The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-12-03
Sho wanted to add "come," but that

Sho wanted to add "come," but that
subtitle, contradictory, opposing, inner
self, ono Of tho two armies which Solo.
mon cav in tho "Shunamite, which
makes every human soul m cpitome OF
civil war, act its face across tho path
and withheld her. For two days after
the time an answer might have reach
I'd her, she waited in hourly expecta-
ton Of seeing him. Then . letter
came, and opening it, she read:
"DsAR MARaAREr.-1 am glad to aud
you had not forgotten me; but still think
It strange you should not write. OF course
tho manner Of your fathers death would
DO great shock, but you ought to 10 re-
signed. Indeed. from The gloomy nature
Of his religious views, you might huvo ex-
pec,sa that the ruin Of his business would
have had very serious results. suppose
you know tha. IT, il, thought his estate will
not psy more than eighty cents on the dol
lar. l waut to be plain with you so that
there will be NO room for Misunderstanding
in future. Your mother has net been
friendly to me, and she cannot expect that
should marry . whole family" have
or rather you know have very little OF
as fathers will leaves everything to moth
or during her life. The change IN your
circumstances will not make any differ
ence with them. Mother says you are
perfectly welcome to como aud live with
them, as they expect my wife to take the
place Of . daughter in the house; but
cannot, as I said, marry whole family,
and you will have to choose between your
mother and me.
"You know We talked about your going
to your own meeting IS you call it;
but Mr.. Smith thinks you would never
join church With me, if you keep on going
to Covensnter meeting. It would only
keep up your priudioes. The Bible says,
wives submit yourselves to your own
husbands So l shall have q right 70 ex-
pect you will 20 to my church. l hope
you will not think hard that tell you
plainly. Mother and Mr.. Smith think it
bstter to have it all understood beforehand.
It II not your fault that things have hap
pensd ~ they have, and we do not blame
you; but still you know it makes . great
difference. II is very hard for me, as ev-
erybody knows Of our engagement; and
there arc so many stories. I hope you
win not think hard Of me, bu. as you ssy
it il very dreadful, and no ono can feel it
- much - l do. l never could have be-
Gevsd your father would have gone into
such Wild speoulations. Il has hurt my
tesinSs more than anything that has ever
happened. but it, must not make any differ
snes between yeu and Ne; and you will
ever Ind mo
BEAUTIFULLY yours,
EDWARD"
This wss read and re.read, alone.
Not even the tenderest of mothers
might share tho knowledge of this cru
81 blow. Even had not that mother
been % directly connected with the
choice loft her to make, even though
the reflections on her father had been
omitted, the dawning conviction of the
true character Of tho one sh. regarded
almost a. her husband, Was TOO humil-
iating to be shared with any human
comforter. With feelings to which she
could never afterwards give any name,
she wrote:
81 have chosen. Farewell.
"MARoAR1r."
She went, like one walking in sleep,
collected al the letters and memcntoes
she had ever received from him, did
them up very carefully and neatly, en-
closing her note, then went to the of.
fee, mailed the package, aud returned
to meet the inquiring looks of the moth
er who ~aa doubly dear for what even
yet appeared to be the sacrifice she bad
made for her. To these looks che re-
Piled:
"Do not ask me, mother, but leave
me little while alone with God l |
must talk to Him face to face. I have
sent al Edwards letters back"
Notwithstanding the strange, rigid
face and constrained voice in which
this announcement was made, it sent a
thrill Of joy to the widows heart. Ii
anything could lessen the distress caus-
cd by her husbands death, it was the
knowled go that it had saved their dar-
ling child from becoming the wife of
one whom her deceased husband and !
herself had ever thought unworthy of
her; and when the anxious lover ap-
pearsd next day and asked for Marga-
rot. she met aud Informed him her |
daughter could sec no one. He in
sisted, bumbly enough, on bis right to
see her, and the familiar voice reached |
Margaret's ear as she sat alone in her
darkened chamber. Gathering her
hair into = hasty knot, and without !
waiting to make any other change 10
her appearance, she came down and
said quietly.
II can see him, mother: and it is
better"
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