The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-10-14
TIE BROKEN VOW.
= rui 1es,fe woa'd say u will {
The oortow nag awhile : 'rdH
70 VISION voice IS faithfu, SIP,
~ IL, In ---iS icL 81, :. md y :.

t-H o be bieS is 10 be good. ~ '.'. ti'
"He will not come tonight" said
Emma, as she looked out of her cham 7
Der on the stiII and depopGlated streets /
ard saw the dark rain cloud gathering
in The sky; "he will not come To-
night-it is past his hour-he did not
used to be so careful about Tie weath- :!
er-butI will not indulge in disqui-
etude-he has promised. The word
died upon her lips; She Iecoilected
the coEduess-ihe tone Of ambiguity
with which that promise had been re-
peated, when Theodore last visited
her; and in a confused and embar
rassed manner. though with much
parade of disapr assured her
that it would be impossible for him to-
conform to his engagement, and mar
ry her at The time appointed. She re-
membered how her heart sank with
in her at the moment, and the strange,
mysterious presentiment chat crossed
her mind. That then, for the first
time she thought how bitter thing
must be disappoin ted love; for che
first time, she felt fhe force Of the re.
mark, which she had oi;,eo heard:
Mans VOWS E brit,le ghfsa:5'' -.
Still the natural buoyancy OF. her
spirits forbade hqr to despond. True,
be had not fixed the more distant pc
riod, he had left the first hour indef-
mite, but she had his promise; she bad
his oath; she would not believe him
unfaithfuI. She could moi believe
4 him perjured. At last after an alb
sence Of a week, which seemed TO her
year, he visited the house again he
cDce more mingled with the smiling
family circle. he seemed the same he
had always been, and she was happy.
Eut he retired before the family; This
cost her nights rest. Il was not his
usual manner, and she wondered why,
at this particular time, he should have
SO much more business than usual
Still she endeavored to, put The most
favorable construction upon every
thing, he s;rove to acquit him in her
own heart. IN.
Eut love has eagle eyes, and from.
their vigilance, dupIicity must be
coupled with consummate art, ii she
would avoid detection. Emma was
caressed by a large number Of ac-
quaintances, and Theodore was also a
favorite; in parties they frequently
came together, and there. when the
spirits are up, and all reserve thrown
off, The heart unmasks itself. There
Theodore often forgot his caution,
and not only abated his usual display
OF partially for Emma but layished
his fondEesssfor another. The gener-
Gus girl forgaVe him, and forgiveness
became q crime against her own heart,
She resolved to lead q more secluded
life. and in prosecuting her resolve,
she found ample evidence of what she
most feared. His visits grew less and
less frequent, until at length they
were discontinued altogether. .1.
Woman-like, in the deepest of her
sorrows, she retired, as it were, with
in herself, and secure in the conf
dence that not even her dearest
friends or relatives knew anything oi
her disappointment, she nurseu hel
grief in secret, and put on smile as
sweet, if not as gay, before the world
But heroically as she played this new
and deceptive part, her feelings grad
ually obtained the victory over heI
frame she pined and pined away, day
5 by day; the paleness of departed
health blanched her cheek; and. she
roved in the stiffness of the evening
among the tombs of her fathers, ,ir
the church-yard, like athin shadow OF
the past. None knew her grief but
he who knew the cause, and he shud.
r dered at the ruin he had made.og sG
Her friends perceived. with concern
the rapid decay of her health, and a:
her family had some relatives in Der
muda, they resolved to send her there
The voyage had a salutary effect; thu
change of scenes, and the kindness
she experienced in her-abode, dispell
ed much of that cherries gloom tina
pressed upon her heart, and added lift
to her inanimate frame. The glow 6
health gradually returned, and sht
shone in the maturity of her beauty
q star of no common lustre in tn,
s fashionable world of that delightful
: island. A year had not elapsed be
g fore the haud. Of the wealthiest mer
chant on the island was offered her.
c lie WAS all the maiden heart admire
: generous, noble and yirtuous, ant
q Of years suited to her own. She &C
e cepted and became happyfwife.
e Having left Philadelphia with tn
IT intention of returning, she now wait
e ed apxiously for the opportunity, bA
V a variety Of circumstances preventet
e if year after year. a beautiful famil,
: of boys and girls grew up aroun'
e her; her husband was deeply engaged
s in an extensive and lucrative business
G and twelve years passed by before sh
d was able to, accomplish her wishes, il
d all which time she had never mad
e any inquiry about or once heard o
= her former lover. Now Mr.. LATER
Y retired from business, and proposed
a accompanying her to America, The,
G arrived at Philadelphia In safety. ant
q walked up Walnut street to the iami
G ly mansion. 1t remained unaltercd.-
C Her father and mother, the old ser
o wants, her former friends remained, al
d welcomed her to her ancient home.-
c The shrubs she had planted in tn
d yard had grown up beautiful trees
II Her name remained where she ha,
1t engraven it, on the sash of her cham
II Der, twelve years before. She 81
DOWN I,yy II rolln1 Il, al tbo ,,ooll n,