The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-06-21

their daughter should pass her life
in the solitude to which she had
doomed herself. They surrounded
her with agreeable company sought
to amuse her mind and draw it
| from the contemplation of the ter
rible calamity which had destroyed
her dawning hopes of happiness,
and they succeeded sufficiently to
implant in her mind a distaste to
the idea of returning to her late
abode.
Week after week passed until
months were numbered, and she
began to think it her duty to re-
main with her parents. She was
their youngest child, and the only
one without ties which severed
them in a measure from the pater-
nal roof ..... .,..f
s"Ellen, my darling" said her
father, when she spoke of return
ing home, "you will not again for
sake US? We are old and you are
the only child who is free to re-
main with us. You must live here
Il cannot think of permitting you
to return to that lonely home of
yours"
at is lonely" replied Ellen, "and
fear that after breaking through
my usual habits, | shall find it diff
ficult and wearisome to resume
them, Yet, my dear father, if |
consent to lemain, there is one re-
quest must make
"What is that, my daughter? Are
we not ever mindful Of your wish
esq
"Ah, yes, dear father, more
mindful than / deserve. But
and her voice sank to low, agita-
ted whisper-"there must be no
looking forward to a second mar
riage for me-no attempt to alter
my views on that subject. / have
made q vow to the dead, and it
must be held sacred" iare
"Whatp exclaimed. the father,
''was Sinclair ungenerous enough
to exact from you a promise not to
marry again? young and inexpeTi-
enced as you were, tool"
"Ah! no, father-wrong him not.
Hetwas too kind, too noble. He
asked no promise-I made it vol
unfairly; and as the words left my
lips his spirit departed. Oh no,
father, never ask me to break that
promise-itis is a hallowed one."
"Well, my darling, let it be as
you wish. l 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
a few words uttered when you were
scarcely conscious of their mean
ing, to prevent you from making
the home of an honorable man hap
py. Why, child, you are only nine
teen. Do you suppose that the
death of one person, however dear,
can chill your feelings into ice at
that age?" ur.
4 must then in sincerity of soul,
pray to be delivered from tempta-
tion,' 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 a burden
she would gladly lay down. She
needed the excitement of society,
and the social and highly cultiva-
ted neighborhood in which her
fathers residence was situated, af.
forded every facility for its enjoy.
ment. .4..
The third year of her widowhood
was drawing to close, when she
received an invitation to the mar
riage of a tavorite cousin, who
would take no refusal. Ellen re-
piled that if the bride would ex-
cuse her sombre dress and pensive
face, she would attend; and the
concession was hailed as an omen
of future success in drawing her in
to that world she was SO peculiarly
fitted to adorn. aes' ...- ri.
There was a motive for these eff.
forts of which Ellen never dream.
ed. She regularly attended the
church near her fathers residence,
and her mother had several times
called her attention to remarka-
bly, hansome man who sat in pew
nearly opposite to them; but she
had not remarked that his eyes fire.
quently wandered from his prayer
hook RI her own fair face His