East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-06-03

do not know that To him alone is n,
mothers illness owingI'
'How SOP inquired the priest with SUI
prise.
Because he beat and ill-treated her
! remember well the nights when h
would come in perfect fury. She neve
spoke word, and did all he wished; bu
he would beat her till my heart nesrl
broke. / used to draw the eoverinI
over my head, and pretend to be asleep
but. in trutt, ! cried all night. An,
when he saw her lying on the floor, hi
manner would suddenly change; he woul'
raise her, and clasp her in his arms, clos
to his heart, till she cried out bslf-suffo
Gated. My mother forbade me to say
word about il then; but il had such ar
effect upon her, that, ever since his death
many years ago, she has never regained
her health and IL she dies--which heav
en- forbid III know who will have killed
her,
The little priest shook his head, and
seemed uncertain how far he should &C.
knowledge the justice of the girls rea.
soning. At last he said: Forgive him
my child, - your mother has forgiven
him. Do not let your thoughts dwell on
such sad scenes, Laurells; better times
are in store for you, and oil this will be
forgotten
'Neverl / shall never forget il she
said shuddering. And il is this which
has determined me to remain unmarried,
padre. | will not be subject to one who
will ill.trest one moment and caress me
the next. If any were now to attempt
to do either the one or the other, l
should know how to defend myself; but
my mother would not do so, becsuse she
loved him. / will love no one well
enough to endure such things from
him.
'Wbst child you arc to talk such
nonsense 7 replied the priest. Are all
men like your father, who gave way to
every whim and passion, and did, in truth
ill.treat your mother? Have you not
seen numbers of excellent men in the
neighborhood, and women who live in
perfect unity aud peace with their hus-
bauds?'
'Ah! they appear to do 80; but no one
knew my fathers conduct to my mother;
she would rather have died thousand
deaths than have uttered . word of com.
plaint, aud oil because she loved him. Il!
it be love which closes ones lips, SO that
one dare not cry ont for help, aud which
makes one defenceless against greater in
iuries than would be endured from an
enemy, then, as have said before, I will
never give up my heart and liberty to any
man.
i tell you, you are an ignorant child,
and do not understand what you are
tslking Of. Your heart will not ask you
whether you will love or not; when the
lime comes, all these notions will then
give way After q pause, he again con-
.inued: And did you tell that psinter-
lid you tell him that your feared his
His eyes looked just like my fathers
when asking forgiveness of my mother,
aud to make 1t up with her. ] know
those eyes; they can be feigned even by
, man who beats the wife who has uev.
er done him any harm; and shuddered
when l saw them again After this she
remained silent, aud the priest followed
her example. He was thinking of much
good advice that he could give to the
girl but the presence of the young sail.
,r, who, towards the end of the conver.
'ation, had become apparently restless,
,losed his mouth.
la about the space Of two hours, they
arrived in the little hsrbor Of ,Capri.-l
Antonino carried the padre through the
'erf to the shore; but Laurella would not
wait till he had wsded back 20 fetch her;
'he lifted her little skirt, took her wooden
shoes in her right hand, the bundle in
ier left, aud splashed sturd,ly through
The water.
Il shall remain some time at Capri to-
lay, said the priest, and you need not
wait for me, my son. Indeed, / may
possibly not return until Tomorrow
Laurells, salute your mother for me when
gou get home; shall visit her before the
week is out. suppose you return be.
fore nightr
If there be an opportunity said the
girl, Is she arran ed something about
her dress.
You know that must 90 back said
in what was intended for .
very Indifferent tone. Il shall wait for
you till vesperS aud il you ere not here
by that time, it does not matter to me-
you must go back; Laurells, put in
the little priest; you must notleavc your
mother alone oil night. Have you fer
to 90 nowY
TO Anacapri, to vineyard
'Ahl then our roads do not lie togeth
er. / am bound for Capri. The Ma
donna bless you, my child; and you, too.
my son.' Laurella kissed his hand, and
uttered q farewell, in which the priest
aud Antonino might claim an ual share;
but the young bost'nan did not seem to
perceive il. He took off his hat TO the
priest, but did not even look at Laurslls.
However when they had both left him,
his eyes but for moment followed the
priest ~ he toiled wsArily over the shin
giles, aud thsy were tnrned with sa sager