The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1868-09-26
A TRAGIC FATE.
Z EoRGE DENHAM

t icaliy htal that we only speak of then
uada cur breath, or turn away appalle,
{ at the hare mention of them. 1t is O
r one q these am about to write.
MARY Brace was young American cir
! OF much talent and energy governes
by oeaiion. Although very young whel
firsqnrown upon her own resources, sh
had ought her way bravely and success
full the world, until her abilities a
an &1eator brought her ample return il
, wos1y goods and the esteem of her fel
lowHhorers. She had a married siste
liviE ina large eastern town, witlswhon
/ slia 1knt her vacations, and Wiz woul,
/; glad|{ lave taken upon herself the bur
den n her sisters support, had sh,
net VEL prevented by the native indie
J pend dp@ of Mary's character. Never
J thel the most perfect confidence exis
ted &sFeen the two and it would. b,
diheftto find deeper or more admir-
ipe than that which Mrs. Vapo e.
t. = - ,,.sssnled YOUNG sisters
AT mrs. Nanes house Mary frstRs
Arthur Rice, her brother-in- laws 20
ner, promising young man, of steady
habits, and good principles. Rice anc
Mary we're naturally attracted by congo
niality Of tastes and pursuits, and wher
Mary rturned to her duties in the north
she haS promised to correspond with Ar.
thur uItil her return in the winA fol
lowing. During that year letters passed
betwee them regularly, and every sub.
ject ofinterest to either was fully dis
cussed. Rice was charmed with the pu.
rity, simplicity, and earnestness of his
young riend, and Mary admitted to her.
self thai Authur's letters were only
equallee by the glowing eloquence and
sparkling intelligence of his converse
ton; S, there was nothing wonderful in
the factthat when she visited her sister
again, friendship ripened into love, and
Mary returned once more to her duties,
the betpthed wife of Arthur Rice.
The marriage was to take place the
next yer at Christmas-from her sister 5
house, course-and the newly -marri-
ed pair we're to take short trip to Eu-
rope, beore they settled down in domes-
tic life. That was thes hortest, happiest
year of Mary Braces life. Every week
came letter from the eastern town,
warm, lrdent and loving as its noble
writer, and every want and longing Of
her nature was at last gratifed. The no.
bic heart and lofty mind of Arthur
Rice wa like an open book to his be-
trothed, who sometimes trembled at the
excess o her happiness, aud wondered
what sh had done to deserve his bound
less, proecting love.
The weeks passed into months, the
months eepened into years. Mary re-
signed hr position as preceptress of the
seminary in which she had taught for
five yeas. She left behind her esteem
and good wishes, and the sincerest re-
grets of Ter pupils and fellow teachers.
On the eve of her departure, crowd of
the fazn9 waited uRep AsSfDssE ledg-
gold watch as token of f.Ss~love aud
tAfectin. And the next day Mary jour
neyedtovard the love which was hence
forth be the staff of her life.
"N,mOre teaching, my darling, whis-
pered Arthur, caressing fondly the brown
hair o. his betrothed ''from henceforth
you will be my teacher, and l will make
your york labor of love-"
Pr9arations for the wedding COM
mencd and were finished The bridal
outfit vas ready, even to the magnificent
white satin dress, Arthur's gift; and the
weddigday was fixed on Christmas
morning.
Th,last night of Mary's maiden life
came-C Christmas Eve. Arthur sat with
her inthe parlor The rest of the house.
hold, busy with thoughts of the morrow,
left them to themselves. Mary sat upon
a low stool before the blazing CRATE and
Arthur, from his easy chair, leaned over
SO thit he could watch every expression
of ha bright face-the most beautiful
on earth to him. Again, for the hun
dreda time, he told her of his devoted
love-of all he meant to do, that her life
might be happy, and free from care and
Marylistened, and believed.
/ 1t vas ten o'clock when he rose to go,
and Nary let him out of the hall door
with Ter own hands. He stood mo-
lment IN the steps with uncovered head,
the moonlight falling on the two like a
blessing, and then he kissed her, and
bade brgo in from the cold.
i cater tonight" he said, 'thefe will
be no more partings."
/ MaE re-entered the house, locked the
door, nd went upstairs to her< oom
Everyone was in bed and asleep, sad the
: fire hid gone out in her room, leaving il
cold aid dark. There was no wood al
hand % Eight another FIRE; and, feeling
no indinltion to sleep, Mary took, hel
light, went down stairs into the kitchen
and carried small portable stove int
the pssisr. This she filed with the live
Goals fspm the CRATE, raked the ashes
over shat was left, and returned to he
room.
Shewarmed her hands over the eoals
then sstthe stove in the room, while sh'
looked ever her trunk once more. Ate
awhile tie chamber grew warm, and Ma
ry distobed, put out her light, .opene'
the rom door, as she supposed, It tn
pan of Goals outside, and went to bed
| In a short time she fell into a deep
dreamIss slumber.
Daydawned. The sun poured a foo
of radiance on the crisp, frozen earth
Mrs. Vane's household woke up, and on
by oneits members came down to rene'
their duties. The marriage was to b
solemnized at the house early in the NOR
ming, in time for the breakfast and th
ten o'clock train for Philadelphia. Al
thur Rice came soon after eight o'clock
and afsw moments later the clergyma
who was to perform the ceremony. Their
were no bridesmaids and no guests; s
there was nothing to wait for, breakfas
being nearly ready.
Mrs. Vane called the maid-servan
who lighted the fires, and asked her
Mary was up. She replied that she ha
!, lighted the fire in her room atsix o clocl
i L -.