Middletown transcript., 1870-02-05
might have shown him that the twain were
deeply, mutually in love.


OF spinning out story, I might tell yor
many little tender passages, between the
! pair; how he tells his love, and how she
owned to the pleasure of being loved by
cousin Charles, notwithstanding papa had
told her she must treat him as if he were
her brother-but, as 1 have often said
here, it is true, and those little things.
though left unsaid in the narrative, NAV
be imagined without doing injustice to the
pair.
One evening Charles w. determined by
Maria's advice, to broach the subject to
his uncle, and ask permission to make her
his wife. He sought him in the library
ana unfolded the secret of his attachment
to his cousin, and asked ardently, but re-
specially, that he might be permitted to
call her his.
1t were impossible to paint the express
sion of DR.. W's. face at this announce
ment. He grew livid and pale by turns.
lie essayed several times to speak, but the
words only ratified in his throat. Charles
was alarmed and poured out a glass of
wine, which the Doctor drank eagerly,
and having regained his speech, turned
violently upon his nephew, and ordered
him to leave his presence and his house,
and to see his daughter no more
The young man was thunder-struck
The Doctor would give no explanations
was peremptory; and the disappointed
lover, without seeing the object of his af-
fections, crossed the threshold of his
uncle's house, outwardly wondering at the
strange, unaccountable, and as he thought
unreasonable and unreasonable ebullition
of rage he had witnessed.
On the following day faithful maid
servant of his cousin placed in his hands
Just as he was leaving his lodgings after
dinner, little billet, the contents of
which ran thus:
DARLING CHARLES Papa insists on sending
me away to the country He seems like one era.
zy. Ills whole nature has undergone a fearful
cnahge' Meet me tomorrow morning at IL
I,oih, al MRS. AS. 1t may be our last meeting
III hiS'e-lour own MARIA
They met-they determined upon an
important, dangerous, shall l saw in
anticipation, fatal step TO make A
runaway match of it. Three friends were
admitted to the secret, and agreed to ac-
company them across the border into a
portion of a neighboring State, famous as
the Gretna Green of that day. The par
ties were united and returned; and Charles
leaving Maria at the house of Mrs. A.
determined to see his uncle at once. and
throwing himself upon his knees before
him, to ask his forgiveness, and to prom
lse on behalf of himself and Maria, their
nnceasing efforts to make him the most
dutiful and affectionate children.
vi the particulars of that interview we
cannot write. They are only fully known
to the two men and their God Maria
never saw Charles again /! 1t is said that c
when he met DR.. W. in the library and ,
pleaded for forgiveness, and promised him c
how by lifelong devotion he and his /
cousin would show the Doctor how much f
hey loved him, that the old man shook as t
I IN an ague-fit, and seiziug the young e
nan BY his collar, drew his ear to his own d
white and trembling lips, and whispering f
'ut one sentence, sank into a chair, a pit s
able, corse-like object, though still q iiv- "
ng and breathing man! g
The effect of that one sentence was like t,
lghtning. If the elder man shivered and 81
rembled with its burden of horror, the a
ounger one was the no less but differently n
ffected. His fair, fine face seemed with fc
red at once with an unspeakable woe. and
taggerlng rather than walking from the :
oom, he hurried to his former lodgings, ri
'cked his door, and in half hour from fir
ne time the words had been whispered in cl
is car, lay bleeding, senscless corpse al
pom the floor. The sharp report of d
lstol brought crowd to the door, when M
was perceived that, with fatal intent, he th
nd blown out his brains The Doctor Ii
'celved the tidings with an almost idiotic
olidity. Maria was carried to her faith sl
IS, as the proper place for her under the ed
rcumstances, and it is said, that that one
ght had changed her golden locks to Ri
Fey'. before the rising of the next day sun. m
Ii Is useless to dwell upon this sad sto- wi
:. The Doctor died on that day twelve be
onth: He was kind and gentle almost
childishness, to Maria. Years and pr
'ars after this tragic affair, an aged mai
N in the city of R was missed one sw
lnday from her accustomed seat in the arr
= church. She was not seen on the thl
cceeding afternoon on her accustomed try
nelly walk on the p Garden hill, fro
W populous and beautiful portion of ag
growing city of R. ENQUIRIES
re made for her. No one had seen her
days. Her little cottage was found On
'ked. Her chamber door had to be ide
ced. She lay dead upon her bed. Her tai
was watching beside her thin aud vast Fa
corpse, and mewed piteously as the Iri
f!ies entered. Her remains were quietly
RED. The coroner's jury rendered a inq
dict died by the visitation of God"
IL Is scarcely necessary to say that rep
aries W, the supposed cousin, was a :.
'ural child, and the half brother of Ma +.
From the time of her fathers death, she sizs
ID entirely by herself, not even retain row
servant, save an old domestic, who NAL
the course Of nature. also passed away. wat
Il