The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-20
'a 4. .OTTUMWA, IOWA, SATURDAY,

-A&iH Hseisu s!tfie 3ll7fiIT- -a'tf '3iIt 81 =
take that" And heavy, brutal blow fell
upon the slender for; and with an oath, the
/ man left the room, slamming the door after
! him. ~ ,tih'Aiqse z"
Not sound came from stricken woman.
General Lane listened IN an agony of sus-
pehse for the faintasr sound to relieve the
dread he felt lest that heavy blow had killed
the rrail loving wife Several minutes pass,
ed. Then he could endure it no longer.
"T ain old enough to be her father he
soliloquized '.I will throw aside all eti-
qustte and see i, she is hurt" He forth,
with opened the door and looked within,
Ah!,what a sight met his eyes Upon, the
floor lay the stricken wife, pale and motion,
less, the blood tricklng from tho wounded
arm where it had come in contact with the
stove, Lifting the inanimate firm, he laid
| it up,n the SOFA. and tears--that were no
shame to his manhood---fell upon the pale,
young face, He bathed her face with water
ard soon, to his great joy, the large, dreamy
blue eyes opened and rested upon him..
She looked at him as thongh bewiidered !;
then, in a moment, recollection returned,
and flush Of shame dyed her fair face. In
answer to the questioning lcok in her eyes,
he said: .3 f,.,., i r;aaa4.
my room joins yours, Madam. I knew
you were alone; and hearing no sound after
your fall, ! feared you might be very much
hurt, therefore, took the liberty of coming
in. DO not Mind me. am an old man
old enough to be your father. will ring
for the chambermaid to assist you, and then
leave you."4a y-,ih.aFt !e3f,a'fs 2 - 2
"Op no! can do very well. I would
not have her come and sse me in fun dinner
dress at this hour, and see this blood too"
Trying to rise, she fen back family, and
tears pressed through the closed lashes.
~ am deeply indebted to you already,
Gen. Lane and ify you will assist me into
my bed room, I can then manage alone"- -
Tenderly the noble man supported the
slight form into the adjoining room. As he
turned to leave she said
General you will keep this dreary scene
a secret, will you pot2 should die with
modification to have It known throughout
the house." ,es5s $50 t@+
/ "I will mover speak of it madam; but
would advise You to inform your brother, and
have him remove you from Mr.. Leeds con-
troll. Excuse my bluntness. madam; it is
meant in kindness. My heart aches for you
and I cannot help but speak plainly. Good
night madam"
Next day the sweet face was very pale and
the eyes heavy; but that was the only trace
of the last nights conflict. -..s
The wounded arm was covered up from
the brothers sight, and he never dreamt Of
his only sisters suferings. Mr, Leeds did
not return that day. The brother and sister
spent the evening alone-he reading aloud
while she sewed it seemed almost like the
pleasa mt evenings at their own dear home,
and something very nearly approaching a
smile fingered about the lips of that anxious
wife. Ten O'clock came, and no Harry; thea
eleven -twelve-one
ut is strange whatk keeps Harry. Is he in
the habit Of staying out SO late, Carrier
Before the sister could reply there was the
tramp OF many feet upon the stairs, AID in
another moment a knock at the door, On
opening it four men entered, bearing rude
litter,on which lay the body of Harry Leads,
"Drunkr' exclaimed Mr.. Sloan, his suspi-
cions for the first time giving themselves
vent "a
"No; dead, SIR answered the man, ..he
was killed in drunken brawl.' ',a,,.,.Hs RI
. The wr, tched wife sank to the floor in
deadly swoon, while the brother shed manly
tears over the wreck ofwhat was once good
man the loved friend Of bis carry gears
OF the sad burial, and the bereaved woinan's
grief, we need not speak She had loved him,
through all and now that he was dead (and as
it ever isl his faults were forgotten. Again
ne was the beloved Harry Of other days, the
husband other choice Ofcourse everything
was exposed now and the ladies Of the house
found out at last the cause Of Mrs. Leeds lit-
ful conduct--knowna at last why she was 50
often seen in the halls at night--why she
stood listening, with the door ajar.. at night.
Those who had been the first to malign her,
now came forward to offer their earnest sym
pathy. They were all admiration now, Of
the heroic wife who had borne her sorrows so
,neekly and so quietly But il was to late
When 4 kind word would have been gratefal
to her aching heart, they stood aloof, and
gave, instead, cold, suspicious. looks, that
sometimes cut to the heart with deeper
'pang than cold words. Thousands suffer
thus, day BY, day, from the misconstraction
OF the world They must bear it, too; for il
the sufferer is woman--there is no redress
unless she unsexes herself and goes forth to
battle for her rights. Oh! this scandal that
icrushcs people to the earth--that trsmplss
thousands Of bleeding hearts under the feet
ofthe multitudel Does not life bring enough
sorrow? Will not our earthly path be ful
Of thorns, and life's cup fpll enough of woe
that these our friends and neighbors, must
strike it home more surely? No, it is not
enough. Hearts always have, and always
will suffer from this great crucifxion, scan