Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-03-16

was so sweet, so strange, TO De thus
cared for. The stile where we frs
met he called the 'trysting place. ane
: evening after evening | sat there
, watching the stars tremble forth, ant
listening to the words of love and hope
with which he painted our future
Our future what realms of bliss lay
for me in those two words 4; and dar
ed at last to be happy-dared to drinl
the cup of joy held to my lips withou
forebodings. My marriage was to b,
in the autumn. Both my father ant
mother were pleased with my engage
ment, and l only wanted Minnie's
presence to make my happiness com
plete. Fortune smiled on me in this
also, for just as | was most wishing
for her came letter, saying she would
be at home in August to stay some
months.
Mr.. Thorton was sitting with me
when she arrived. l had often told
him Of her beauty, but l could see he
was not prepared for such radiant
loveliness Indeed, l was unprepared
for it myself. could but admit tn at
the ten months Of her absence had
changed and improved her wonderful
ly, although l had thought when she
left us she was near perfection as pos
sible. | was at once triumphant at
the evident effect she had produced
upon Mr.. Thorton, but as during the
evening I found his eye constantly fix,
ed upon her, to the exclusion of every
thing else, ! was conscious Of an un
defined feeling of uneasiness. He
soon left, however. and all disagreea-
bic thoughts were swallowed up in
the Joy of having Minnie back again
But the feeling returned again, and
l began to feel rather than see q
change in my betrothed. He became
moody and thoughtful, and l often
found his eyes fixed upon me with a
remorseful, beseeching expression, that
| oppressed me with dread of l knew
not what. Minnie's manner was also
fitful and strange towars Mr.. Thorton
she was cold and repellant, almost
rude and she would sometimes shrink
:; from me with look almost of dislike
and the next moment, throwing her
self in my arms, would weep as if hel
heart would break. 1t is little won
der that | became restless and unhap
py although blind that | was, / new,
er supected the truth until it was fore.
ed upon me. But the revelation soon
came. had been out for a long walk
one evening which | had taken, hop,
ing the rapid motion would deaden the
dull pain at my heart Weary in mind
and body, entered the house and
opened the parlor door, and stood mo.
tionless, transixed. Minnie and Mr.
Thorton were there, seemingly en-.
crossed in conversation. Her head
was turned away so that | could not
see her face but her hand was in his,
and he was bending over her with a
look-ah me !. look knew too well
Love Eester,' he was saying, al
Minnie, I thought | loved her, but
then | had never seen you. l shall
always esteem her most highly, bu,
my love, my darling, is all gone-and
she will not care, she is so cold He
stopped suddenly ; he had caught
sight of me as stood in the doorway
and rose, deep flush dyeing his usu
ally pale face. Minnie also sprang up
but did not look at her walked
steadily, towards him-steadily, and
believe with smile. Mr.. Thornton,
| said, we have both made grea'
mistake. release you now from every
tie that you may have imagined boune
you,' and l held out the little COLDER
circlet l had worn in pledge of our be
trothal. No, Hester, you shall not,
cried Minnie, springing towards me
| did not heed her, but held out tn,
ring. My hand did not tremble, Mel
lie, although his did, for as he mcchan
ically took it, it dropped and role,
along the floor walked unfaltering
ly from the room, reached my own
and was in a merciful state OF uncon
sciousness for weeks. Minnie neve
left me during my sickness, and whel
| began to recover noticed how pal,
she was, how wan and forced th'
: smiles with which she would talk tt
me. was too weak at first to asl
what was the matter, but at last
, drew from her that Mr.. Thornton ha,
left the village-that after my sick
ness she had positively refused to Sc
him, resolving to undergo anything
. herself rather than cause me any sui
fering. He had written to her cor
stantly, but she had left his letters uI
! answered. 1t was long time bcfor
! | could persuade her that she but ad
5 ded to my unhappiness by the cours
! she was pursuing. At last l induce,
| her to answer his letters, and the mex
!, week he returned. Let me pass raj
!, idly over this page of my histor,
3 They were married, and went to dis
: tant State. l never saw him again
!, but years afterwards sad, broker
!, hearted woman, came to our old home
J. in whom we found it hard to recogniz
+ our bright, our beautiful Minnie. Sh
S brought with her little girl, he
g youngest and only child. Her hus
1 band and four children had perished
| the fever that had desolated the coul
$ try in which they had lived. We 500
/ saw, with heavy hearts, that Mimi
n had come home TO die. She faded da
= by day, and on her dying bed put he
: child in my arms. l took her, promi'
ing through my tears that she shoul
u never miss mothers love, never war
7 a mothers care. You can best tel
e Nellie, how have fulfilled my trust
r Two Scotch miners were quarreline
+ One of them was very boastful, an
c was making considerable parade {
Q his valorous deeds. The other quie
e ly listened until boaster had talke
q L:...u.lE lux.-.a 81 4Lax. ra:l Al