, 1868-07-03
NUMBER go.
The Three Brides.

etfala
ger than the melancholy history of three brides.
Many years ago there lived az old man and
his son, who cultivated the few acres Of misera.
BILE land which belonged 70 them.
The father was a Well-taught man, deeplv
Versed In the mysteries Of science, and as be
could tell the name Of every flower that blossom.
ed IN the wood and grew in the garden, and
used 10 sit up late at light at bis books or read,
ing the mJstie storY Of the starry heavens. many
esvesn' ne was erased or Ovwttehed, soa avoid,
eo MIN as the Ignorant ever shun the eulRhteoed
a Iew there we're, and among others were the
minister aud lawyer and physician, willing 10
afford him eountenAnce, but they saon dronned
his acquaintance, for they found the old man
morose and reserved and moreover their vanity
was wounded BY discovering the extent Of his
knowledge. To the minister, he would quote
the fathers and the scriptures in the original
tongues, and showed himself we'll armed with
the weapons OF political controversy. He aston,
ished the lawyer with bis profound acquaintance
With Jurisprudence, and the physician was surS
prised at the extent Of his medical knowledge.
80 they all deserted him and the miuister-for
the old man differed from him in some trifing
points OF doctrine-spoke very slightingly Of
him; and by and by all looked upon the self
educated farmer With eyes Of aversion. But be
cared not for that, for be derived consolation
from loftier source, and in untracked paths Of
woods. He instructed bis son 10 all his lore
the languages, literature, history and science
uniolded, one by one, to the enthusiastic son of
the solitary. Years rolled away, and the old
man died. He died when a storm convulsed the
lace OF nature, when the wind howled around his
shattered dwelling, and the hghtnings played
above the roof and though be went to heaven
in faith and purity, the vulgar thought and said
the Evil Oue had claimed his own in the thunder
and commotion Of the elements. / cannot paint
70 you the grief of the son at his bereavement
He was for a time as one distracted He thought
to bury his grief 10 his thirst for fame After his
thirst was gratihed, be began to yearn for the
companionship of the other sex, to share the
laurels be had won, to whisper consolation in
bis ear in moments of dependency, and to sup
ply the void which the death of his father had
occasoned He would picture to himself the fe>
licity of a refined, intellectual and beautiful wo>
man, and so had be chosen for bis motto, what
has been done may be done, be did not despair
Of success.
10 this village lived three sisters, all beauti-
ful and accomplished. Their names were Mary,
Adelaide and Madeline. | can never forget the
beauty of these young girls. Mary was the
youngest, and a fairer- haired, more laughing
damsel never dancee upon a green. Adelaide, a
few years older, was dark and pensiye but of
the three, Madeline, the eldest, possessed the
F9eat f0Jst -fFls aPd intelectual ability. Their
ing somewhat above --Ia-- u0"tion and be-
the visits of the hero of my story. When be
found an affection springing up between Mary
and the poet, be did not withhold his consent
from her ma .riage and the poet bore to bis soils
tary mansion the bride Of his affections. Oh,
sir, the home assumed a new appearance within
and without. Roses bloomed in the garden,
jessamines peeped through the lsttices, and the
fields about it smiled with the effects of careful
cultivation. Lights were seen in the parlor in
the evening, and many time would the pas
senger pause by the garden gate to listen to the
strains of the sweetest music, breathed by the
choral voices from the cottage. Ifthe mysterious
student and bis wife were neglected, what cared
they Their enduring and mutuel affection
made their home little paradise. But death
came 10 eden. Mary fell suddenly sick, and after
a few hours illness, died in the arms of her hus>
band. This was the students second affection.
Days and months rolled on, and the only
solace of the hereaved was 10 sit with the family
of the deceased and talk of the lost one. At
length, to Adelaide be offered his widowed heart
She came to bis home like the dove, bearing the
olive branch of peace and consolation, bpt their
bridal was not one of revery and mirth, for q
sad recollection brooded over the hour. Yet
they lived happily; the husband smiled and
with a new spring, the roses again blooDed in
their garden. When the roses withered and the
leaf fell in the mellow of the summer, Adelaide,
a
in the arms of her husband and of Madeline.
Perhaps you may think it strange that the
wretcbed survivor stood at the altar again. But
bis ways were inscrutable, who thirsting for
domestic bliss, was doomed ever to seek and
never TO find it. His third wife was Madeline.
well remember her. She was beauty in the
true sense of the word. 1t may seem strange to
you to hear the praise of beauty from such lips
as mine, but cannot avoid expatiating upon
hers. She was a proud creature, with q tall,
form, with raven tresses that foat>
ed, dark and cloudess, over her shoulders. She
was a rare inspiration. She loved the widoWer
for bis power and bis fame, and she welded him.
They were married in the church. 1t was on a
summer afteruoon-I recollect it well. During
the ceremony the 6ackes cloud that 4 ezsE Iag J. aHE
ment that the bride pronounced her vow, clap
of thunder shook the building to the centre. All
the females shrieked, but the bride made her re-
sponse with firm voice as she gazed on the
He marked a kind of incoherence
10 her expression as they rode homeward, which
surprised him at the time. Arriving at his house
she shrunk from the threshold but this was
timidity of a maiden. When they were alone be
clAsped ber bandit was cold as ice He look
ed into her face. Madeline said be, what
means this 2 Your cheeks are as pale as your
Wedding gown = The bride uttered q frantic
shrek. Ny wedding gown = she exclaimed.
No, no this is my sisters shroud The hour
of confession has arrived. 1t is God that impels
me to speak. To win have lost my soul-yes,
yes, | am a murderess She smiled upon me in
the joyous affection of her young heart, but
gave ber the fatal drug Adelaide clasPed her
white arms about my neck, but administered
the poisou Take me to your arms l have
lost my soul for you, and mine you must be
She spread her long white arms, said the
sexton, rising in the excitement of the moment,
and assuming the attitude be describedi and
lhen,' be continued in q hollow voice, at the
moment came the thunder and the Hash, and the
guilty woman fell dead upon the foor.'
The eountenance of the narrator expressed all
he horror that be felt
sAnd the bridegroom asked l, the husband
of the destroyer and the victims what became
Of bimP
He stands before youP was the thrilling
answer.
RUTTKR -Tha more uerfactlv the water