Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-28
DAILY7LEADFR
MY MARRIAGE, OR THE DREAD.
Full WIDOW. 14

mehtoI sohie tflhlhg M contemptibie di
rs ~turbance, but into which at the time l WI
% not In themood to inquire, wheu mycour
was arrested by pair of beautiful Ian
black eyes under a lady's veil, which M
mine with a mute appeal hat l could n,
n for a moment resist.
l. what Is the matter2p 1 demanded
f the possessOr Of the black eyes.
a remarkably sweet voice renlipd. q
, have ventured to interfere in behalf of
cnIld l saw the people abusing, but 1 al
AFRAID that without some assistance my ei
forts will be unavailing."
1--WE wasn't abusing it." cried sewers
rough voices together. 'She was onl
lighting with little Mike, and she'd got tn
best Of il, too il you'd let her alone.D
at lie quite enough" said the lady wit
spirit, her splendid eyes fasting as sh
spoke, that your sex should disgrace itsel
in this way. I shall not allow mine, es
pecially such a little creature as this, t
make a brute of itself, if / can help it."
"4ou are right, madam" ] said. TIL
man who would see your ser dragged int,
the prize ring must have little respect 70
his own mother. You are QuixOtic, how
ever, to assume the duties of this child
natural protector. Where are the child
parents p
dead" cried three other little children
in chorus.
"Where-how does she live my little
girls2'
"Shelifes With Miss Fanny Fink and
does errands for her"
What sort of a person is this ?" in
quired the dark eyed lady.
"She dresses finer than you do, ma'am,''
replied one Of the female b~y-standers, "but
she is not exactly the person to bring up a
child in the way it should GO, rs she has
strayed a long way out herself"
The pointed truthfulness of this remark
raised a laugh among the acquaintance of
Miss Fanny Fink
The lady, in the meantime, had not let
go her hold ON a half clad, sturdy little
girl, whosefac was flushed with passion, and
diseolored with blood, dirt and tears. She
stopped down to her, raising her veil and
said, Little one, if you will go with me,
L viii find you a good home. You shall
have nice clothes. enough to eat, and be
taught to read and write. What do YOU
say to this p
The sweetness and beauty of the ladv's
face surprised mel the child seemed over
powered by her gentle influence, and re-
piled, eyes, maiam, will go with you
anywhere"
at this eonjuncture a policeman arrived
on the spot, and the lady at once addressed
herself to him, explaining the case, and
shortly afterward she walked away, leading
her little charge, escorted by the guardian
of the peace. Although much pressed for
time, l fingered to look after her till she
turned the corner, for never had / seen a
face which seemed to me half so lovely as
hers, and it haunted me ever after.
l had, however, at hat time, too many
troubles Of my own to afford to look after
those of others. A very long and expen-
sive law suit had exhausted the once hand
some fortune that had long kept my family
in an enviable position and left me moth
ing but fallacious hopes and Elusive expec-
tatiOns. Ny father died during the slow
progress of the litigation the lawyer who
commenced and SC long conducted it also
died before its conclusion, and it appeared
too probable that my mother, too, would
pass away without the satisfaction of
knowing hat SO much money, thought,
anxiety and suspense had been entirely
NV away 1nC wac Ntll III anu i
foresaw with certainty that the slender
thread which held her life would snap, if
the final decision in our cause, which it
was believed would be rendered, should be
against us; for it would necessitate the
sale Of all that That remained to us, and
leave US all little better than beggars. 1t
was our last stake, upon which all our
hopes and confidence had gradually con-
eentrated; and if that were lost we had
nothing more to lose-nothing but blank
to encounter, which we burst not
anticipate.
The lawyer who at the time conducted
our suit was an old friend of my fathers
successful, rich, independent and sur
ly; and, as he had undertaken the case
more from friendly than pecuniary mo-
tIves, did not undertake to disguise the
truth and probabilities from mt. But l
could not, would not, look forward to
anything but triumph, and chose rather
to disregard his discouraging tone as one of
the means he employed to enhance the
value of his services in achieving success.
He was a good man at heart, that old
and his penetration was wonder
but he wa no apt to spoil his medi-
my " NOGNGHlHS IL, anu lily DdiH-
pered palate rebelled not a little against
its disgusting but wholesale bitterness.
l had a long hunt after an important
female witness, whom l found at last in
garnet, dying of consumption. And
whom should l find, sitting like a minis
Jering angel at her bedside, but the beau
.iful black-eyed lady whom 1 had lately
met; the companion of the little orphan
girl.
at is in sach places as this where a
good angel is most needed, and not in the
'ircle Of gayety and fashion, that 1 must
seek you. l see" exclaimed l, gazing
IPon her with irrepressible admiration.
The lady blushed deeply; and as soon
Is h had recovered from her momentary
confusion, quietly observed that she was
performing u duty to which an old
friend of her mothers was fully entitled.
While obtaining the deposition of her
! had several opportunities of con-
with this excellent beauty, and her
modest elegance and graceful ease capti-
yated my soul.
One evening I was permitted to accom-
her in search of a conveyance; and,
Is 1 had resolved to express nv sentiments
ACGll " II vi ble niel dNdtidDtGO CCdeluus |
was, as usual in such cases, much embar-
'assed when it presented itself.
"Your patients dying, 1 fear"
"She is conscious of the approach of
Ter d~eliverance; and as such she regards
at is an angels office you fill in sooth-
ng her path to the grave"
Do not fiatter me, sir. 1t is but little
[ can do, and fattery seems to make that
title less han nothing" 4
Il assure you I express my admiration
II most stinted terms; were 1 to tell you
Ill 1 think and l feel 1 might indeed sur
prise you"
"Then let me entreat your forbearance."
at is unkind, not to say harsh, in you,
o forbid the utterance of heart SO sincere
md full as mine,
alt is my kindness, my consideration for
that induces me to check this excess
i've language, because L know you will
it,
"Impossiblei 1 not only admire you
more than any being / ever saw, but 1 feel
hat you are worthy of my worship, and
hat 1 love you"
"Say no more, 1 entreat. If you knew
who and what I am, you would confess
he folly of which you are guilty. You
ell me you are so unfortunate and unhap-
Dy. Ipity you, but there is a gulf be-
.ween us, and you would only render