Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-04-19

"You must go over and see his widow,
Becky"
"Never."
Yes, but you must"
Father, havn't you got that old idea
out of your head yet? You have made
yourself the ridicule Of the whole town
for sixteen years, by keeping foolish
vow and letting a good property go to
ruin. Why not be sensible man, and
repent of words hastily spoken ?"
Il never promised thing in my life
that I did not fulfill. When 1 said that
no woman should ever live in that house
until Becky was your wife, I meant it,
and 1 mean it still. You permitted her
to marry another, and all these years I
said nothing upon the subject. Now she
is a widow, and you have a chance to re-
deem that property from ruin and secure
it to yourself"
What did she write me the very
night before we were 70 have been mar
ried. 1t we're easier to live thousand
of celibacy than to 90 to her Ikea whip
ped dog. Heaven only knows how 1
idOlized her! I said [ would never mar
ry any but her; you have kept your say,
and 1 have kept mine"
"You never told me she Drote those
words before. What was the precise
of the note?"
a burnt the note, but I remember the
words, they burnt into my heart too deep
Iy to be forgotten; " I am sorry to dis
appoint you, Mac, but I love another
better than you, and 1 feel it would be
injustice both to you and myself to mar
ry you according to arrangement, to-mor-
row night. Please pardon me for defer
ring to so late an hour, and think of me
kindly if you can. I ask no more;
BECKY"
"I repeated that over every night for
years and God knows I have thought of
her kindly, though I had to pray to do
So"
Becky viii marry you nov; she sees
by your remaining single how true your
passion was; if You visit her again, she
will admire and love you for your forgiv-
ing disposition and constanay.
There was an earnestness in the fathers
manner, and an emphasis in his speech,
that impressed the son.
"You have heard from Becky, faith
or?"
Indirectly. I believe if you renew
your addresses she will listen favorably."
"Toiilt when another rich farmer pays
his attentions. No, no; I have lived
,hirty-fve years, without Becky, I can
live thirty-fve more"
The brother of Mrs. Rebecea Ware,
who had been in charge of the farm since
her husbands demise, was at the time of
this conversation, having a cart built by
between whom itpassed. Mr..
Shaw proposed a plan, that Mac should
ride out for the purpose oflearning from
this gentleman some further particulars
in regard to the cart, at an hour in the
day when he would certainly be in the
field. Mae did not readily fall in with
the arrangement, but was finally induced
10 crafty his father, for, as he said "there
could be no harm in it." When the
heart is interested, our scruples are cas-
ly overcome.
The following day Mac saddled his
horse with many misgivings, and rode
very slowly toward the widows. 1t was
1 warm day in early summer. As Mac
approached the house through long
lane, he saw lady sitting in the portico
.helling peas. He felt the day grow
garmer at every step of his horse; at
ength he stopped in the shade of an ap-
Dle-trpe that extended It's branches over
the lane, and taking off his hat, he wiped
the beads of perspiration from his brow.
. There she is, he tho't, '' the same slight
form, the same dark hair" How could
he meet her after so many years of eS-
arrangement, during which he had avoid
ID her? Yet hope spured his horse, and
ne gaIlopei forward as bold as a lion
lie alighted, AMI seeing nobody but
he lady herself, passed on through the
gate, and stood almost in front of her be-
'ore she looked up. Good Heavens she
seemed not year older than when he
saw ber last; not gray hair was visible,
Is his own perturbed head-the report
hat she had lived unhappily with her
ate husband must be false"
, as Mr. Venneman in?' Mac inquir-
ID.
"No, sir," (oh God that voice it per-
,Olated every part of him in an instantly
"No, sir, he has gone to Salem, but
will return by two. VIII you sit down."
She gathered the peas in her apron,
lrose and handed a chair. Mac thanked
her, and sat down, raising his eyes again
Is he did so. There was the identical
brooch upon her bosom, containing his
OWN hair, given to Becky the evening