The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-08
MY MARRIAGE;
or
THE DREA DFUL WIDOW

aI was making my way through thecrowd
in u by street which suppose had collected
for the contemplation aud enjoyment of
some trifing and contemplate disturbance,
but into which ut the time | was not In the
mood 10 inquire, when my course was ar
rested by pair Of beautiful large black
eyes under a lady's veil. which met mine
with q mute appeal that could not for 4
moment, resist. iUHt rH.H aYH. u
''What is the matterY' | demanded Of
the possessor of the black eyes.
"A remarkable sweet voice replied, II
have ventiircd 10 Interfere IN behalf of a
child saw the people abusing, but I am
afraid that without some assistance. my eff
forts will be unavailing.
''Wo wasn't abusing it," cried several
rough voices together ''She was onlv
fighting with little Mike, and she'd got the
best of him, too, ii you'd let her alone"
at is quite enough" said the lady, with
spirit. her splendid eyes flashing as sho
spoke, "that your sex should disgrace itself {
In this way. I shall not allow mine, espe-
cially such little creature as this, to make
a brute of itself, if can help it.n
You are right, madam ! said. "The
man who would see your sex dragged intn
the prize ring must have little respect for
his own mother. You are QuiXotic, how
ever, TO assume the duties of this child's
natural protector. Where are its parents -
dead, 'cried three or four little children
/ in chorus.
Where--how does the little girl live
| thCni'
"She lives with Miss Fanny Fink, aud
does erIylnds for her..
"What sort of "A person is this ?" inquired
! the dark-eyed lady.
F",S She dresses finer than Won do ma'am y
replied one of the female bystandcrs but
she Is not exactly the person TO bring up q
child in the way il should go, as she has
strayed n long way out hersclfN
The pointed tIuthiulness Of this remark
raised laugh among the acquaintances of
Miss Fanny Fink
The lady, in the meantime. had not let 90
her hold on the half-clad, sturdy little girl,
whose face was flushed with passion, and
discolored with blood, dirt and tears. She
stopped down 20 her, raising her veil. and
said "little one. IL you will 90 with me, |
will find you a good home. You shall have
nire clothes, enough to eat, aud be taught
to read and write. What do you say ~
| The sweetness and the beauty of the
lady's face surprised me; the child seemed
quite overpowered by her gentle influence,
and replied "Ies, ma'am, will 90 with
you anywhere
| At this iuncture policeman arrived ON
the spot, and the lady at once addressed
herself 10 him; explaining the case, and
shortly aiterward she walked away, lead
| ing her little charge, escorted By the
| guardian of the peace. Although much
/ pressed for time, Fingered TO look after her
| till she turned the corner; for never had |
seen a face which had seemed TO me half so
lovely as hers, and 1t haunted me ever after.
] had, however, at that time too many
| troubles ofmy own to afford 10 look after
those of others. A very long and expensive
/ lawsuit had exhausted the once handsome
| Torture that had long kept my family i'm 81
enviable position. and LETT me nothing but
| fallaeious hopes and illusiVe expectations
My father died during the slow progress of
the ligitation; the lawyer who had COM
menced and so long conducted il also died
before its conclusion; and il appeared too
probable that my mother, too, would pass
away without the satisfaction of knowing
that sOmuch money, thought, anxiety and
suspense bad not been entirely thrown
away. She was very III, and foreslw
with certainty that the slender thread
which held her to this life wonld snap, II
! tie final decision in our cause, which Il
Was believed would soon be rendered
should be against us for it would neeessi-
tate the sale of all that remained TO us, and
leave us but little better than beggars 1t
was our last stake, upon which all our
hopes and confidence had gradually con-
eentrated; and II that We're lost we had
nothing more 10 lose-Bothing but blank
despair 10 encounter, which we burst not
anticipate. ,lr. ..s