The Van Buren press., 1861-04-03

ever love me well enough to be my wife y
81 do."I answered, struggling with q
strange fullness At my heart. which seemed
to almost choke my uttersnce.
God bless you. Agatha. You are what
my soul needs
His words were strong and fervent, and
he gathered me close in his arms to his
heart-me. an orphan since my earliest rec
and realizing now. for the first
time, what it was to be intensely loved by
any human being. We did not talk much
about our emotions I think we both liked
best to sit there. hand clasped in hand, feel
ing how utter was the happiness and salts
faction of each in the others presence. At
length he said
know that shall be giving a good
mother to my little Laurie. l should be
cruel were to forget her in my JOY"
l could not at first div,ne his meaning
l looked At him inquiringly.
Your little Laurie 81
Yes my child. my little girl You
know OF her existence, surely?"
"No!"
Il had supposed that the Henshaws had
told you all my history. Did you not know
that had been married ? My wife, my
Laurie, died five years ago. and my lit:le
Laurie is just five years DID,"
What could say who had SO often said
that would wrong no dead woman by ia
king from her her husbands love? could
give up Hiram Woodbury.. but could as
well give up my life. clutched at hope
| asked
did you love her-your wife
Tenderly, most tsnderly.'
"And she loved you %
"With all her heart
" She was your first love?''
Eyes. the love of my Snnth. But why
these questions, Agatha Are you not sat-
isfed with the love pledge to you-a love
as strong and true as a man ever gave to q
woman 90
al must be-" whispered in a voice the
calmness startled me. it contras;ed strange.
ly with the tumult of my heart Il must
be. Hove you so we'll that | have no other
choice. And yet l had thought to be the
first love Of the man l married."
"You are my love. Agatha. my dear true
loye You will be Laurie's mother will
you not w
Heaven made me truthful did not de.
ceive or belle myself in that hour. answer.
ed honestly.
g will be Laurie's mother, SO ia: as soc
ing to ell her wants and heing kind to her is
concerned. Twill love her if l can. II l
cannot, you must not blame me. We can
not force ourselves to love merely because it
is our duty. was born jealous. and it is
hard for me to forget that you had loved
Laurie's mother before you had loved me !;
perhaps better than you ever could me''
He looked at me sadly, yet trustingly.
still.
81 believe you are better than your own
estimate. Agatha. At any rate, whatever
you are. love you
1t was with such an understanding az this
that we we're married. but my wedding day
was not as happy as my glrlish hopes had
always pictured it. A phantom seemed
She came between his lips snd mine, and
made his fondest kisses seem cold.
:" How did she look =? / wish / could
know"
l asked him this question. Is we sat
alone together On our wedding night.
Had he been thinking of her too He
understood at once. He opened his trunk
aud took from it q miniature painted on
livery, and placed it in my hand. Oh, how
lovely she wss-just the being to be cher
ished by . mans inmost heart idealized,
wrapped around with loves idolatry.N She
looked like one too young 10 die. with that
clear transparent skin. the brow so white,
aud the VIVID rose- bloom in the checks.
The eyes were large and blue, with an in.
nocsnt, appslsiag. unworldly look, and the
hair. in the picture. was dusky gold
How could he ever love me, with INV dark.
Pawnee face. and irregular features, after
that? / asked him the question l could
not help it.
Il do love you. dear is not that en-
ough? / love you Is tsnderly ~ any wo.
mans heart can ask"
I was silent for very shame, bat the de-
mon of jealousy. made his lair in my heart
aud am afraid his wicked eyes looked out
Of mine now and then.
For five weeks We were travelling togssh.
or, and thus far our honsy- mooa was hap
py one. For tha most part, my iealousv
siumbercd, for there was nothing 70 arouse
it. Sometimes tormentsd mysslf with
tho fear that there might have been some
charm in the early days Of my husbands
FIRST marriage, which was wanting now.
But his Joy was no evident, his tsnderness
90 constant. that had little opportunity
for such gloomy thoughts. After our bri.
night. until thu day before we wsrs to 70
home for the first time. bad not slluded
again to his 6sst wife ar ehit1. Il WAS
while packing my trunk, pfspssaeory TO
IN early start thA next moFxine. and he
was talking to mo Of my Asw houss, that /
locked up and asked
Cssein6s1 nase usak.
TRAr's CLsAR CAsE.''-As the Poo.