The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-06
INA, O., WEDNEss DAY, MAY 6, 1868.

cause tlldt Tesutedi III bringing me 10 my pres-
ent' condition. --e .hea eff-7.i:as. i.
:. You remember thelnight of our first vis-i
it to Mr. Northrup's? Yes; you also;remem-
Der that on our return that evening vou jest
lnglv intimated that was in love-; as you
termed it2 Well. Frank, / believe you were
right. The bright eyes, the winning smiles,
aud the noble. affeetionate heart--as l then
supposed it to 4be--of Fanny NJ rlhrup, then
made an impression on my too susceptible
mind, that time nor change can ever remove.
On the occasion OF each succeeding visit the
pure devotions of a trusting heart, that sprung
into existence under the warm influence of
her inspiring presence, became more firm, fix
ed, and interchangeable BY day the thought
that in after years, should sorrow. come or
friends depart, l still had one to comfort and
tocheer me: or if, after years of unremitting
toll, / should succeed in reaching the goal of
my youthful ambition, and take my place in
the ranks of those who through honest in-
dnstry, untirlng energy, and restless persever-
ance acquire wealth, happiness, and perhaps
fame, should age bring with it peace and plen-
ty, my sweetest duty would be to use every
exertion to ensure her happiness; to cherish
and protect her; to shield her from sorrow; to
sit down after the trials and vexations of
youth were over, and fold her to my heart
and be happy and contented By night,
when others were mingling in the giddy maze
of pleasure and fashion; when mirth and
gayety spread out before me their many
tempting attractions, she was the bright star
that beckoned me away from their alltiring
circles. When, after busy days of toll, I
sought my couch, my thoughts were still of
her. In dreams we wandered o'er the path
of life, two faithful and con6dng hearts
throbbing in unison with each other No
cloud came to darken our way; no disappoint-
ment came to chill the ardor of our love-
All was bright, happy. cheering. and full Of
promise. My mind was filled with thoughts
of her. When by her side forgot all the
cares of life, and lived in an elysium of hope.
But alas ! how terrible were all my hopes
dashed to the ground how suddenly wreck
ed and destroyed were all my anticipations
of future happiness
'One night-the night we both remembei
so well-I called on Fanny, and found her ar
rayed as usual, in all the charms of youth
and beauty. l believe l told you, on going
out, that had some personal matter to attend
to had l told you the nature of the business
that called me forth, perhaps l would not be
lying here now, as you, with your more prac-
teal mind, might have seen the utter folly anG
uselessness of my errand, and dissuaded me
from going. But, Frank, you mus forgive
me; thought to keep all from you until the
day of our marriage was appointed, and ther
give you q, pleasant surprise,
"Well, Farnk, on my arrival l found Fan
ny alone. She was as lovely and as loving
as ever. Ny purpose was to ask her hand in
marriage, so, after few trihing remarks,
came to the subject. 1 pictured to her, witt
oll th,f Il low Il
Joy and happiness that awaited me if she
would consent to share my future lot-if sht
would be my companion on life'S voyage.
told her of the bright dreams that giaddeneC
my soul and bade me hope for future bis
with her. l also pictured to her how bleak
and barren my life would be without her;
implored her with all the eloquence my brair
could conceive or my tongue express not tc
dash to fragments the fair structure that sht
by word and act had encouraged me to create
and, Frank, she had encouraged me to hopt
for all the joys that ever yet inspired the hear
or brain of youth to toll by day or dream b,
night. When had finished, her Language
and conduct actually astonished me. Sh
feigned surprse-said she was not prepared
for such scenc-that must give her tim
to consider the matter and when pressed 70
a definite answer said that she had never en-
tertained a serious thought of marriage-at
tempted to make light of our former associa
tions, and then administered the final blow
by intimating that our widely different cir
cumstances and ostions in society preclude'
the possibility of there ever existing between
us nearer relation than that of friendship
| attempted to demonstrate, but it was usees
she actually laughed at my misery! NJ
brain was freDzied. | know not what | sal
or did, or how | reached my room, but d
| know that while life remains shall still, per
hapssbitterly, remember Fanny Northrup,"
Ernest improved daily in strength of bod
and cllmness of mind, though he was still con
| fined to his room by order of his physician
| He seemed less troubled about Fanny than
expected he would be, as he alluded to he
| but seldom, and even when he did so, it wa
in spirit of calm resignation, and 1 hoped h
would soon learn to forget her.
- One evening, about week after the con
versation just narrated, entered his room
and found him lying on his bed, a little NOR
troubled and restless than he had been sine
he began to evince signs of Improvements
In his hand he held copy of a daily pape
and as his eyes fell on me he handed it to MI
saying.
''There Frank, there is the proof of her pc
fdy! 1 have suffered great deal, but tn
is too much ~
What is the matter now, Ernest?" il
| quired. What has occurred. What do yo
mean by the proof of her perfidy?"
There, Frank, look there !'' he replied
| pointing to the column inwhich the marriag
notices appeared. On following the directio
of his finger saw among others the followin
paragraph. ...--s
''Married.-On Monday Sept. 10th, FREQ
erick Marston, to Fanny, youngest daughter {
George Northrup, Esq, all of this city"
After reading the notice, said.
ERNEST, this is certainly a severe blow
but you must try to bear up against it.
should be source of satisfaction to you to hay
discovered her faithlessness before you wei
bound to her for life. You should pity ratl
er than envy the man that calls her wife,
Ernest, you must try to forget and forgive
"Ah, Frank" he murmured, it is easy
speak of forgetting and forgiving, but
The heart that once truly loved forgets.
4 But as truly loves to the close.'
d Ernest was not yet sufficiently strong
bear the severity of this blow. The agoni;
ing realization of the ultimate wreck of a
his hopcs-for he had hoped even again
hope-produced relapse. His fever return
ed with all its Virulence, and notwithstandir
s that the most eminent medical skill tn eli
could produce was called in requisition,
continued to fail, until at last the last hope
his recovery vanished. 37
One calm evening in the October followin
4 when all within and without was hushed
if in preparation for the event, Ernest's spi
passed from earth-passed quietly away fro