Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-29

duu Hdhc CUSluHc a itLll6 IHOT6 pTtSenJd-
BILE, and when | came down Mr.. Woodbury.
was engaged in an animated conversation with
the Doctor and Lizzie. He was tall, pow
erfu man of thirty five, with light brown hair,
bold and somewhat massive features, and eyes
of Saxon blue. | learned afterward, that he
was remarkable mechanical genius and had
realized handsome fortune by some of bis iu-
vestmentS also that he was zealons reform
er, leading the van of every noble work.
had not known Mr. Woodbury. four days
before | felt in my heart that here was man
whom could entirely trust and reverence, nav,
whom | cOuld entirely love. Still was proud,
and | strove to retain my affections in my own
keeping | did not feel sure that he was in
tereSted in me, but sometimes there seemed a
language in his eyes | dared not trust myself
TO interpret.
BY the time be had been there q fortnight,
we knew each other better than we could have
done in year had we met solely in society,"
1t was on the fifteenth day after his coming,
that be told me he loved me- and asked me TO
be bis wife.
We were alone, sitting under clump of
pines at the west Of the house, where we had
gone to see the July sunset. We had watch
ed the clouds silently as they changed from
gold and crimson to the softer shades of rose
aud azure, until they were all gone. Then |
looked up and saw his eyes were looking at
ne very earnestly with strange tenderness
in their depths. AS he met my glance be
spoke
" / have only known you short time, Aga
tha, but you are already dearer to me than |
can say. Do you think you could ever love
me we'll enough to be my wife p
Il do" | answered, struggling with
strange sensation of fuIlnesS at r2y heart, which
seemed almost to choke my utterance.
God bless you, Agatha. You are whao
my soul needs"
His words were strong and fervent, and he
gathered me close in bis arms to his heart
me, an orphan since my earliest recoliections,
and realizing, now, for the first time, what it
was to he intensely loved by any human be-
ing We had not talked much about our emo;
tons. think we both liked best to sit there,
hand caSped in hand, feeling how utter was
the happiness and satisfaction OF each others
presence. At length he said
" | know that shall be giving good mo.
ther to my little Laura. | should be cruel
were | to forget her in my Joy"
| conld not divine his meaning. | looked at
him inquirngly.
"Your little Laura ?'
"1es my child, my little girl. You knew
of her existence, surely"
NO"
Il had supposed that the Henshaws had
told you all about my history. Did you not
know | had been married My wife, my Lau-
ra, died FIVE years ago, and my daughter Lau-
ra is just five years cd"
What could | say who had said so Of
ten that | would wrong no dead woman by
taking from her, her husbands love | could
give up Hiram Woodbury., perpnapS, but |
could give up my lite as well. | cutched at
hope | asked
Did you love her-your wife {"
Tenderly-most tenderly."
And she loved you p
With all her heart"
4" She was your first love Z"
Yes, the love of my youth. But why these
qnestions Agatha ? Are you not satisfied
with the love pledge to ycu--a love as strong
and true as man ever gave to woman Z"
" | must be-" | whispered in voice whose
calmness startled me, it contrasted so strange
ly with The tumult of my heart. 1t must be-
| love you so well, Heaven help me, that
have no other choice And yet | had tho't
to be the first love of the man | married"
" You are my love. Agatha, my dear true
love You will be Laura's mother, will you
mott"
Heaven made me truthful i did not de-
ceve or belle myself in that hour. | answer
ed honestly.
Z" | will be Lauras mother, so far as seeing
to all her wants and being kind to her is
concerned | will love her if can If | can
not you must not blame me. We cannot force
our hearts to love, merely because il is our du-
ty | was born jealous, and il would be hard
for me to forget that you had loved Laura's
mother before you loved me, perhaps better
than you ever couid love me-"
He looked at me sadly, yet trustingly still.
" believe you are better than your own eS-
innate, Agatha At any rate, whatever you
are, love you"
1t was with such an understanding as this,
that we we're married, but my wedding day
was not as happy as my girlish hopes had al
ways pictured it. A phantom seemed contIn-
ualIy at my side-Hiram's first wife She
came between his lips and mine, and his fond
est kisses seemed cold.
" How did she look | wish could know"
/ asked him this question, as We sat alone
together on our wedding night.
Had he been thinking of her too ? He un-
derstood me at once He opened his trunk
aud took from it q miniature painted on
ivory, and placed it in my hand. Oh, how
lovely she was-just the image to be cherished
in a mans inmost heart idealized, wrapped
around with loves idolatry. She looked like
one to die young, with that clear, transparent
skin, the brow so white and the vivid rose
bloom in the cheeks. The eyes were large and
blue with an innocent appealing unworldiy
IL l. - 4 L.. intr rrnS lnSEN