The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-10-18
ONLY A JOKE.

| ''AnO W0eu are you w US 1udIIIcu, nAuAS.
asked my friend, Lucy as l carefully laid aside
nv bridal veil and wreath which had been
showing her.
There was something in tone for her voice
that struck pang to my heart, tho ] knew
not why, and l answered hastily, while the
warm blood mounted to my cheeks
"In two weeks from tomorrow evening If
nothing happens to prevent"
"And that there will be anything happen
you do not expect" said Lucy, looking serious
II into my face.
sOf course not, why should l, dear? Two
weeks is not very lengthy period, certainly,
and before half that time has expired Walter
is coming to Elton
"Are YOU sure of this?' queried Lucy.
LAS sure as we are of anything" l replied
care you prophecies? Can you peer into
futurity, and tell me if there is any reason why
this shall not be so?''
81 am no prophecies" sighed Lucy, "snd
yet"
"And yet, schate" demanded impatiently,
irritated by her manner.
"And yet, Walter may never come oyou. If
he should not -" she did not finish the sen.
tence, but fixed her eyes sternly en- my face.
"There are no ifs about it," l said ''What
has taken possession of you that you appear
so Strangely"
IL dare not tell you," was the slowly spo.
hing dreadful"
"Dreadful! What can it be? Walter, no
nothing has happened to him, 1 am sure. Tell
me, do not torture me a moment
s.Walter-"
"What Lucy? shall 60 crazy-you'll kill
me if you do not tell me!' l cried, grasping
| her hands and holdidg them firmly.
"Walter is married!''
ssMarried, Lucy-married-is that all? Did
you think to frightgn me with snch an absurd
story as that? Shame!,.' laughed hysteric-
ally as said this, and tears gushed freely from
my eyes.
1t is true, Annie; read it in o-day's paper,
Mr.. Walter Mayo to Miss-Miss-I can't think
Helen stickney!'' Lgasped, grasping her
hands agian.
eyes, that was the name They were mar
ried in London
ssHave you seen the paper? l cannot credi:
what you have seen. l must read tread it
myself
She drew it from her pocket and pointed to
the marriage list. My eyes seemed starting from
their sockets as l read My senses were not
to be trusted, it could not be, and yet there ii
of Elton, to Miss Helen Stickney, of London. ~
Walter Mayo-my Walter, married to the
proud wealthy, city belle!
$50 from me Lucy, please" said turning
away. :'Forget this-me-go!"
I staggered to chair as she left the room
I pressed my hands to my throbbing tenn
pies. 1 tried to believe myself in the
midst of some horrid dream from which
should soon awaken. I would not keep back
the tears; would let them come-the dread
ful spell would soon pass away. But no,
there was no change My heart grew heavier
every moment. The light that streamed in a,
the window was not that of early morning up.
on which my eyes had just opened. There
were sounds of busy life about the house, the
children were GU, On the grassy lawn. hac
heard their merry shout, and watched them a
!, their play nearly all the long summer after,
noon. There were flowers on my table; rea
flowers that my little brother had brought mt
in the morning, when the dew was on them
; l was awake. alive! a reality. Before my eye.
was the proof of my wretchedness-in my
hands held it. God pity me, it was real
, real.
f Mr.. Walter Mayo to Miss Helen Stickney,
. that was all! but my heart was breaking. My
brain whirled like . maniac's. This mighty
CluSpeU ltScll oUOu1 CSCA 1AAuS. IL WA
in me- and around me-above and beneath me
. There was no leaving it, no forgetting it.
There was no rest for me; constantly my
! heart must bear up its terrible load of grief
. "And yet it was no WONDER" thought Will
the calmness of despair settled upon me ssn,
, wonder that he should prefer the brilliant, &C
9 complished city belle to me the simple, quiet
unpretending country girl! 1 had often hear
q him praise her; she was like sister to him h
had said. Perhaps of q sndden he had foun,
5 that he loved her better than me, God onl,
/ knew! But oh, it was cruel, so hard to bear
: could not-could not live!"
"Did people ever die when suck grief cam
' upon them?' / wondered. If So believed
j that was dying. rose and went to the mir
ror. My face was white as death; my eyes
e wild and staringas though had been wresln
with the great conqueror. Lines of purpl
. lay about my lips, which looked as if the
, were frozen; frozen with such pitiful expires
sion ofwoe daguerrotyped upon them. clasp
ed my icy hands over my eyes to shut out tn
ipicture which ! had not strength enough t