The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-04-19

which my mother clung to her ac-
customed mode of life made fearful
inroads upon the rest. A few
years at the farthest would exhaust
it. Ispoke Of this to my mother,
and she acknowledged it, but del
clared her inability to help 1t. In,
less than year she died; and OH,
such a fearful death! | shudder
when | think of it, though it was
years ago, and | seem to hear her
last words to me even yet-"Nellie,
never marry a poor man. Make d
rich match" 81
1t needed not my mothers wisiI
to confirm me in my desire to con-
tract rich marriage, for / had deH
termined to adopt the plan as the
only means by which | could escape
the doom Of poverty which | saw
hanging over me. | had not the
moral courage to face it, and l re-.
solved to fly from it; but | little
dreamed of the struggle that was
il store for me. t
When | was child my only
playmate was a boy a few years
older than myself. He was named
Walter Gwynne, and was the son
of neighbor. Walter and | had
been playmates and schoolmates
together. As we grew up our chill
dish affection strengthened, and
when we became man and woman.
We loved each other with love
that could not die. We were new
er pledged to each other, but |
knew his heart, and he knew mine.
When my mother died Walter was
very good to me. Oh, never had |
loved him so well as | did then -
In my gratitude | gave him relic
that had belonged to my father,
and begged him to keep it for my
sake. 1t was a small, curiously
worked cross of iron, and bore this
inscription in German: 81 gaze gold
I, for iron; 1918" 1t was one of the
famous iron crosses that was be-
slowed by the King Of Prussia in
the war against Napoleon, and had
been conferred for merit on my
grandfather. 1t had never been in
unworthy hands, and gave it to
Walter, as lie. was the only one l
4 knew who merited it; but | did n9t
think then that my hand would in
deed lay upon him a cross of iron
never to be laid down.
| had resolved on marrying a
rich man as my own fortune would
not last much longer, and | was
firm in my determination. | loved
Walter Gwynn with my whole
heart, but he was poor, and l knew
would have a hard struggle in life
and | had not the courage to face
the world with him. l hated my
self for the weakness, and would
have given worlds to have been his
wife; but | had not the moral
strength to make the trial.
A few weeks after my mothers
death, Walter walked with me down
to the rocks that lined the sea-
shore it was the first time since
my bereavement that we had been
together for more than few min
utes at time. He spoke to me
about my future life, and asked me
what | would do. | told him that
| did not know; that my future was
still shrouded in mystery and
doubt.
i have thought of this a great
deal, Nellie,' he said earnestly, 'and
| do not think | shall do wrong to
speak to you a7 wish r
| glanced up at his face; and, as
| saw the look there, knew what
he wished to say. grew pale and
faint. ... .....
NO, Walter, no, l gasped. Don't
say it-don't say itp ... -..
He looked at me with surprise
and with an expression of pain.
must say it, Neilie,' he went
on, 'and you must listen to me-
!! Ever since we were childrenI have
loved you, and have looked for.
ward to the day when / should
claim you as my wife. Now that
you are alone in the world, ! think
that have the right to urge my
claim. You know l love you, and
| have believed that you loved me
You know my prospects as well as
; | do, and that | have hard strug
} gle before me; but with your en-
couragement and love, | think
can come out of the contest with
! success; Will you be hy wife
Nelliep .t.
l had sunk down on a rock, hr
could go no further. My limbs re-