The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-02-04

She looked down at her wounded
arm, and seeing the blood trickle from
beneath my handkerchief, which I had
placed around il, she slightly shuddered
as she replied. Il think that will prove
beneficial, for my horse is well train,
ed animal, and will no doubt 60 direct
! ly home, which will attract my parents
notice and they will come Immediately
to our rescne."
| Here she paused and seemed wishing
10 make some communications, yet hesi-
tate1 about doing it, but after a few
moments silence she raised herself to
a sitting position, gave me her hand.
and while a sweet expression beamed
from the depths Of her blue eyes, she
spoke thus:
Il was noble in you, my dear friend,
to peril your own lite IN order to save
mine, and from my hear, thank you,
| and if the wounds l have received
should prove fatal shall not mnrmnr
Nv words may seem strange, and you
may think me bold and familiar, but !
have few words to say. and here in
the depths Of the silent forest, with no
one near but my God and yon, l will
speak briefly Of my misplaced love
"Your coming to my peaceful home
exclted passion within me, deep and
fervent, but when found that the
fonlest hopes Of my life could not be
realized-that you loved and was he.
loved by another, and was even now
upon the eve of marriage-that you
were too good and noble to inspire
hopes which you could not honorably
fulfill, I loved you all the more, yet the
truth was crushing to my heart and
happiness. When You politely offered
to accompany me upon this ride, which
offer | 80 eagerly accepted, observed
your surprise, yet did so upon the
impulse Of the moment, for an irresist-
able desire came over me TO take this
ride with you alone, before you left me
10 become the husband Of another
This I have done. and from my heart l
arm thank III tha. have received such
injuries instead OF you, for then two
hearts would have been b!ighted with
grief instead Of one. But my dear
parents; who will care for them when
| am goneo They will mourn deeply
the unt,mely death Of their only daugh-
ter"
Tears, which I could no longer re-
strain, came into my eyes, as this beau
,ifal girl concluded her brief narrative,
and l would have given worlds, had ]
possessed them, to have restored her to
her former state Of happines. She 90
served my emotion, and again spoke
earnestly:
"Are those tears for me? Have | in
deed awakened your sympathy and in.
terest ?"
II weep because I consented 10 yonr
| hazardous proposal which has en-
dansered your life, and will bring deep
affection upon your beloved parents, -
l replied with deep feeling. "Thev
!. will blame ne greatly when they know
wha! has happensd. also an grieved d
Is think tha, | have unconsciously
awakened IN your bosom a passion
| wh;ch { can not return with honor
Would that I never came here. then
perhaps YOU might have been now,
what you was before my coming, the
pride and flower Of your forest home.
Oh. wha. can do by way Of repara-
ton o.
"No,hing, my kind friend, nothing, 7
she answered, in a tone Of sweet resig.
nation, "and if you even respect me, do
not again speak with SO much self-re-
proach. There shall be no blame =,
tached to you; for my return to night
is il, accordance with my wishes, and
against yours, and l abide the conse-
queues cheerfully. ! am happy, and
but let me have my dear parents with
me when enter the "dark valley" and
vii! die contented."
The poor girl was now thoroughly
exhausted, both from the loss Of blood
and the effort Of speaking, and she
sank weariedly into my arms. As she
lay there calm and tranquil, sacred
influence seemed to hover around her,
and around that lone spot, which had
witnessed fearful adventure, the con-
fessions Of disappointed heart and .
spirit Of sweet submission to Gods in
scrutable Providence. ! felt it's irresist-
able charm, and it made me silent and
, sad.
Her supposition in regard to the hor