Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-08-21
BENSBURG. PA. WEDNESDAY, lug. q 1851.


you to hear your final answer. If you still
refuse to be my wife, [, with Minnie. will
seek a home in California. There are plenty
there who will care for her if you do not chose
to-
Reader, what do you think Edith did on
reading the words that sealed her fate? She
sought her room, and there she wept and
prayed, as only the agonized can do. "Oh /!
why did not die ere this" she murmured.
:" Mother father Grace look down from
your homes on high and pity me. [ thought
1 had tfOuble when you were all taken from
me, but it was nothing to this. Oh, it will
kill me - And, in the bitterness of her sor-
row, she fell unconscious to the floor. When
she recovered she was surrounded by her
frightened servants. Minnie was nea- her.
crying bitterly. although she could not see,
yet she knew what was passing.
& Minnie, darling, where arc you ~ asked
Edith. failtly.
'sHere." answered the little one. g Ma
Edith IS siok-Nianie is SO sorry"
E3ith's resoI7e was taken. She would sac
rifce love, pleasure. and even life itself, for
the blind child Of her sister, to a fate that
seemed worse than death
At the appointed time Mr.. Woodley arriv-
ed. and Edith became the bride Of a man she
hated But she repined not, and never once
did she grumbIe At the hard fate Providence
had assigned her. Soon after their marriage
Mr. Woodloy's business affairs became SO en-
tangled that the homestead was sold, and It
passed into the hands Of strangers. Edith
met this cruel blow with meekncss, and pre-
pared 10 accompany her husband to the west.
He there owned few acres Of wild land, on
which stood small cottage. 1t was situated
in lonely spot, and there was no dwelling Of
whites nearer than two miles. But near them
tented tribe Of Indians, who were harmless
and kind hearted. Edith soon found a friend
in young girl cf the tribe. Wataska vas
her name, and she helped to cheer many
weary hours of Edith's sad life She was en- :
tirely untutored until her new friend impress
ed upon the savage mind the knowledge of
Him who was mightier even than the bravcst
chief il her tribe. Aud uLler Edith's gtntlt
seachings WattasLa became ardeEtly attached
to the Christian faith, as also did many of her
tribe
Mr.. Wood!ey was very unkind to his wife
and child. lie often went TO the neiehborinr
town. and when be returned his bloo5zhot eyes
told the tale. One Gay he had been 7ery an
cry with Lis wife, and went away i q passion.
s week passed aud he came not; another,
aud be was still absent. a. last size received
a note FROM him stating that he was On his
way to California, and that sAc might new
er expect to see his face again.
To say that Edith was gricvcd at this wo'd
be false, for she had never been happy since
her marriage She could not witness his IN
kindness to blind Minnie without interfering,
and her iutercgssion had caused much disturb
ance; but thoy were rid OF his tyranny a
last. They were very poor; but Edith was
skiliful with her needle, and the Indians tool,
her embroidery to the next town for sale, and
she managed to live in comfort. She had
heard Of the return of the Greyson family
but if thoughts Of Herbert entered her mind
she tried hard to Danish them; nos that he
was unworthy Of her affections, but she tho't
| that Fate had otherwise dscrccd their life
/ Journey.