Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-27

sue ulu, nlu ucep lO9 SORROW OF DIS soul,
still the iron which had entered there,
ranked sore Stern and bitter were the re-
solves he formed as he strobe along the old,
familiar walks around his fathers domain,
where he and Minnie had so often sported
in their pleasant childhood days. How vis-
IDLY now all these things came back, and
how dear the old associations; how bright
the picture of that happy child-life-with
the darling snow-bird like some bright
angel Heaven had sent here for a little
time, fitting ever near him with her merry
songs, and gentleness and love.
'Oh Godp he murmured, "that he, Col.
Lincoln, could do this wicked thing. see,
see. She is going. Frail little Minnie
OF course she could not bear that. What
tell her he loved another better. Oh it
were not half so cruel to have killed her
outright. Poor, poor girl And now like
a hero she would bear it all alone, yes, and
without one sigh or tear were it possible
But she must not die for him. Mol her
life were of more value than ten thousand
such rs his. III take her away to a sunni
er land, and mid its beauties and chang
ing scenes perchance there'll come to thee
sweet forgetfulness, and perhaps for some
nobler heart yours may still live on"
Whenever this bright hope came to
soothe his aching heart, for little time it
would beat with something akin to joy; but
for the most part he was wretched and suf.
fcring, seemingly, almost or quite as acute
ly as Minnie did; though each, with their
usual unselfshncss and generous love strove
to keep from the other how much of hap.
piness the stunning, crushing blow had 'reft
them of. But their tell-tale faces kept not
their secret quite so well, and there they
each could read what no word ever uttered
Frank saw but too plainly, how fast it was
undermining and wearing away Minnie's
feeble strength; that she was rapidly sink
ing, and though he strove hard to look on
bright side, this dark cloud seemed eve
to intercept his vision, and something
constantly occurred-almost hourly, as il
were, to keep it constantly looming DER the
darGened horizon.
For some few days after Frank had read
the letter, there was nothing further said O
it, But one morning Mr. and Mrs. Ashber
ton were sitting with Minnie for littlt
time, and they too, made the same inqui
ries Frank had, relative to Col. Lincoln no
coming over now she was getting so wei
again and remarked that the tenth of juno
was near at hand; and Mr.. A. playfull
said:
DO you think that you can wear thos
mice fxins' Minnie, by that timel Let's see
It's only three days more. Zounds! Clos
by, amt it?
Yes, Papa, too close oget all the arrange
mcnts made. 1 guess it will have to b
postponed
q guess so too; this fever came on, YER
unfavorably for weddings and bridal tours
I'm sorry; but few days will not make
great deal of difference, anyhow. Hurr
up, Minnie, and get well, and we'll have
all go off right, yet
Yes, papa, I'll do my best at gettinl
WELL answers Minnie.
And with a great effort she keeps dow
appearance of sadness. But oh, what
trial, and she questions: How shall l brea
it to them9 Oh if this were only over
Her father still goes on with his pleasan
rallery, and every now and then says yssome
thing by which Minnie is almost who'll
overwhelmed, and only escapes discover
by his ascribing her alternate bushes an
paleness to feminine delicacy or girlsh CT
price, and continues his fun making yer
much on the principle of the boys and tn
frogs Soon, however, Franks coming il
places Minnie in a more favorable position
for he, understanding all Minnie's feeling
gradually draws his fathers attention
other subjects, and that, for the time bein
is forgotten, and afterwards Minnie begs
Frank to tell her parents. As soon as pra
ticabe, he did so, and it was well for Mi
ME that she was too far away to hear Il
thunders of the fearful storm which rage
in terrifying violence for little time in h
fathers library, as he in burning passic
hurled anathemas, Kisses and dread curs
upon the head of the vile offender who hs
dared to wreck his daughters health an
happiness, and who had tramped upon Il
fair fame of his house and family. After
little time Frank whispered:
'Father, for Mnnie's sake you know, v
!; must bear it silently
Silently! Great God Silently are yc
t such a. pusillanimous scamp as thatl S
lentlyp
, Yes, yes; but, father
: Don't but father me. You shou
have shot the vagabond long ere this, al
t were you an Ashberton, you would, too
what! and kill my sister, too! N
/, father, the time is not yet
}, Not yet Oh Frank, l have had son
e hopes of YOU
S why, father do be calm. You wou
r not have our Minnie die, would youP
k No, no. Heaven knows l would soon
= lose both my eyes. Ny God, my God !
r But she will, l fear
: Il too, fear she will, unless
S unless her father learns more self-co
troll, as you say, Frank, for her sake. Br
i and the great veins swell almost to bur:
+ ing on that fathers manly brow, and the fa
d assumes a livid hue, while from every po
!, start large drops of cold, damp perspiratic
! and from the mouth white foam gurglC
o as he presses his hand hard against the tel
Piles and with deep, heavy groan falls fC
r ward to the floor. Frank attempts to sa
= him but is unable, and 10 dread alarm rim
p for assistance. Then he raises his fathe
# head and trieste place him in more cot
o. forfahla nosition hut finds his strenofh