North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-06-22

CouiciHIuS lOiu me tHaL Hdu Oeell HaFu uu
cold with HIN, even while my own heart
pleaded with him. But stifed the silent
monitor, and ordered my maid to prepare for
the journey was about to take TO join my
friends at Newport.
The morning left home my father men
toned casually that he he'd heard Mr. Fetch
er was very i'll. felt myself grow pale and
cold, but stihed my emotions, and in a con-
strained voice expressed my regret at these
tidings and begged my father to provide the
invalid with every needed luxury from Verd
hill, and to inform me in his letters of his
state.
Two years later was in Italy with my
husband-the husband of nv Aunt St. Glars
choice. had made grand match, but |
was not happy. Diamonds bound my aching
brow land flashed above throbbing heart.
| was cold and unloving to my husband, and
he returned my Indifference with scorn. A
few months had brought us to this pass
that he lived ont of doors amidst pleasures
in which had 10 share and which | shrunk
from even guessing at, and | was alone in So
clety, mark in lny beauty for continental
gossip,
One night saw my husband making his
way toward me through crowded saloon.
| pressed forward for felt the need of his
protection from advances that were insults,
though perhaps not intended as such. He
drew my arm in his, did speak until We
reached the an te. room.
Then he told ne that he had been sum-
moned 10 the bedside of a dying countryman,
and that he had come from this melancholy
visit 10 conduct me thither. He would tell
me no more, and when [ refused to 90. he
compelled ne, almost by force, to accompany
him.
1t was to Mr.. Fletcher we were going
We found him in humble lodgings, for he
had spent his last dollar, and was reduced to
de in the midst of poverty and deprivation.
He had heard Of US, had seen US when he
crawled forth upon the piazza, and had ven
tured to send for US in his extremity. He
uttered no reproaches, though he told me, in
hollow accents, that my rejection had been
his word of doom that he had struggled
with his mortal illness, using as in duty
bound, all means Of restoration, but without
hone. And now that he was dying, he de-
sired only 10 look upon my face, best loved
on earth, ere he committed his soul to his
Creator.
knew then how had loved John Fletch
er, and if the sacrifice of my life wo'd have
saved his most gladly would have died thai
hour.
But God willed otherwise. held my hand
in his, but his last words were not of his
crushed earthly hopes, but of those that
reached beyond the rending veil of flesh.
told my husband all, as we returned, in
the purple Italian twilight, from John Fetch
el's funeral, We had hated each other be-
fore, but now new antagoni sm had arisin.-
We felt that the false and hollow bonds that
bound US must be snapped asunder | left
him in Naples. and returned alone to Ameri-
ca, thus voluntarily renouncng the station
OF Wlfehocd, and compelling myself to seclu.
sion and solitude or scandal strove to find
cause for this IN unprecedented act, and
made itself busy with my fair name.
Years have passed since that hour. Ny
father has long been dead, and | should live
| quite alone at NerdhiIl, but for the sweet
preeence Of tar young girl-John Fetch
er'S sister. l found her-a mere infant-or
my return, abandoned to poverty by hel
| brothers death, and she has been with mt
ever SInce-my adopted child. An mex
pressible comtort and consolation has she
been To me ever. ln my care OF her | have
striven, IN some little measure, TO repair the
great wrong Of my life. And when the ter
rIbe blindness, that shuts out all eX;erna
life from eyes that wept themselves into
darkness, fell upon me, she become my STA,
aud my support. But Tor her, lite would bt
all dreary, ami no gIearn OF pleasure wo1lc
llghf the passage OF sorrowlng penllent t
The grave.