Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-29

Liston,, and the liie-blood flowing from
wound In his breast. tAse4 ffkh
sFrederick,. he mnrmured in a dying
4 voice, ''you will see Vaninka."t NJ
IF live" answered his comrade with
"You will give her this ring, and cutsome
Of my hair off for her. Tell her my dying
thoughts were all of her-Heayen bless you,
my comrade. Farewell ~ and hfs head fell
heavily back. ~. -
dead !" said Frederick, "and | must
leave him here.n - -
!; Frederick was mistaken, Henry,was not
dead--he had only. tainted. Some hours
afterward he was lying onla JhospitalLbed in
raying delirium. ....aa.-..l
For weeks his life hung upon thread,
then young constitution triumphed, and
he began to mend. His physician positiyelv
forbade his returning to Prussia, ana warm
ing him that his s,ldngs were much affected,
herecommended a winter In Italy,. Writ
ing a long letter to Vaninka to explain his
| long absence, Henry made his preparations,
and after an illness Of over three months
started in the early part of October forgNa-
pies. He remained there, gaining strength
and health, until the nextJ une, and then
started for home, During his, residence In
Italy, he had written again and again to
both Vaninka and Frederick, and wondered
His epistles never reached them.
*fHs s.,.&l 'G#i K't aCl0 .Nva
We now return to Vaninka. Contrary to
the fears of her friends she had seemed to
bear her loss with calmness. She had been
so long in state of agoniziDg suspense.
that any certainty, even this direfuf one.
was reliet Still her step did not regain its
elasticity, and her grief ifnot loud was deep.
Her friends mistook despair for calmness.
She grew paler and thinner and now fire.
quently kept her room for days together.
Her lover had been gone some eight
months, when her hand was again sought
in marriage. George Weimar was a zen
tie, mild old man of about seventy years of
age, wealthy, aud of large influence i'm his
native town. He was an old friend of Van
lnkas father, and had long thought OF seek
ing Vaninka for his bride. When, how
ever, he had seen the place coveted about
10 be worthily filled, he had become ST.
lent on the subject of his desires, and culti-
vated the acquaintance of his lady loves
Detrothed. Now, deceived as others were
by Vaninka,s quiet demeanor, he advanced
his suit. Her parents knowing that he
would spare no pains or expense to make
her happy, urged their child to accept his
offer, and she consented to see him,
4 ';Mr. Weimar," she said 81 wish to tell
you how grateful / feel for your kind and
flattering offer and to place my situation
fully before you. Since heard of myiir-
reparable loss, have felt that should soon
Join him; {; still have endeavored faithfully
20 perform the duties left to me. / do not
thinkI / shall live long. But If I can by any
means add to the happiness of another, God
has granted me the will to do so.aqIf YOU
will accept my hand, knowing that INV
heart is in Henry's grave, it is yours, andI
will endeavor to fulfil my duties as a wife,
trusting to your love andindulgeuce to for
give if fail to makeyou happy while am
with YOU"
The good old man was too happy to have
his offer accepted on any terms, and he
thanked her warmly. A day was soon set
for the wedding, and all things were max
ing ready.
MIR. Weimar hoped, by travelling and
other diversions of her mind, to raise his
brides spirits and prolong her life. ios
Again it was the night before vaninka's
wedding, and again she was seated, lost In
thougdt, in the sameechair that wesfifst saw
her in. Now, alas, the reverie was a yery
painful one, and low, choking sobs took the
place of her former happy smiles. She was
sitting, painfully rejecting on the past,
when shadow fell on the ground before
her, and raising her eyes, she saw stran-
SST sJdnulllS lOOhlllS dL ueT. lie SUOOQ Win
his back to the light and she could not see
his face, but something made her heart
stand still as she arose to greet him. He
only said one word, "Vaninkar and ex-
claiming, "Henryp she sprang to his en-
brace. He caught her passionately to his
breast, and held her there as If she feared
another separation. 10 ss.s.axe tf
49," said a pleasant voice at the door,
"there is change of bridegrooms," and
Mr.. Weimar entered the room. Vaninka
stood moment confused, but taking her
hand heplaced it in Henry's, saying, take
her, Henry; she is too young, good and
handsome for an old man like myself.
was an old fool to think of it. Take her,
andl my warmest blessings attend your
union" And with kind, beaming smile,
the old man left them together.
This time Vaninka's wedding was not
postponed, and as Henry and Vaninka stood
before the altar, Mr.. Weimar, watching the
happy, blushing face of the bride, owned
that he could not have called up, with all
his devotion, such an expression Of perfect
love and joy.I0f''1 lra "1ns1Ico2