Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-07-21
Our Job Printing Department.
LIFE AND DEATH.


 thing was in preparation. One week from that day, and Caroline Harcourt, the belle of the county, and the only daughter of one of the wealthiest farm CTS in Connecticut, was to join hands for better or worse with young John Curtis, Squire Curtis's only son.
 John had graduated from Yale with fair honors-studied law with his fath- CT, and then, after year or more care- full reading and practicing in New York, had established himself in the aforementioned city.
 One week, and he would claim his bride, the beautiful, idolized maiden, the first and only love of his life, to whom he had been solemnly betrothed ever since the halcyon days of child hood; when the curly headed boy and tender-eyed maiden first learned to conjugate the verb AMo-AMo, AMARE. AMAvI, AMATUM; under an apple-tree, with the sun playing hide-and-seek among the leaves, little robin redbreast hopping from bough to bough, and, and adding another melody to the glo- rious tune the young hearts were rap idly learning, was situation most likely to result in ardent demonstra- tions; but unlike most early loves, it proved itself lasting sentiment, and both looked forward with the fondest anticipations to the time when the great affair of their lives should be consum- ated. Carrie was passionately fond of her country home, and the thoughts of leaving it paincd her more than she cared to have those about her know !; but father and mother had promised to spend the greater part of the winters with her, and she and John were all ways coming home summers, so the separation would not be so very terri ble after all E; but, strange to say, the maiden's eyes were always ready to overflow. In some mysterious manner, Carrie commenced to feel homesick before leaving the parental roof.
 
 loved John Curtis, my child, should think you wanted 10 back out of this business" said Farmer Iarcourt, draw ing his daughter to his knees, and at tempting to look under the dropping lids.
 Carrie tried to smile, but broke down completely.
 ''I am foolish, father, and don't pet me any more. I wonder if every girl feels so badly at leaving her home {? Sometimes l fancy it must be more than that. Perhaps it is foreboding of fevil--.Coming events cast their shad ows before,' and this may be ono of the shadows"
 "Nonsense, Caroline! never give up to superstitious fol-de-rols. It would be very strange if you were not thoughtful, and even sad, in the antici- patton of this event. You are about to take man, with all his failings; re- member that, Caroline; how many, you can form no idea, because it is just as true as you live that couple may court hundred years, and yet not become acquainted with the defects. in the secret springs that keep the strange machinery moving. The watch always looks bright and nice, ever ap- parently in good running order-nei- ther too fast or too slow; but you
 
 don't know the titivating that article undergoes when it is out of your sight, in order to keep it all right for the short time it is in your company. Don't look so vexed, Caroline it is no more than you have done yourself. CoURTING is deceitful business, and it's tarnal lucky tis. There are few enough marriages now, Heaven knows, and if the vail were always torn aside before the ceremony, I fancy there would be less. John never saw you cry and bout because father thought his daugh- ter had silk dresses enough without the last expensive one she had set her heart upon buying. You never heard John swear at his tailor for a miscut, or scold because button was missing. Oh, no; as long as you've been at it, you don't know much more in regard to each others real nature than as if one had been in London and the other in New York, and corresponded; yet firmly believe John wants, needs, and must have you for his wife. You'll find he's got failings you never sus- pected, and he'll discover that his little wife is not as perfect as his fancy has painted her. Marriage naturally strips off. all disguises, and I don't believe there are many married people but have been obliged to pocket considerable dissatisfaction. It may not be so in your case, child"
 Carrie was commencing to sob.
 q think you love one another very fondly, daughter, and love, which is boundless charity, covers multitude of sins"
 In the kitchen, everything was in hubbub. Mrs. Harcourt had no time to moralize. The brides cake was being manufactured, ,and as their friends and acquaintances were legion, and every one must have slice, or become everlasting enemies, it is quite natural to suppose that Considerable care de- volved upon materfamilias.
 five always heern tell that it was good luck for bride to stir her own cake" said Hepsy Burr, who had come