North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-03-20

tlreiy PLAIN, with the exception OF the small
letter G on the upper side. The note was
as follows:
my DEAR MARY Your father has
forbidden our further correspondence but
both duty and inclination prompt me to
seek 3sknowledge of your pleasure before
conceding to bis wishes. love the Ma
suLic institution, and cannot, consistently
with my feelings, and with my sense Of
duty and honor renounce it. The ring |
send yoI, is ornamented with the letter G
"a Masonic emblem. If you are willing
to become the wife Of q Freemason, wear
the ring for my sake, ard l will protect
you while I live; if not, its return will sig
Nifty 10 me that we must henceforth be
strangers.
On the following morning, Mary sought
the presence of her father. She was very
pale and moved YEARLY, for sleep had not
visited her eyelids.
"Well, child" said Mr.. Carleton, Il
trust a few hours reflection has served to
show you your duty, and that I have this
morning an obedient daughter"
For reply, she held up her hand upon
which was the ring sent her by Stanford.
"Whst meaps that ring!" said the old
man starting violently
at MEANS" said Mary in q voice low,
but firm, "that have decided to wear it
while live, for the sake Of Mr.. Stanford.
who will soon be my husband.
Mr.. Carleton was dumb with astonish--
ment. He had not believed his daughter
would dare to meet his displeasure.
Mistaking the cause of his silence, Mary
advanced to his side, and twining her arms
about his neck, she kissed his cheek.
"Oh, father!' she said, do not, Ipray
you, turn me from you. You will be lone
Iy without me, and canuot endure your
frowns. Let me beg of you to consider
that Washington, Warren. Lafayette and
the pious Wesley, were masons. Surely
that cannot be evil which was honored
and loved by so much nobleness and tai
ent"
Mr.. Carleton pushed his daughter from
him angrily.
"Go, foolish child" he exclaimed, "nev-
er dare to speak to me again. You have
no longer father or home"
Poor Mary was to wretched to reply !;
but the yearning look she cast upon her
father, as she giided, ghost-like, from the
room haunted him years afterwards.
In a week she and Stanford were mar
ried. With view to remove his wife
from all unpleasant associations, George
emigI ated TO western city, aud became a
partner in mercantile house. His busi-
ness prospered, and beautiful house was
purchased on the shore Of one of those
crystal lakes so common in the West.
But the tocsin oi war was sounded, and
leaving his business in the care of his part
ner, Stanford collected company of vol
unteers, and bidding adieu to his wife and
infant son, hsstencd to Washington.
It was now Mary Stanford's lot, with
Thousands of others, to watch eagerly, tor
news from the army, to pray for o hus-
bands safety, and wait for his return.
But there came day when news of o
terrible battle went flashing over the conn
try, aud telegram reached the city of
3, stating that Company A had
suffered severely, and that Captain STAN
ford was among the missing. Gently as
possible was Mary made to understand
that she was widow but the shock was
too great for her delicate frame, and for
weeks she raved in the delirium of fever.
When at length she slowly recovered, 1t
was to find that her husbands partner lad
proved recreant to his trust. He had tax
ed the credit of the firm to the utmost, by
borrowing, and with the money thus OBJ
tanned lett the country.
"Mary's elegant house was hers no long
er. She now wrote to her father, acquaint-
ing him with her bereavement and mis-
fortunes, and begged him to receive her
again into the home of her childhood
Long and anxiously she waited for re-
ply, but none came Then she determin-
ed to 90 to her father. and in psfson en-
treat hlm to receive and care for her child,
while she would support herself by teach
ing
With what means she had remaining
only about three hundred dollars-she set
out upon her journey to New York. She
proceeded in safety until she arrived At
the city of B. Here brief but
severe illness of her child detained her for
q few days; and when she was ready to
proceed, she found that she had been rob
bed of all the money she possessed. De-
prived of the means of going to her fs-
ther, she determined to make one more
effort to communicate with him. She ad-
dressed letter to a gentleman who had
BEEN friend to her fathers asking him to
inform her, whether he still lived. and if he
vas in the city. In few days came a
reply to the effect that Mr.. Carleton had
left New Yo,k some two months previous
Iy, and that he vas not expected at home
for year, as business would detain him
in distant cit.
1t now seemed to Mary Stanford tina,
heaven had indeed deserted her, and she
could only caress her child, aad nprsy that
God would interpose in her behalf. There
remained but one course for her to pursue