The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-03-28
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Village Charles well knew the effect Of ad-
dressing himself to the fathers feelings, and
he now aroused all his Indignation against
William.
'sYou are che talk of the village" he said;
I"people wonder at pou Tor allowing a penni-
less adventurer to.seek the hand of your daugh-
ter. Believe me, Reuben, he already thinks
I this farm surely his own"
i Before Charles LETT the house, Reuben prom
4 Used him that in ten days more, Maud should
be his
Next Sunday week will be the twentyffth
anniversary of our weddipg,' he said, turning
afectionately towards his wife, who, with a
troubled look on her face, family smiled, but
remained silent. "That blessed days sun will
not set without seeing Maud a happy bride. "
II
Maud proceeded on her way. Many times
did she cast f'longing lingering look behind. .
i but William, who had never failed to meet her
in her rambles ,did not make his appearance
now. a shade of disappointment rested on her
face, and hoping to meet him on her return she
fastened towards the school
/ Her old friends greeted her with their usual
kindness, entertaining her Hospitality.
my dear child, " said Mrs. Montague. "vou
will come to the school-room AMI see the bean.
i tiful painting that sent yesterday We
know not who the kind donor is. A note beg.
ging its acceptance was written in bold Wig
oIous hand. ! doubt not but that is the hand
writing of the painter who, we think must
have SEM US this charming present as a kind
/ OF altar piece, since during the rebuilding of the
church, our vicar has used the room on Sun
days as Il chapel Of
ut is the Madonna" she continued, an.
preaching the picture; and drawing aside the
veil that covered the pain Ting, turned to Maud
! with an inQuiring look.
! with an exclamation OF surprise, Maud be-
held, IN the beautiful countenance of the Ma
donna, her own sweet resemblance Mrs.
Montague seemed to enjoy her surprise and
confusion.
I we all said you must have sat for it." said
sh1 kissing her white brow; ''yet if the painter
wishes 10 preserve his incognito, we shall not
ask you to reveal it.
The lady went on to tell that Charles Frost.
who was her nephew, had called to see her
some two hours previously, when on his way
to the village.
Did he see this painting?" asked Maud, un-
COZ sciously.
Il showed it TO him." replied Mrs. Mon
tague; che regarded it long but said not a
word,
Her friends were anxious that Maud should
remain longer; but, excusing herself, she took
| her departure, with sad presettiment that
some sorrow was about TO befall her. She had
passed through the wood that was situated be-
tween her home and tie school, ard where the
rustic of every leaf made her heart throb with
the hope that the loved one was near. She
now stood leaning over the Iittleirustic brfd re
that spanned the blue stream into whose depths
she was gazing, while her thoughts were occu-
| pied wish one image thai was enshrined in her
heart
A stem at her side brought the crimson tide
to her cheeks, and turning she beheld Charles
Frost, regarding her with mingled sorrow and
Hove, Surprise Instantly gave way to disap-
j polntment, while her eyes fell beneath the ear
nest gaze of him whose happiness she sadly
felt she was about to estroy.
Lave You mo word OF greeting for me,
MaudS" he asked "It is long since we met
to me- II has been an age'
Maud would have spoken, but she knew not
how to reply. He took .eg hand; this she did
mot geluao.o lie asked Tor RECONCILIATION,
Iwbile he besought her TO give him back the
love which had blessed his existence
bly own dear girl, he continued, "ycu
will give me back that Lover"
4 Love y she repeated, struggling ia vain for
resolution 20 breathe the fatal truth and tell
him that she could never be his
Her hand was still in his, her eyes down
dropped, and her cheek whittier than the tren1-
i bling lilly that kissed the wave at her feet
i Yes, Maud, said the young man, 1.-THE love
that was unchangeably bright between US I'M
| tiI-ne,1 will not wrong you with the thought.
I IL Is hot IN you to bestow one encouraging look
OF tondnes on a nameless wanderer--7
lie paused, fer Maud lifted her flashing eyes
10 bis face, her cheeks burning with indigna-
ton, yet her tongue refused 10 speak. He
Ipartly understood her look though he little
imagined the slight hold he had on her heart,
and III his jealous excitement he was ursparing
lin his cenSures OF William
i If you have aught to say against my faith
er's friend and the preserver Of my life do SO
to his face, exclaimed Maud turning away.
Your fathers friend" he repeated Aw-ith a
look OF triumph. ~ his very day your father
forhids him his house, and more, Maud" he
added, IN deep under tone, che has said
that ca Sunday week we shall be united
Has words fell like death-blow on poor
Maud. She wei knew the determined spirit
of her father, and that moment she would have
thrown herself on the generosity of Charles
acknowledging all, but she feared the effects of
his resentment on William.
With breaking heart she hurried towards
her home, where she longed to throw herself on
her mothers breast, that untsiling fount oflove
and holy sympathy, for there she would find
rest.
Charles was still at her side, nCr did he leave
her until he saw her enter the cottage: lie then
turned away, feeling that he would sooner be
her husband, sharing only her divided heart,
than the possessor of the sole love of any WON
an beside
A painful scene followed Sobbing with
anguish OH her mothers breast Maud be-
sought her father to release her from the en-
gagenant with Charles but he was inexorable
| Yet, while he TeprOached her with harsh words
the first he had ever uttered towards her, his
heart sorrowed for her with all a fathers fond
ness.
"Foolish girl!' he sighed, as he retired faint
and weary. "She knows not how she would
wreck her own and our happiness by wedding
a man she knows nothing about She will yet
bless her father for what she considers his cru
city.
i While Mary's heart was wrung with grief
and pity for her child, she felt her husband
acted according to the dictates OF parental pru-
dence. Mauds love for William she deemed
heetlng fancy, and regarding her future well
fare OF more moment than short lived regret,
she passively corcurred with Reuben in the
stand he had taken against the childs inclina-
tons
Maud remained in her room during the fol-
i lowing day. Deprived of her mothers sym
1 pathy, which would have been blessed solace
at such an hour, she felt nevertheless that love
for her alone prompted her parents to disre-
gard her sad appeal to their hearts.
i Poor Maud, as she sat in her little chamber
she could hear her father making preparations
to go to the next market town TO obtain the Ii
cense FOR the approaching wedding She heard
the welcome voice of Charles inquiring ten
DERBY for herself speaking hopefully ofthe ON
ing time, and with merry laughter, as if he
could not restrain his happiness, he depart
4 ed
/ Soon afterwards, y knock came to the door
her heart seemedr to cease its quotations az the
beloved tones of William thrilled tlrcuph he,
soul. She strained her ears to hear her father
replying, that he would talk with him outside
She knew full well that he would never cross
the threshold again, never be more to her thar
J, if he was not.
4 Oh, burden Of frst-love disappointment
y Oh, glory once fed-life has nothing more be
lyoud. William had never given her any as
surance of his love, otherwise than the silen
! homage which his eyes ever expressed. Love haC