American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-16

will was simply framed to prevent the for
tune falling in any way, however remote
", under the control of her husband be-
fore she reached that mature age, he de-
sired by marriage to secure it ultimately.
He had good cause for speed with him
prompt and secret marriage was essential,
fr. penniless, he could not much longer
maintain appearances, or pay his board, for
which he was largely in arrears.
His apparent disnterestcdness atlesgth
prevailed over the daughters obedience.
A false statement that her guardian had
forbid him addressing her, with incessant
urging that business required his presence
in New York. for several months, swept
away all further objections to an immedi-
ate and secret marriage. They were mar
ried privately at ncighboring village,
and, to the brides surprise, he advised her
return TO her guardians house for few
days He returne to his own lging :.
and at once, publicly, everywhere, and to
all he met, aUnounced his marriage. In
a few hours he called at the house Of his
newly welded wife and as he entered it,
her guardian, who had inst heard of the
marriage, also entered. lie was sternly
questioned as to the truth Of the report,
and nobly avowed it, making no apology
for the unauthorized act. but assuming the
attitude of one who was entitled to admi-
ration for a most successful manGuvre.-
He demanded permission to see his wife;
she wR called, and in their presence the
guardian bcwailed the imprudcnce their
eondtct, and forthe first time, the hereto
fore daring groom learned that by her mar
riagc his bride haol forfeited the entire for
tune of her father.
BafAed, disappointed, cheated, ting late
ardent wooer stormcd and raved he turn
ed upon the poor troubling woman to
whom, but few hours before he had pledg-
ed eternal love and charged her with
basely deceiving him. Overcome with
grief, she tainted, and before she recover
ell he had left the house and city She
heard no more Of him for years. During
all that time, with the incomprehensbili-
ty of woman's devotion, she had loved
him. Hisuamewhich many months, had
been coupled with rcproaches and con-
timely, ncverpassed her lips. She would
not believe him the mercenary villain he
had been represented. She still clung.
fondly to the hope that all the love he had
profcssei was real Weak, and broken in
spirit, that hope seemed to keep her alive.
During March of last winter, the courts
had set aside her mgriage on the ground
of fraud, and no one contesting her right,
she became possessorof magnificent for
tune. The case was noticedin the papers,
and some weeks after these came letter
to her. It was from her lover and. .hus-
band. He had seen that notceof the an
nulmept of her marriage That was arc
lief to him, for he was on the eve of mar
rying again. But as money was his main
idea, disguised he visited the place; he
had heard the story repeated with no ia.
vorable references to himself; he had
heard it more than hintcd that she still
retained an affection for him; but, more
than all, he ascertained that she was now
sole possessor of that fortune which had
so strongly tempted him to wrong. He
returned, and addressed her the letter we
have mentioned. 1t was full of repent
ance 1t proclaimed that his life since he
had left her had been one of continuous
misery. He protested to be acquainted
with what had passed, and with humility
rendered again his love, declaring thatas he
had been the cause erlosing herwealth,
justice required that he should share with
her the fortune he had amassed in the
growing city where he lived. Unknown
to any one sheanswered that letter, accept
ing his love, forgiving aud venturing ex-
cuses for his past conduct, and informing
him that she was now prepared to give
him that inheritance which to them had
been the source of so much unhappiness
That letter of hers was destined never to
reach him.-To avoid any conjoctures
which might arise if seen to deposit a let
ter addressed to that name, she induced
by a liberal reward, neighbor's servant
whom she knew could not read, to take the
letter to the post. Office. This servant tc
get leave of absence, took with her one ol
hermistress' children. To amuse the child
she allowed it to carry the letter; and the
little one, pleased with the red stamp, as
they walked along succeeded in removing
It, The letter was deposited in the Office
without stamp, and was never of course
sent