Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-10
MARTHA'S FATE.

MAKIHA'S FATE.
The saddest things that can be written
are those which really take place from
day to day in the hearts and homes around
us. And I'm going to tell you| something
now that actually occurred within my
own circle of acquaintance.
When the writer was young she had a
merry and happy circle of friends, as you
have now. Oh, how broken and shat
tered it is today
Among these, the gentest and prettiest
girl was Martha. l will not give her
other name, for there may be one heart
above the sod which that name would
pierce like an arrow She was the pet of
widowed mother and two maiden aunts,
and the only heir to their little estate. 1t
took all three of them to admire andpraise
her, and then they never felt that she got
all her full dues.
After she left school, they were very
anxious lest some one not worthy OF the
prize might carry her away, and watched
every young man who looked at her, just
as the mother hen watches the vicious
| hawk that whrls above her nest.
For several years they had little trouble
on this account, as Martha's heart seemed
occupied with other things She read
much, and seemed very thoughtful on re-
| ligious subjects. As her family were quite
| indifferent to religious matters, she sought
confidant among her old school friends,
and was taken by her to minister Tor
counsel and guidance.
After time she seemed to have been
truly converted, and desired to unite with
the church. Here she met with the first
opposition she had ever encountered at
home.
| While her mother and aunts never wor.
SHIPPED anywhere, they still had supersti-
tious veneration for the church in which
they were born" and believed that the
| only true one in the world.
They had also taken great dislike to
| the minister referred to, because he was
known as strong foe to ardent spirits
and they regarded it as great insolence for
any one to tell them it was wrong to drink
ale, or wine either, when they wanted it,
! They did so at their fathers table in Eng.
| land, and it had never hurt them-they
! did not tell What effect it had on their
/ brothers, who were now sleeping In
! drunkards' graves, over the sea
They, however, soon gave up the con
! test, for opposing the wishes Of this child
was most distastetul business. The writer
saw the beautiful girl received into the
! fellowship Of the church, one bright June
Sabbath. Erelong, a young man, who
stood well in that church and in the bust
ness community, became greatly interest
ed in our pretty little friend, and their en-
gagement was soon made public.
AS he was fine looking, well connected,
and in good business our old ladies were
charmed with him. They at once re
modelled their ld-fashioned brick house
and withdrew to an upper floor, which
they had finished off with every con
yenience, that she might have house OF
her own, and yet not be taken from them
They bought modern furniture for her
and were in all the hustle of preparing a
nice outfit, when they noticed that she
was not happy; and, on questioning her
they learned that her lover had of late
manifested much GOODNESS, and had now
suggested putting off the wedding, as he
wanted to go to Europe on business. All
this change h.. come while the repairs
were going on, and he had been often
| there, making suggestions about them, al
the request Of Martha's mother.
There was nothing to be done but tC
submit, and to account to strangers lol
the sudden change. of plans, by saying
that Mr.. l.. had been. obliged to leave, sud
denly, on business.
His letters from England and France
were very unlike what they should have
been to the lady with whom he expected
to pass his life. He had evidently ruet
the step he had taken, and knew not how
to 90 back, with honor to himself.
After his return he did not visit Marthf
for week, although he took good care tC
let her know of his arrival, hoping tina
she would soon break the engagement
herself
When her modification and grief be
came known to her friends, her pastor sen
for young L., and thinkinga new face haC
stolen his heart from Martha, talkeC
kindly, and advised him, as father would
have done.
"There is neither new face nor new
heart in the way he replied. As Mar
tina does not take the privilege | am at
fording her to break the bond herself,
shall do it; but my reason for the step nc
one shall ever know from me. | will beal
the censure which | see in every eye
rather than iniure her. fear the day
will come erelong when shall be justified
in the matter. Be kind enough never tC
repeat this conversation and if you car
do so, love and respect me as you did be
fore | ever saw Martha. There is no rea
son why you should not do 50" was the
reply of the young man,
When Martha received note from L..
the contents of which she never men