White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-04-05

> been the pure. good being that she was
/ or his idolstry would have spoiled her
! II she had a fault, it was trusting too con
idingly IN others this. however, wa
tcorrected by an after and bitter experience
4 In her sixteenth year there came to re
side in the village young merchant o
!, pleasing, afable manners, whose Who'll,
J, appearance was so progressing tina
Mary's father frequently invited him t.
his house. and at length perceived al
attachment between him and his daugh
ter. He was not displeased, for he fell
that his own life would soon draw to (
close, and wished not to leave without 6
protector.
u A few months saw Mary a blushing
bride and Augustine Lawrence a well
satisfied husband, though he knew moi
the value Of the precious gem he had
J won.
i The father. who could not be parted
from his child, gave up to them his large
house-the hsndsomest in the village
reserving some rooms for himself, and be-
came member of their family. For q
time all went on well. At the close oil
the first year Mary clasped to her bosom,
where were kindled all the new delights
of maternal love, a noble boy, upon whom
his father looked with apparent pride.
At the period of their union, Mr.. Law
renee had persuaded his father-in-law to
become a silent partner in his business,
thereby enabling him to extend it much
beyond its present limits. The old gen.
tleman, with the utmost confidence in his
son-in-law, consented, declaring that as
they were his only heirs, it was of little
consequence to him whether they under
took the management of his property then
or few months or years hence. He lib
orally invested all, and a splendid bust
ness was the consequence.
At length Mary began to perceive a
change in her husband he was often alb
rupt, even imperious to her, and COM
PEELED her to wait for his return till long
past midnight. The gentle girl who had
ever brsathed the atmosphere of pure
love, was deeply wounded, but with a
forgiving heart, never upbraiding him
with her sorrow, and above all never re-
vealsd it to her father. She bore all in
silence. r
During the third year of their marri-
age little girl was born. This event
seemed to recall the wandering affections
other husband, and he became as atten-
tive as in their days of courtship. The
eyes Of the aged father, too. dwelt with
peculiar delight upon him, believing him
to be the source of SO much Joy to his
Mary.
1t was in the spring of the year. The
little girl was nearly six months Old
The early season as yet made the business
of Mr. Lawrence so small that he sent his
clerk home for visit of two weeks, and
declared his intention ofshutting his shop
till after his return from the city with
fresh goods, whittier he intended going in
two or three days. Meanwhile he stated
that he was occupied in taking the inven-
tory of his goods. and should be at home
but very little for few nights.
After collecting every debt which he
possibly could, he stated to the old gen
tleman that he was still in the want Of
five hundred dollars. A pretty cottage
was Immediately sold, and he received the
necessary funds. . -.
Taking an afectionate leave Of all. he
departed, promising to return in fort
night at most. Weeks, months passed
away, and he came not.
The creditors from New York at length
came on, and by the bills which they
presented, it was evident that Lawrence
had not expended the money received in
purchasing goods every thing was I'M
paid for. The debts were enormous, and
the already exasperated creditors would
hear of no delay. The store was forced
open, and nothing remained in it but
some of the cheapest and most clumsy
articles. 1t was then evident that 80 far
from intending to return, Lawrence had
made his final departure, and taken every
thing valuable with him. The whole re-
sponsibility rested upon the old gentle
man, who gave up everything. r
In two weeks the broken hearted wife
saw him quietly laid to rest where no
sorrow could reach him, and she rejoiced
that the good man was spared q sight Of
the misery which she knew must be
hers. - -f
Clasping her babes to her bosom. the
desolats mother left the home Of her child
hood and renewed to the old cottage we
have described.
Long wears Of desertion and severe Ia
Dor and deprivation, had not in the least
changed her love for Augustine Lawrence,
but through all she had been sustained BY
the solitary hope of once more seeing him
Since her children had required less per-
sonaI attention. she had every year saved
few dollars, which, when they amount
ed TO 6fty, she resolved should serve as
the means of taking her to New York.
where she fondly hoped to meet him.
On the night to which we have allu-
ded, she was finishing plain stuf dress
for herself, and the consciousness that the
money so long labored for, was now hers.
and that everything was at last in readi-
ness fer .hs The Journey. caused smile Of
irriumph at the recollection of SO many
difficulties overcome. 1t was Saturday
night, and early Monday morning they
were to start for the city.
Meanwhile the door opened, and two
children entered bearing between them
basket of sticks and brush procured RON
al -