Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-05-18
WHOLE NUMBER f23..


forced her to go to the window
She looked out Up the path came a
train Of men carrying something over
which was spread \ white sheet that
fiuttered little I'm the wind.
Only a glance; then she fell 10 the
floor and lost everything for a time in
that blessed insensibility.
The body was carried to the old brown
farmhouse. The face was swollen and
UnreCOgniZable, but the widow Femem-
hered the clothes: 1t was the body Of
her son,
The evening before the funeral Of poor
Charles Manson, Annie Linn wandered
out of the house into the fields-nOt to-
wards the path which had formerly been
her faVOrite haunt; she could not even
look towards that.
She saw the old brown house Oh the
hill, but did not venture TO approach
nearer. Some one came out OF door and
walked down the hill. Annie knew in
an instant-it was his mother.
She did not attempt to avoid the
meeting. She stood there, passlVely
waiting whatevermlght ensIe, not even
looking up as she heard the footsteps
coming nearer.
Annie, Annie y called a familiar
voice, which had an undertNEe 80 like
his.
There stood the widow with her arms
extended. Annie fell into them with
one cry, upon which the smOthered
grief Of past days went out.
1t was long time before there was q
word spoken; then tears came and brOv
ken whispers which made each heart
dear to the other.
'They say you blame me, Annie
cried.
Child, my boy loved you; that was
enough. ] never biamed yOuLI never
shall. We don't care what people say
we understand each other now
Il wanted to see yOu-tO come 10
you
d know, know. You can do 80 now,
Annie; your father will never object
any more
They clung to one another closer after
these words.
you mustn't come to the house to-
morrow the widow said. Come to me
when il is all over and they are gone
1 have been wishing-I want to
see
no, no. Oh, it's dreadful. could
only look once. Don't Annie, DON'T
She hid her face for moment 10 shut
out the painful image her own words
had called up-that pale, worn face,
with so much Of the tender beauty OF
age in it already. .u-.-
They mad no words Of comfort to
speak to each other. 1t was very diff
cult to talk at all. But it eased their
grief to stand together, feeling that each
understood the Other's heart. ..a
ko aors Nj II, unrf1f1oYa r.s,rst.
gy. ...r
DON'T let them talk TO you, / did love
him-indeed I did, ...l
4 know it. You did what was right
no one shall blame you in my hearing
/ hope they'll let my boy alone now. c
my Charley my Charley
She checked the spasm Of grief quick
Iy. -.r
4 don't believe he did it on purpose
He wrote me letter. think he Igeant
to go away. | suppose he wandered of
towards the river that night.
A shudder completed the sentence
1t was fuller Of agony than any wOrJIs OF
tears.
They parted almost in silence, and
each stole home, shivering wish chill
that struck deeper than the pleasant
cOOlpeSs OF the Spring evening, and
would not wear away for months and
years.
Charles Manson had heen buried a
year. Then came the second great trial
of Annie l4inn's life.
The Spring warmed into Summer, but
the mourning in which Annie Linnis
heart was shrOuded did not grow more
light.
She visited the widow very frequents
ly. Her father never made any oppO-
sitiOn, although he rather kept out of
her way himself. However much he
might believe himself in the right, it
was not pleasant now to meet the poor
mother, and remember ah the harsh
words he had spoken concerning. the
young man, over whose grave the fOW-
ers he loved had already begun to-
spring,
OF course, after the first few weeks of
wOpderings, Annie was left IN peace by
her neighbOrs. They had begun to for
get the sudden death, and probably sup
posed she was doing the same. But the
mother knew the truth, and every day
knit her heart more closely 80 the ul,
complaining girl.
James Martin, having been Iefta wild
over q couple of years before, and and
ing himself alone in the, midst of The
comforts his money brought about him,
east about in the country for another
wife, and, as fate would have it, he fix
ed his choice upon Annie. II was very
foolish of him, when there were suures
Of girls would have been in the seveHth
heaven at the bare idea of sOlacing his
grief. But where such feelings are con-
cerned, the wisest men are peTverRe, s0
no one but Annie could Gil the void IN
his heart.
he became frequent visitor at the
house, but as he had usually sOale Osten-
sible business with her father, it never
occurred to Annie that his visits had
any connection with herself. I fancy
he gave Mr.. Linn hint FQm the Rrsi;
hut tt,q Ulq gauIeulan wisely held his
peace, and suffered events to taEe their
course, never dreaming that any daugh-
ter of his could be insane enough tQ res
fuse one of the richest men in tbe ooun-
ty, and in every rRspe4F AL that rea-
s,,t,auie wOmail could desire. -...
When tho truth did dawn upon An
nie's mind, she was sUrely troubled; bat
il was difficult to know what course to
pursue. u- .r
Martin began to ask her to drive eWt
with him, and, as the invit8tilsss were
given in her fathers lIFsenCe, ho acoep-
ted them gur her without the slightest
hesitation, ....#
At last people began to gossip aud
make remarks. II wRs currently report
ed that the pair We're engaged long be-
fore Martin hHu found the courage TO
snow her more than common civility.
At length Martin made her an. effer 0f
his heart and hand, with the air OF a
man who did not dream Of a refusal, as
was natural afterher father's encourage
ment. ..... .. n
Il am sorry (she was ghliged Ia IA ter
rupt him ia OTicT 10 speak; 4 was not
'Npecting this. cannot be yOur wifpy
MIR. Martin ..e. .f#
He stared at her i'm establishment tor
M instant, but could not believe her in
earnest. ..t
you tkipk } oaaht uot to have spokun
20 abruptly, and want to punish me, her
ne said.
No, indeed. cannot marry yuu. D.
lon't want to give YOW gam; bat please
lOu't tGlw Vt tuls any moro, Mr.. Martin.
shall always be your friend, but I can
lever be anything more
But your father always gave me. rea-
on to bupa, he said, turning red and
ale with mingled pain and mortifica,
ion.
4 never gave him any cause to do so,
,elieVe mo, 1t was not until very late
hat even dreamed your visits werp in
ended for me- ..,. rI r.r
But you shall think diflerently,--I will
not take your answer now r