The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-02-25

name was proud one, and his Golfers
heavy with untold gold, and her old
father, drcading poverty for his gentle
Lula, and feeling that she would need
protector when he was gone, plead
with tears in his eyes that Lnln should
look with favor upon this grey, haired
suitor, and was never weary with pic
turing the happiness the old mans
wealth could purchase. Lulu loved her
father, and could not bear to deny him
anything, bnt she felt as though her
heart would break should she yield to
his wishes in this respect, and many
sad tears did she shed in the privacy Of
her own room ere she consented 10 re-
ceiye tie old mans addresses. At
! length the en.reaties OF her iather pre-
vailed, and with heart filed with the
image Of her former lover, she became
the wife of Col Howard.
! The tight stars Of June locked into
Lulu Howard's boudoir-i, was palace
home TO which the old man had borne
his beautiful b,ide-and the world said
that for the two years which had pass
ed since her bridal morning. Lulu's
path had lain among the sunshine How
little We know Of each others inward
>orrow-how little can careless world
Judge Of eur inward feelings
One morning while on: on 4 shopping
expedition a mutual friend informed
her that Edgar Walton had returned
Ills health had been for some time fail
ing, and at lengtl he had obtained his
discharge.
Who can tell the bitter thoughts ,ha:
came sur9ing over the heart of Lulu
Howard at these tidings. She had
thought in her endeavors to make hap
py the home of her aged husband, she
had well nigh forgotten the tenderness
and affection II she had once felt for Ed.
gar. But alas i, was not so. She re-
turned home, and throwing herself upon
her bed, gave way to passionate flood
Of tears. The past, with all its loved
memories, forced itself upon her mird
aud she felt that even now, in her heart
Of hearts, she loved Edgar Walton
with devotion and alteration she
k"ew not in those calm days Of their
betro,hal she possessed. What would
she now have given had she in those
eaily days ofiheir disagreement thrown
away her false pride. and spoken those
words of reconciliation ner heart
prompted her TO- but now it was to late
How he. heart sickened at the though,
Edgar, once her Edgar, was now
with his family only few steps from
her, and she, oh, where was she What
"A fatal barrier there was now between
them
"Oh, that could be placed back two
years Of my life = was her constant
cry. Blu, this could not be, and she
must forget him--must tear his too
dearly loved image from her heart This
she resolved to do, and when she retir
ed to rest that night she felt that she
could still be the same kind and tender
wife to the old Colonel that she had
ever been. Her sleep was sweet and
she arose in the morning refreshed.
The next morning while sitting in
her own room, (hef husband having
LEFT rhe evening before to distant city
on business), a servant handed her a
note. She t'embled and turned pale as
she recognized the handwriting of Ed
gar Walton, and for several moments
was too asitated to perusc 1t. 1t read
thus:
"Lulu my own, hearts darling. can it
be yau are married Oh, why, why
was not our slight quarrel made up at
the ,imc-,hen would our cruel parting
never have been. Lnln, my own on..
(yes, yon are mine, and nothing earth
y has the right 70 scperate us), for two
years have been trying to teach my
heart forge,tulness, but It's useless. I
cannot live without you. Lulu, darling,
forget the miserable past-forget tha,
yon are the old Coloncl's wife, and tv
with ne this night. We will make us
a home far. far, from here, where to
love will not be crime, and onr bliss
shall be As one long, sweet summers
day. Meet me to night. Lulu. under
the old elm that years since witnessed
our love-vows, ane there we will renew
them. Deny me not, dear one, for life
is naught to to me without thee. Come,
and yon shall be welcomed 20 the still
loving heart Of
Your own EDGAR"
Through all the long hours Of that
summers afternoon, Lulu had held the
letter III her hand her eyes traced again
and again the words his dear hand had