Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-03
MY MARRIAGE;
Or, the Dreadful Widow.

OHe
/ was making my way through the
crowd in by-street which | supposed had
collected for the contemplation and enjoy
ment of some thrilling and contemplate dis
turbance, but into which at the time l was
not in the mood to inquire, when my
course was arrested by pair of beautiful
large black eyes under ladys' veil, which
met mine with mute appeal that | could
not, for moment, resist.
"What is the matter" / demanded of
the possessor of the black eyes.
A remarkably sweet voice replied, 81
have ventured to interfere in behalf of a
child saw the people abusing, but L am
afraid that without some assistance, my Ell
forts will be unavaling."
ave wasn't abusing it," cried several
rough voices together. 'She was only
fighting with little Mike, and she'd got the
best of him, too, ifyOud let her alone"
ut is quite enough" said the lady, with
spirit, her splendid eyes flashing as she
spoke, shat your sex should disgrace it.
self in this way. shall not allow mine,
especially such little creature as this, to
make brute fitself i'll can help it."
"You are right, madam" | said. 'The
man who would see your sex dragged into
the prize ring must have little respect for
his own mother. Your are QuiXotic, how
ever, to assume the duties of this child's
natural protector. Where are its pa
rentsY
Dead" cried three or four little children
in chorus.
"Where-how does tue little girl live
them
"She lives with Miss Fanny Fink, and
does errants for her." -... ..t...
"What sort OF a person is this?" inquir-
ed the dark-eyed lady.
''She dresses finer than you do, ma'am,"
replied one of the female bystanders; "but
she is not exactly the person to bring up a
child in the way it should 90, as she has
strayed long way out herself"
The pointed truthfulness of this remark
raised laugh among the acquaintances of
Miss Fanny Fink. ......... 800.
The lady, in the meantime, had not let
go her hold on the half-clad, sturdy little
Cir, whose face was flushed with passion,a and
discOlored with blood, dirt and tears. She
stopped down to her, raising her veil, and
said, ''little one, if you will go with me, l
will find you good home. You shall have
nice clothes, enough to eat, and be taught
to read and write. What do you say ?"
The sweetness and the beauty of the la
dy's face surprised me; the child seemed
quite overpowered by her gentle influence,
and replied, Yes, ma'am, will 70 with
you anywhere"
At this juncture policeman arrived on
the spot, and the lady at once addressed
herself to him, explaining the case, and
shortly afterward she walked away, lead
ing her little charge, escorted by the guar
dian of the peace. Although much pressed
for time, fingered to look after her till
she turned the corner, tor never had seen
face which had seemed to me halfso love-
ly as hers, and it haunted me ever after.
had, however, at that time too many
troubles of my own to afford to look after
those of others. A very long and eXpen-
sive lawsuit had exhausted the once hand
some fortune that had long kept my family
in so enviable position, and lett me moth
ing but fallacious hopes and Elusive eXpec-
tations. My father died during the slow
progress of the litigation; the lawyer who
had commenced and so long conducted it
also died before its conclusion: and it ap-
peared too probable that my mother, too,
would pass away without the satisfaction
OF knowing that SO much money, thought,
anxiety and suspense had not been entirely
thrown away. She was very ill, and |
fOresaw with certainty that the slender
thread which held her to this life would
snap, if the final decision in our cause,
which it was believed would soon be rem
dered, should be against us; for it would
necessitate the sale of all that remained to
us, and leave us but little better than beg
gars. 1t was our last stake, upon which all
our hopes and confidence had gradually
concentrated: and if that were lost we had
nothing more to lOse--nothing but blank
despair to encounter, which we burst not
anticipate. ... -..,....
The lawyer who at the time conducted
our suit was an old friend of father's--suc-
cessful, rich, independent and surly; aud
as he had undertaken the case more from
friendly than pecuniary motives, did not
attempt to disguise the truth and probabil-
tiles from me. But could not look for
ward to anything but triumph, and chose
rather to disregard his discouraging tone
as one of the means he employed to en-
hance the value of his services in achieving
success. He was good man at heart, that
old lawyer, and his penetration wonderful,
but he was not apt to spoil his medicine by
0ver-sweetening 1t; and my pampered pal
ate repelled not little against it's disgust
ing but wholesome bitterness. -
~ | had long hunt after an important fe-
male witness, whom found at last in a
-garret, dying of consumption. And whom
should fiud, sitting like ministering an
gel at her bedside, but the beautiful black
eyed lady whom had lately met; the COM
panion of the littleorphan girl.
"It Is in such places as this, where a good
angel is most needed, and not in the circles
of gayety and fashion, that must seek
you, see,' exclaimed l, gazing upon her
with irrepressible admiration. y .irl-
The lady blushed deeply; and as soon as
she had recovered from her momentary con-
fusion, observed quietly that she was simp-
ly performinga duty to which an old friend
O her mothers was fully entitled. y
While obtaining the deposition of her
patient, had several opportunities of con-
versing with this excellent beauty; and
her modest elegance and graceful ease
Captlvated my soul. y ilo lnl .8alit