The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-01-06

writes her letter from that point, Novem-
Der, 4, 1918, in which he says
You were a little perpeXcd at my manner of
writing. Turn your eyes on the past and then
say how should have written. In the years ISL
and 1872 Imade two journeys from the western
country to offer and yield to you heart and
hand which did not feel at liberty to give to an
other. Your duty to your mother forbade your
acceptance. This is sacred duty must always
commend you in its performance AT the same
time 1 thought. and still think, this ought not to
have been an objection. was compeiled 10 leave
you because you commanded it. The choice was
not mine, and TO me it was painful and heart
rending separation. You stood on the porch when
| babe YOU farewell: that porch on which we had
so often embraced and parted. I,told you it was
doubtful whether ever returned You would
not believe me. have since thought 1t my duty
to marry virtuous woman did so, but it has
pleased Heaven to take her from me. Every re-
iation in life she supported with dignity and pros
perity, and is now happy in the mansions Of eter-
nal rest.
A SPLENDID LETTER
On February I, 1919, he wrote the follow
ing really noble letter, and one well worth
perusing:
DEAR FRIEND. You Were SO good as to answer
both of my letters at the same time under date OF
January il. am much obliged to you for the in
formation it contains, and am happy in moments
renewal of the days that are gone, Their remem-
brance is sweet. am sorry to near llat your
have to discharge towards her, and to a generous,
noble mind its faithful discharge will afford last
ing consolation. | wish her renewal from her dis
tress and should feel the greatest pleasure in rem
dering any relief in my power to her or any pleas
ure to the noble daughter who diligently watches
her tottering steps and soothes her daring life
To me this happiness is denied. Go and fill and
fulfil your heavenly duty. How sweet is its dis
charge how kind is the Office Of an afectonate
daughter to an aged mother !! Remember me to
her, and remember alsothat the greatest and warm
est wish of my heart has ever been to see you hap
py You say my going SO far has been the cause
Of our present separation. You think we should
have been happy if had remained in my native
State. In answer to which do you not recollect
that the last lime saw you my otler was 10 I'VE
anywhere and to consent to any arrangement for
our mutual peace, happiness and satisfaction, i'll
which offer your mother was not forgotten or neg
lected You know the reason why II was not SO.
From hat daV to the present | have looked upon
our separation as inevitable and eternal. My rea-
sons for leaving New York were to establish my
health and get better business. have with the
helping OF Providence. succeeded III both We're |
now in the State of New York my opinion is that
we should be as now are. great friends and
quite happy togather and very comfortable apart.
Where an attachment is so strong that objections
and Inconvenience are no obstacles sufficient TO
prevent a union, such an attachment lays the
foundation for human happiness and gives an OPP
porunity for the parties to be happy III the society
of each other 1t appears to me that This is want
ing. I have no idea that | could make any offer
that would induce Rachel Ostrom to change her
situation; therefore shall not make one. A bare,
cold calculation Of probable happiness or misery
will not answer whenever our affections are so
weak that we stop to consider Il few years and con-
sui. friends and acquaintance and to ascertain
whether the winds or waves Will bring us better
or more advantageous olier. Marriage IN this
case is out of the question. My disposition in
affairs OF that sort Is TO consult the heart and after
wards consult good fortune and trust III good
Providence My dear girl, you have too many
doubts to become favorite Of lIymcn. The Joy
ful god never favors the doubtful and lukewarn.
You thought we might be poor; this would not do.
You thought something better might occur and
at any rate You could not persuade yourself that
happiness would follow marriage. And pray who
ever did Happiness depends on ourselves; not on
what surrounds us. And hope YOU will yet learn
tibet genuine affection is III marriage the first and
last ingredient for happiness; it is the best mar
riage portion the best outfit and the finest equi-
page that pair ever began with, and without it
everything is poverty indeed. And you must also
learn that it is not every day We can come at this
portion, as poor as some may count it, Your
constant lover, ~"
After reading the above letter L0chy Os-
from commenced different life. She became
cold hearted calculating, ayaricious and
grasping, aud banshed her lover from her
mind refused offers OF marriage kept her
own counsel, aud trudgod along almost I'M
mindful of the world about her. Twenty
six years of silence between the lovers cnsIl-
from her lover. II was dated Cincinnati
August lG, 1915, and commenced Dear
Rachel" 1t was brief, and merely referred
to old recollcctions. In September follow
inc she received another letter from him, the
tone of which proved that he still loved her
and felt lonely. In this condition he wrote :
-'.Who should turn to but old affections .
Are all the fountains of pleasant waters dried
up? did hope the past might turn up a new
and brighter leaf have dreamed of pleas
ures fled, long gone. have stood in their
midst until they seemed reality; and why
should it not be so? We must hope OF die :"
And later still he wrote, Nothing in anger
in malice naught set down; let us bury the
past and forget it, excepting the pleasant aud
agreeable acquaintance, that a brighter and
a better page may be added to our litc's his
tories" In this letter also, he made a second
offer of marriage; but the offer was made to
a heart cold as stone and hardened by fifty
years of time. ''Lochy" Ostrom was gray
with age, her face was wrinhlcd, her step
was weak, and the caprices of a miser had
hold on her. With her gaze on her money
bags, with all affection or love gone, She de-
clined the offer, and from that time to the day
Of her death never heard from her lover
more.
Leaving the love letters, carefully rcfold-
ing them and putting them away, the APP
praisers assembled to the upper rooms and IN
spectcd
LOCHY 5 APPAREL.
In one of the bedrooms, although ''lochyH
was known not to have bought two dresses
in ten years, were found twenty dresses,
four OF five of which We're Of elegant and
costly silk, at least so considered iii their
day. for they We're at least fifty years Old.
Visible also, were pots Of preserves, canned
fruit &c.
AMOUNT OF PROPERTY.
The amount Of property lett behind, as
shown by the inventory, ioots up $2l Dos
a. Ii is stated, also, that she left 81, 900
in real estate, which makes the grand to-
tai 1888, 553,94. The bills against the estate
will be very heavy The most Of them come
from persons where 'Lochyn at different
times ''called in and made a visit" stay
ing in many cases several days at 4 time. As
before stated, up to the time of her death she
had not attended church in twenty years.
Time and again she had been asked to leave
her money to the Home for the Friendless OF
to the Methodist or Presbyterian Church in
this city but she always declined with sig
nificant shrug Of her shoulders. The report
that heirs will come to the surface at the
proper moment gains crcdence every day
but as it now stands ''Lochy" Ortrom had
not blood relation in the wide, wide
world.