The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-03-28

but her, she wandered out into the green fields |
where the fresh evening breeze pressed cool kiss
es on her checks, and flung back the neglected !
tresses from her tevered brow. A lark still lin |
gered amid the skies and poured down its IL |
quid melody; then Maud forgot her sorrow as
she listened to tho melody of the bird. Half |
unconsciously her steps led her toward a favor |
tie walk, bordered with lofty elm trees Here
she had often wandered with William.
Thinking that William was not in the neigh
borhood, she did not hesitate to enter the re-
treat,for in the simplicity of her heart she imao
med that he would yield as implicit obedience
to the will of her father as she herself did.
She proceeded but few steps,whe William |
was at her side. Trembling with vague appre- |
tensions, she could not wholly conceal her de- |
light at seeing him once more. Yet she turned |
to leave him whom she loved better than life |
Dropping on his knees before her. he supplca- |
ted her to hear him, for on that moment depend |
ed his life long happiness. Then, for the first |
time, Maud heard love tale to which every |
pulse of her heart was but too readily respon- |
siye. To her surprise, William seemed acquaint-
ed with all that had transpired since their last |
meeting He told her that ne had witnessed /
her interview with Charles Frost on the bridge, |
and her father informed him of the immediate |
union with the young farmer.
Maud, " he continued, &c far be it from ma to |
counsel you to act in opposition to your parents
by wedding without their sanction But, ifl
through sordid motives they would wreck your
happiness, then [ shall be the first to tell you
that you would be blameless in refusing to sub
nit to their tyrrany. You surely will not kneel
at the altar TO wed one whom you love not p
1t was in obedience TO the wishes ofyour father
thai you entered into ali engagement with
Charles Frost when a mere child Your own
judgment will absolve you from keeping such
promise, which was made before you knew the
true state Of your heart toward him whom your
father forces you to marry
Wretch ~ cried Reuben Brown, rushing
forward, how would you misguide my child?"
With the heavy walking stick which he held
in his hand, he would have fclled William to
the ground, bat for the intercesson of Maud
who flung her arms around her lover to protect
him.
g. aud shrieIed the cid man, almost over
powered with rage, J." you deserve my maledic-
ton for being in such a situation"
Stay, my father, "gasped the unhappy Maud,
hinging herself at his feet, why would you
make me miserable by compelling me to wed
one whom l can never love h,bless my I'M
ion with William You have no objection to him
but his want of wealth"
" Cease, girl" exclaimed her father" would
sooner see you dead at my feet than married to
him yonder Prepare yourself for tomorrow,
for then you viii be the wife Of Charles Frost.
a new spirit seemed born within Maud at that
mountaineering as she she called heaven
to witness hat she did right in vow. ng that she
would neverfbe the wife of Charles.
w
Mary, who dreaded that some misfortune was
hanging over them, fastened in search Of her
beloved ones. She appeared in time to hear
Maud's last words,
Father.T am ever your loving duiiful child;
but cannot consent to wed against my will,
will part now from William to acct him no more,
yet will never be the bride u snother."
Maud had isen from her kneeing posture and |
stood before her parents like beautiful statue
Girl, go your way; you are free to act as
you please; but remember when you are left des- /
oiate and SORROW stricken, my doors viii ba clos
Ell upon you rs they are now Many, come !" !
Utterng these cruel wog0s, Reuben Brown !
caught the fainting form of bis poor wife in bis
ali1ass and bore heR tozear nov very loaelv home
Several minutes elapsed before William ap- |
preached Maud, who appeared unconscious of |
his presence, as she stood mute and motionlsss |
gazing with bewildered looks after her parents |
. Maud, my own sweet Maud" he said, ia
k ing her hand in his, and starting with alarm
at the icy col dness.
She seemed as if suddenly awakened from
oorrible dream, as she turned OH him her des- !
pairing eyes.
Do not look SO sadly, my love-" be cried,
taking her 10 his heart, Oh, my own Maud
this suffering is all for me. Hear me, my below
ed one, every thought of my life will be to rem
der you happy All will yet be we'll Heaven
will prosper our union-your father will before.
long open loving arms TO you. and perhaps he |
will not reject the husband of his child"
With such words did William seek to comfort
the distressed girl He informed her that, trust
ing she loved him and anticipating the result, |
he had obtained the consent Of a clergyman to |
unite them if their parents placod 10 prohibition
on their,union. AS her father put no further
restraint upon her, he eatreated her to become |
his bride on the morrow. The clergyman to
whom he referred was formerly acquainted with I
Williams family.
"He has spoken to Mrs. Montague, Maud"
he went on to say, " and you will find shelter
under her roof until l can offer you home"
He now accompanied her to the school, where |
the lady was waiting to receive her Tho next
morning they were united by license which Will |
liam hadsprocured Strange and sweet, despite |
the sorrows that afflicted her, were the sensa-
tions that thrilled Maud s soul, when William, |
pressing her to his heart, called her by the no.
ly name Of wife. That very morning he had
received intelligence which he hoped would be
the torerunner Of good fortune. In neighbor
ing county the young Lord B--YYas expected
home with his beautiful bride. Through the
intervention Of friend, William received en-
ployment at the castle for an indefinite period.
as the young Lord b was patron OF the
arts, he looked with confidence to the dawning
OF brighter future, and, parting from MAUD, he
fastened thither til prepare Il home for her re-
ception.
A week passed before they were again united
-,oh, what weary time it was TO poor Maud
Mrs. Montague had sent to Maud's mother to lei
her know whore her daughter was. The mes
senger returned with her clothes but there came
not a word to cheer the dropping spirits Of the
sorrowing bride. She would have gone and on |
Bonded knees begged forgiveness, had not her
husband exacted Il promise from her that she |
would leave it 10 time to soften the heart of her |
father, for until then, she coald not hope to SEQ
her mother.
V.
Maud left Mrs. Montugue's in the dawn of
q Ial.r Liz