The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-10-22

over me-0Ot so mucn over my
heart as my senses. he blinded
me with promises. The fires of
love as thought, burned so deep
ly in his eyes that I resd the road
to happiness by the wonderous
light thereof.
HE covered me with gifts. He
came with love tokens. He bought
me keepsakes.
He stole me from myself, and
buried me under fancied obliga
tions. Perhaps you are weary al
ready-but I must finish.
He knelt before me-he plead
with me till my heart gave way.
and to his ardent wooing answer
ed Yes Then we were married.
They said God joined Us together!
Oh +! strange, unnatural mating !
/ became his-he said I WAS all
his! Then I was happy. One by
one the old friends went their way
to other or newer loves. Avenue
after avenue-source after source
of that which gave life, interest,
and pure enjoyment, he closed,
lest might wander from him..
-. Was he afraid Of me2
Afraid to trust one who before
God had vowed love, constancy,
and fidelity ? ....... Not all
at once, but little by little. Here
he shut q gate. There he erected
wall. Over there hedge. And
thus he turned me around, face
from the old scenes, the old friends,
the old memories. He said was
his He said our home was his.
The dog was his! He said l
might some time be tempted-he
took from me my conference.-the
drank in all my soul-he carried
me each day in his hard, hot, clos
ed hand, and only opened it when
he wanted to toy with me to rest
his fancy or cool his blood. -.
............ But he was no.
BILE man--the world said. He was
not a drunkard-he was not q
coarse, profane, vulgar man, care
less OF rights or opinions Of o theirs.
He attended church--he wore
good clothes--he went in good So
ciety, so-called. He took me to
his home. It was q little palace.
He put carpets under my feet.
Books on the tables and shelves
Pictures on the walls. He point
ed to doors and told me to breathe
fresh air! He pointed to windows
and told me to look out and learn
wisdom! He pointed to the kitch-
en- and bade me prepare food. He
pointed to the couch whereon we
slept and told me to await his CON-
ing--to fold him to my embrace as
was my duty. I obeyed in all
things, for had promis ed.
when others were by, he smil-
ed, and talked, and boasted, and
looked wise. He praised me be-
fore others, and I smiled. He
dressed me in the best, as he did
his horse. He fed me, as be did
his dog. He gave me work to do
it was done. He bade me enter
tain his friends--of mine own I
had none, except with the long
agone. Others said 1 was happy
..... But when we were
alone! His words were cold,
heartless. He was master--I was
dog. He commanded--I obeyed.
His words were cold--his manner
heartless--his blood hot--his deli
cacy Of thought, Of touch. of ex-.
preston, Of care was bluntcd,
deadened, poisoned by those whose
embrace, gave him excitement.
But the world said l was . happy
wife
MY children learned to fear him.
They read my heart, but did not
wish them to. They shrank from
his coming. They came to me
and wept. Then he was master
and tyrant. The kind hours he
once gave me went. never more to
return. l had none to 60 to--not
one. He withdrew me from 9TH
ers, to feast on me at leisure. His
words often and often, and often
were cruel, bitter, biting, hear.-
wounding words. But he cared
not. Perhaps l was not perfect
but I WAS willing to be. could
have learned from him, but he
would not be my teacher. When
/ was sick he was brutal. He fed
his desire at every inn, and waited
not the meeting in the lane. He
came to me at night, and drank in
of my electricity, till all the life I
had was gone, and on il he grew
strong. He mixed with crowds