
was no consolation for the horrible situation in
which we found ourselves. One night we were
in agony from being kept awake by the moans
OF dying man in a room net far from ours
We now acknowledged that we wandered away
from home like two foolish and guilty things,
and that we were justly harvesting the fruits
One morniHs Charles came into our room
gloomy and detected.
"' Mary said he, I'VE have made Judies of
ourselves 1t is folly for us to be thinking of
being legally married when we have not the
least prospect of support before us 1t is of no
use for us to be in each others way You are
better of than l, for you can get employment in
millinery; but can get no employment, and
must work my passage back. At any rate,
must leave you, for cannot pay this week s
board
L cannot conceive what passion possessed
me when he finished. / was so startled at the
idea of his deserting me that 1 could not think
for him, or for the causes that drove him to
speak as he did. My first impulse was to spit
In his face; but only looked him full in the
GO GO. H' aa'"n'ea 10 him and told him to
Z" then took chair. by the window, think
ing desperate things, not noticing Charles as
he left with bundle of his clothes, taken
from our trunks. The dinner hour passed I
was equally Indifferent to the cravings of ma
ture as to the world; had known of poison, I
"VuIu nafo takcH H. hL nlgnL the chamber
maid informed me that my apartment was en-
gagged for the following day. Suspicious of
my character, il not of my ability to paw. had
been aroused. A hint was given me TO leave.
| replied, like guilty thing, nothing, still in.
different to life. / wonder now at nv feelings
then. could not excite myself at INV situs-
ton, not being able fully to realize it. Sud
denly thought struck me; To the river . /
said aloud, and hastily throwing on my bonnet
and shawl, descended the stairway. Suddenly
the hellish thought entered me, If L am lost
| said, Il will be otill worse; will 90 with
the current
alt was after nine O'Clock. Well. sir. 7
started of at rapid pace on the streets, ina
gining that should find Charles; not that /
wanted to see hmi, but to have an object for
my walk stared impudently into the faces
Of men, who took me, no doubt, to be crazy,
in my fast gait, while 1 swung in my hand a
kerchief violently by my side in walking
When nearly exhausted, ready for posion had
| known how to purchase it, a cabman ad
dressed me and asked me where I wanted to 90
"' do not know replied, anywhere
Jump in, he cried and will show you.
"Inyoluniarily resigned myself to his as
sistance in pushing me in the cab. 1t ratified
away for some squares, when it stopped at this