Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-10-12

mother. They supplied want which
she had always known-the want OF
true sympathy. Her parents loved her
after their fashion; but it was not a
real love that seeks the happiness OF It's
object. Far from it. They were too
worldly, too fond of style, and too eager
TO make an appearance, to feel anything
like real love or real friendship.
"When the sparkle is on the cup
when the flower is IN It's fullest bloom
when the star of our life shines the
Manifestation is the time to tremble
and be afraid. Then it is that the
shadow passes over mortals. Then the
stars die ont of the sky, the flower
fades and dropsits leaves, the foam is
dashed from the cup. You think me
sad and depending, but / have seen
too much of life not to know that 1t as
not gwen to us to enjoy happiness
here. @ s-l Z...E -
had never seen Phil so deeply
tbouobtful as on this night. 1t seems
as If the secrets that had come to him
| in his recent experience, though be.
longing 10 others, had been lncorpora-
ted into his own being. He met my
glance of sympathy ana smiled family.
In few moments he went on:
s.No doubt you are thinking Kari,
that one who. like me, has forsaken all
home ties of parents, brothers and SIS
tiers, and wandered around the earth
alone. must have forgotten or lost the
sweetness of those ties. Bnt beiieVe
NV words, old friend, Phil Dudley has
heart still, and it beats for others,
woes. Pshawl Won will think me a
crown maudIin. Let me pass to the
real sorrow that came upon poor Marie
Holland. 49, e-A
"Some unexpected tnrn in Mr.. Hol-
lands business made it necessary Tor
either himsel or John to go TO Europe.
There was but short time now TO the
sailing of the steamer; but, before 1T
came MIR. Holland became too Ill for
himself to attempt the voyage, and
John was obliged to &C, He was to re
turn as soon as possible, and, after a
long dis ussion as TO whether Marie
should accompany him, it was decided
that. for the sake of an earlier return
than he would wish to make with her
as a Communion. he had better leave
her behind. Marie consented 10 the
arrangement with her usual sweetness,
and they parted.
THE six weeks rolled away. 1t was
hardly possible to expect that he could
have transacted his business IN time
for the coming steamer. but Marie was
really disappsinted when he did not
come. Il shall surely have letter,
she said, as she wiped away tear. But
no letter came from John. One was
brought to ner, but she threw 1t aside
when she saw that it was not IN his
handwriting. An hour after, she picked
IL up from the carpet, and discovered,
to her dismay. that it bore the London
postmark. What could it mean2 Was
John dead, and was a strangers hand
sending her the dreadful newsP
"Mrs. Holland, singing softly to her
self unconscious of all trouble, looked
into the room. Marie was holding an
open letter in her trembling hand, while
her face was blanched to snow-whlte,
and her fearless eyes were fixed and
stony, like those of statue.
ga flask of some perfume stood on
the table, against which Marie leaned.
Mrs. Holland bathed her face and
hands until she lost that terrible look.
She asked not a word. Marie should
tell her when she grew better; but all
the while the mothers heart foreboded
that the letter bore news OF Johns
death. But why did they write to
Marie? Tt would have been only natural
that Mr.. Holland should have received
the letter, bearing such news. But
Mrs. Holland was too much moved to
think over probabilities now. Marie's
state demanded instant help, and she
was thankful when she heard Mr.. Hol-
lands step approaching. He took
Marie in his arms and laid her on her
own bed, and then Mrs. Holland gave
him the letter that had thus shaken the
poor young wife.
g what is it?' asked the mother, as
she marked the pale face grow paler at
the reading. what is it?' All, / knowl
My son is deadl he is deadp
"Calm yourself, Louisa, said MIR.
Holland. John is living and well, for
aught / know. But come base person
has traduced him, aid sent the shaft
home to poor Marie's heart with ma
Lightly worthy of fiend.'
'Iraduced John! Why, husband
John never had an enemy IN the world.
1t cannot be. Let me see the letter.
.'It was one of that species which |
malice alone could ever have invented,
an anonymous one. By heaven, Karl,
I could bear anything better than one
of those abominable missives that stab |
YOU In the dark. OF all the diabolical |
to tortlre quiet, unsuspect
ing people With, these are the wicked
est. And yet they are so common that
scarcely one 10 a Thousand, i do believe,
escapes without receiving at least one
of them In the course of their life
Many a one i have read while in the |
dead letter office, and was always de- |
voutly thankful that a blunder, some |
where, had prevented the person from |
receiving it glad, too, that for ee,
malice had failed of its mark. But / |
am forgetting this letter to Marie. To |
be brief, the person writing it declared |
that John Holland had been unfaithful |
to his wife-that he had carried out a |
person with him to London, and that |
the two had little child on board who |
called them father and mother Then |
mass of evidence which, had |
the story been told in court, by &C
credited witnesses. would have been |
sufficient to blast John Hollands hith.
erto unblemished name forever.
Mariel look up. dearest girlp
Mr.. Holland There is not /
a word Of truth in this, believe me. No
man nor woman living would dare to
afiix name to this falsehoOdl Be at
resti John Hollands wife never need
blush for her husband, whatever may