The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-09
NIX MARRIAGE;
10 Hif iaff,.'fn in OR, EH
THE DREADFUL WIDOW.

CONCLUDED. "
met lady descending the stairs, who
had Just come ont of his Office, whose ply
siognomy was of that unusually repnlsiye
character which irnprints itself indelibly on
the memory, and ever after, In dreams and
reveries, In sleep and In wakefnlness, rises
from time to time TO our mental vision,
with horrible distinctness, shocking Ils,
with the fullest sense Of the dread of human
fnalformation. l thought Of the wonderful
contrast between this creature and the deli
cate beauty loved In vain.
fThe old lawyer was In, and grasped my
hand with sympathetic cordiality. | stated
the object of my visit. l
swell my young friend" said he, 81
have anticipated your wishes, and have
Just been talking with the successful party.
She Is by NC means inexorable, but, to tell
you the truth, there is no ground Of COM
promise left. You have lost all--the widow
has won all. If she accords you anything,
II will be simply donation-nothing more
or less"
''There is no resource left by which I can,
for time, ward of this final and to my
mother, fear, fatal blow?n
"None In law.n
fln what theng' .I I'D
In yourself"
How in myselfg"
"ln your person. You are young and
but TO make my meaning clear.'
"Well? ?"
''Well, marry the widow"
"Mar1y her! ] would rather hang myself
at oncelb -,
"You should know best how fit you are
10 die. ] am afraid your education and
habits have totally unified you for BUSH
ness and usefulness" M
"But this marriage is absurd, impossi-
BILE" ...
~ am not In the habit of proposing alb
surdltes and impossibilities. If you will
authorize me TO act, you will find IL no such
thing. VIII you do so ?"
"Not for the world.n
understand that l have not urged this
matter on your behalf but for the sake of
your mother and sister--especially ON ac-
count of your mother, for whose life you
pretended moment ago TO feel an amount
of solicitude that would enable you 10 make
any sacrifice"
SFor the moment did not think of
them"
s'It is time you did. Since my counsel Is
so very unpalatable, perhaps you viii con-
descend 10 inform me what you propose
10 do" ....
The old lawyer turned his chair round,
and commenced writing at his desk rs
co0lly as II he had been am ingenious ma
chine invented for no other PURPOSE. |
Thought ON his proposition till grew sick
and faint, The recollection of the consum-
mate charms of her loved, added horror
TO the aspect OF hate such as she wore whom
I was invited to make my own, and could
not bring my heart and lips 10 say yes TO
such q destiny. At last rose and said:
II viii call tomorrow and give you my
decision"
"Very well, replied the old man, without
turning his head or eeasing 10 write.
went home and attempted 60 prepare
my mother for the ruin that had befsllen
lls but In approaching the subject found Il
was more than she could endure, and re-
linqulshed the effort In despair. TO nv
sister ventured TO tell the truth; and she
wept bitterly, not for herself but for our
only parent who, she assured me, would in
evitably expire ON hearing the news.
"Is there nothing on earth that Won can
do, Edward To prevent itT nm.
yes"
q And won't you do iti"
.r'' l can not bring my mind 10 itn
= Is it dishonestfn .-I-.
NO, don't know that Il Is, but very
repugnant 10 my feelings"
81 am sure | would do anything for
maman rH IHH nm. i.Ht
"Would you marry the man You abhorp p''
ITO save mas life--yes."
'Well then win not be ontdone by you
In hlial affection" 'iu ilf =.
"what do you mean, EdwardS' .ia