Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-09
JUNE 9, 1866

TEN platl0n OF Une terrible calamlDy WnicH
had destroyed heE dawning hopes of hap
piness, and they succeeded sufficiently to
implant in her mind distaste to the idea OF
returning to her late abode.
Week after week passed until months
were numbered, and she began to think 1t
her duty to remain with her parents. She
was their Youngest child, and the only one
without ties which severed them in meas
ure from the paternal roof
"Ellen, my darling" said her fatherwhen
she spoke of returning home, you will not
again forsake us2 We are old and you are
the only child who is free to remain with
us. You must live here-l cannot think of
permitting you to return to that lonely
home of yours" ED.
st is lonely, )" replied Ellen, ''and fear
that after breaking through my usual hab-
| its, / shall find it difficult and wearisome
to resume them. Yet, my dear father, If
| consent to remain, there is one request L
must make" L.rs ,a d.
"What is that. my daughter? Are we not
ever mindful of your wishes"
"Ah, yes, dear father, more mindful than
| | deserve. But"-and her voice sank to a
low, agitated whisper-"there must be no
| looking forward to second marriage for
memo attempt to alter my views on that
subject. have made vow to the dead,
and it must be held sacred"
"What ~ exclaimed the father, twas Sim
clair ungenerous enough to exact from you
| promise not to marry again young and
inexperienced as you were, too" ..
"Ah ! no filther-wrong him not. He was
| too kind, too noble. He asked no promise
i made it voluntarily; and as the words
left my lips his spirit departed. Oh no,
father, never ask me to break that promise
| it is halowed one"
| ,.AN al p1i lof ha oc gh
| shall prefer keeping you with US; but at
the same time, if you should ever meet with
| one you can love, and who Is worthy OF you,
| it would be very silly to suffer few words
uttered when you were scarcely conscious
| of their meaning, to prevent you from
| making the home of an honorable man hap
py. Why, child, you are only niueteen.
Do you suppose that the death of one per-
son, however deaf, can chill your feelings
into ice at that age"
II must then in sincerity of soul, pray to
be delivered FROM temptation" said the
| young widow.
As time passed on, Mrs. Sinclair could
not help acknowledging that she was far
happier than in her mountain Solitude
| Her spirits were no longer wearied she no
| longer felt that life was burden she would
gladly lay down. She needed the excite
ment of society, and the social and highly
| cultivated neighborhOod in which her faith
| ers residence was situated, afforded every
facility for its enjoyment. .....
| The third year of her widowhOOd was
| drawing to a close, when she received an
invitation to the marriage of favorite
cousin, who would take no refusal. Ellen
replied that ii the bride would excuse her
sOmbre dress and pensive face, she would
| attend: and tile concession was hailed as an
omen of future success in drawing her into
that world she was SO peculiarly fitted to
adorn.
There was a motive for these efforts of
which Ellen little dreamed. She regularly
attended the church near her fathers resi-
dence, and her mother had several times
called her attention to remarkably hand
some man who sat in a pew nearly oppO-
site to them; but she had not remarked
that his eyes frequently wandered from his
prayer book to her own fair face. His
height, and the turn of his head had re-
minded her of Sinclair, but there the re-
semblance ceased. The broad brow, finely
chiseled features, and clear dark eve of the
stranger, were all unlike the youthful bloom
of him who had won her young affections.
She frequently heard Mr.. PeytOn spoken of
as a man of distinguished endOwments, who
had spent several years in the south of Eu-
rope with an only and beloved sister, for
the benefit of whose health the journey
had been undertaken. These circumstances
had nearly passed from her mind when she
was introduced to him.
Peyton had fallen in love with her from
his casual view of her at church, and the
eulogiums of his friends aflianced bride
who looked on Mrs. Sinclair as 'bright
particular star" had deepened the impress
! sion. The circumstances of her marriage
threw romantic interest around her his
! tory, and when he looked on the youthful
brow with shade of placid pensiveness
that seemed to breathe hallowed charm
over her beauty, he felt that she was the
only woman he had ever known before
! whom his heart could bow with the hom-
! age of affection.
Yet how speak of love to one who still
| wore the deepest mournimg-who never
Joined in the mrth of the light hearted? 1t
| would seem almost like sacrilege to breathe
into her ear the wild passion that filled his
heart yet its very hopelessness appeared
to add TO its fervor
But ere long a new hope dawned on him.
Ellen was surrounded by the gay and joy
Gus of her own age. Her disposition was
naturally buoyaut; her spirits rose; the
chord she had believed forever snapped
again thrilled to the touch Of joy. When
the bonds of grief were once severed, the
reaction was complete. She still rever-
eneed the memory OF her first love, and if
her heart had whispered that she could
ever be faithless to his ashes, she would
have shuddered with superstitious horror
at the thought. The possibility of breaking
| that solemn promise had never occurred to
her-buttime teaches many strange lessons.
7 Peyton fingered in the neighborhoOd, a
| constant visitor at Wycombe but his at
tentions were not sufficiently marked to
attract the observation of others. Her own
family were too desirous of the match to
hazard the final success of her lover by al
luding in any manner to his passion for
her. s.i "siS'" $50 rn .s il
Peyton won his own way slowly but
surely. The fair widow began unconscious
| ly to regret the vow which had ascended to
Heaven with the spirit of her dead hus-
band. AT length he spoke of love and she
listened with, trembling awe to the OUT
1 pourings of a spirit which was too noble to
be trihed with, and too highly appreciated
without pang, sa ev.i s9a....r..
Her parents agreed with the lover in his
views of the case-and, urged on all sides,
her own heart traitor, Ellen yielded to
their wishes, and betrothed herself to Pey-
! ton. it.5Hyu aft 70 s.....r sfrgf bre et-. l.-
| AS the day appointed for her marriage
drew near, the words of her vow appeared
to be ever ringing in her ears. With rest
! less and fearful spirit, she saw the hour ap-
preaching which was to witness her second
espousal. H'5 go i4 3sa1's Js'
Preparations were made for q splendid
bridal. All the members of her family as
sembled beneath the parental roof and eV-
cry effort was made to divert her mind
from dwelling on the fantasy that possess
| ed it, tglA .s.JIae e ~ So
The appointed evening arrived, and the