The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-08-14

weuts anu u rceiueu btTaHyc tuaI Uii1
memory should come back then. 1t
passed, and bright dream fitted be.
fore my waking vision--my father
wonld return in a few months; he
would meet Mrs. Thornton; she was
SO gentle and winning he would not fail
to be pleased with her, and might be
permitted to call her mother.
My hand was on the knob to open
the door, but ! hesitated. 1t was late,
and the house was still. How easy it
would be to solve the mystery, and Mrs.
Thornton never know it. For months
that veiled picture had haunted my
waking and sleeping visions, why
should longer perl'lex my mind with
vain conjecture; and crossing the H.
brary, / placed the lamp SO its light
would fall directly upon the picture.
Was it the rustling of the silk or the
feint echo of gentle footsteps that
startled me; but listening intently, |
found all silent within and without.
All! it was the whispering of the still,
small voice, and should heedis prompt.
ings? She would not know it, curiosi-
ty whispered, so raised the veil; but,
as my eye caught glimpse of the
guided frame the drapery fell from my
hand! ] remembered the promise
never to raise that veil, and / turned
away wondering why so costly frame
was hidden under those dark folds.
From that night the mystery of the
library deepened. l had nervous
dread of being left alone with that
veilrd picture and my imaginative mind
pictured "a scene of horror that would
thrill every nerve in me and freeze my
very hearts blood
My father returned, and when / told
him how kind Mrs. Thornton had been,
he called to thank her in person, but
she was i'll ami could not leave her
room. Wondering what could agitate
her so, returned To my father, saying
she would he bitter in day or two, and
he must not leave the city until he had
seen her. But he was firm in his decis.
ion tn leave the next day, and must
accompany him. Then expressed a
wish to visit my mothers grave. He
drew me to his side, ard with his arm
encircling me, and my head resting
npon his bosom, told me of my mother
To him the memory of the past was
painful, and l mingled my tears with
those of my father, while again /
seemed to hear that strange voice and
see those strange eyes peering into
mine.
In two hours I would leave my kind
friend, and / was going without the
mystery of the library being solved so
| ventured to hint that, when / came
to visit her the next year, l hoped to
see the yelled picture unveiled. She
did not reply, but taking my hand, led
me to the library. She would tell me
all she said. for, perhaps, We might
never meet again.
Mrs. Thornton told her story briefly.
She was the only child Of wealthy pa.
rents, and married at the age of nine
teen. For three years she was happy
in the pleasant home to which her hns
band took her; then a clond of mid.
night darkness overshadowed that
home. Some one envying her, circula-
ted reports injurious to her reputation,
and these coming TO her husbands ear,
he, being naturally of jealous disp"-
sitiom, believed them. The wife loved
her husband levote.Iy, and being inno.
cent, how could she bear patiently his
,aunis and unealled for survilance :?
So she proposed returning tn her pa
rental home, and the husband said go,
only she must leave her child. She
did 60, anil three years after, her pa
rents being dead, she went to Europe,
where she remained eight years. Re
turning to America, she came to New
Haven, where, under the assumed name
of Thornton, she had since resided.
Once she visited the home of her hus-
band during his abseuce, and bribing
the housekeeper by the present of a
well filed pnrse, procured his portrait !;
and in all her wanderings it had been
her companion, though closely veiled,
lest some one should recognize it, and
Thus her early history be food for idle
gossip. Then, too, she had seen her
child, and for a brief moment pressed
it to her bosom, but words could not
express the agony of her breaking
heart as she turned away from her
child.
"Yonr husbands name," said, sink
ing at her feet and gazing wonderingly
into her pale face and the dark, liquid
eyes, bent So lovingly nron me, for a
new strange hope made my heart tI,rob
wildly.