Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-11-22
THE IRON CROSS.


believe that L ever looked like this-l, an
old. sad woman, who looks lcngingly 10
the time when the places have known
shall know me no moro. And yet |, even
/, was young aud handsome once. All,
mel how long ago IL seemsl Long ago.
longer than most women, for the light
fell upon me soon, and ! count nearly all
my years by my sorrows.
l was born at small town on the sea-
shore. that same everlasting food upon
l.whose,wssers can look out from my win
dow now. aud TO whose roar ! listen as |
write. Ny father was wealthy. aud was
reared IN the lap ofluxury. lie died when
! Mas. ton years old. and most needed his
care. ] wish he bad lived. lie might
&Aaye pade mo better woman, and the
story vi my life might have been different
Ile diod, have said. when most need
ed hos care, and was left alone with my
mother, She wss not ht for the charge
eonfdedlto her. She was weak and gid
'-iyland she reared me 10 her notions Of
fashion and folly. do not blame her
-thst my life has been so sad for IL was In
mJ power to change II, but would not.
srswupa besutiiul, fascinating. fashiona.
aihls weman, aud was greatly admired. You
wsud not think IL, know, 10 look al me
enbw; but II isso. When was grown up.
made the discovery that my fathers
lexurious style Of living had greatly di
lniairhed his fortune. and persisiency viii
whieh.my mother elung TO her accustomed
mode OF live, made fearful inroad- upon
fns rest few year. at the far.hest would
exhaust il. / spoke Of this 10 my mother
aud she acknowledged IL, but declared her
uiaabili.y Go helpit. In less than year she
idlsd; and soem 10 hear her last words TO
NE even Yet:
Nellie. never marry apoor man. Make
fieh match
IL uecded not my mothers wish TO con.
ffm me Ia my desire TO contract rich
marriage, for had determined TO adopt
the plan as the only means by which
could escape from the doom of poverty
Which saw hanging over me. Ihad not
the moral courage TO face II, aud | resol ed
TO II, from IL but Julio dream, Of the
struggle that was IN store for me.
When was a child my cnly playmate
was boy few years older than myself
lie was named Walter Gwynne, aud was
tie son Of neighbor. lie had carried
me ~ hls htms often. and used to call me
his isiile pet. As we grew up. our child.
lab Affection strengthened, aud when We
beeame man aud woman, We loved each
other with love that could not die. We
wore never pledged TO each other but |
knew his heart, aud he knew mine.
: When my mother died, Waiter was very
good TO me. Oh, never had loved him
no we'll Is thenl La my gratitude gave
him relic that had belonged TO my father,
apd begged him to keepil Tor my sake. IL
Was small, curiously y-work cross OF iron.
aud bore this inscription in German Il
yare gold Ior iron 1873 1t was one OF
the f.mous iron crosses that were bestowed
by the King OF Prussia in the war against
Napoleon, and had been conferred for
merit on my grandfather. lt had never
been in unworthy hands; aud gave il TO
utter, us he was the only one / knew
who n erited IL; bat | did not thiuk then
that my hand would indeed lay upon ham
a cross of iron never to be laid down.
81 L loved Walter Gwynne with my whole
heart; but he was poor, aud knew would
have hard struggle in life; and had not
.the courags TO face the world with him.
hated myself for my weakness, and would
have given worlds TO have been his wife;
but | had no. the moral strength to make
the trial ! was wicked, | know; but
have suffered for il since, and If sorrow
.ean atone Tor sin, then | have paid the
utmost penalty.
A few weeks after mothers death, Wal.
ter walked with me upon the rocks that
hned the sea-shofe. Ii was one of our favor.
lie stroIls, and il was the first time sine,
my bereavement that We had been togeth
er for more than few minutes at a time
p<ie spoke to me about my future life, aud
sskssd. me what would do. told him
dId.no know--that my future life was
.stli sbrouded in mystery and doubt.
i have thought of this great deal,
Nellie. he said, earnestly and | do not
thiuk 4 shall do wrong to speak to you as
Iwlsh.
L glanced up at his face. and, as / saw
the look there, ] knew what be wished to
say grew pale aud faint.
mo. u alter, no. gasped. Don't say
is--don't say nj
He looked at me In surprise, and with
an expression OF pain.
4 must say it, Nellie, he went on, and
you must listen To me. Ever since we
were children | have loved you, aud have
looked forward to the day when | should
clalm you as my wife, Now that you are
alone IN the world, | think I have right
to urge my claim. You know | love you
and have believed that you love me
YuuIknow my prospects as we'll as l do
and that have hard struggle before
me; but with your encouragement auc
love, l think | can come out of the con-
test with success. Will you be my wife
Neiiier
had sunk down on a rock, for could
90 no further. My limbs refused to sus
7'tain me, and it seemed that my hear
would break. / covered my face with m,
hands, and strove fercely 10 control m,
emotions. AL my love for Walter rushed
upon me 10 strong and mighty torrent
which well nigh swept away the barrier
of my sinful resolution. How grand ans
noble be looked, as he laid his heart beior'
me. in all its simple truthfulness; and hov
false and foul was, as shrank before
his avowal il my criminal weaknessl
wish lad died then; il would have beer
better for me. / said nothing, for coult
not trust my voice; and Walter spok'
arain