The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-02-23
THE FOREST NYMPH:
OR, THE LADY OF THE LOYAL OAK.
BY PROF. H. WATSON RIO EwELL.

Mrs Lee was approaching Der last
hours, and her ariStocratic son, Coils
worth. just returned from Europe, knplt
at her bedside, Mortified at that which his
mother had revealed tn him She had
entered into compact with Annie Vane's
diving father who OWNED the Grand LOYAL
Oak estate adjoining, and lived a PERMITS
life there with his child-that Colds
worth and Annie should be welded ro.
gether; she bad taken the homely, awk-
ward. ignorant little Annie Vane 70 her
own home had learned the child six cen
years old to love her son, without reveal.
ing her object in doing so, however, and
now a stormy scene had passed between
this diving woman and her son about this
compact.
My heart revolrs at such union, "
the Young man mnaned.
/ "Goldsworth, unless you take Annie
for your wife, You will send me to the
grave accurscd," walled the poor woman.
I'She is diamond unpublished Take
her tn your bosom, treat her gently, and
YOU will live To bless me for choosing her
for you.
1t was long, fearful struggle, ere the
young man could say, in order that his
mother might die in peace:
Il will send for clergyman. Annie
Vane shall be m; bride while you are yet
! with us"
i A lutte sompre clad figure opened the
door at tins moment, but, hearing Colds
worth Lees words, she drew back and
fled prccipItately TO her own chamber,
amidst hot bushes and trrmblings ard
great tears Of joy. Here those who were
sent to search for he intended bride
found her
1t was strange bridal scene which
i that chamber beheld The sick woman
supported on pillows, eagerly watching
the faces Of her son aud Annie the sad
serious, handsome man. with nobility
marked in his every movement, and the
awkward, trembling child in plain, som
hre garments, but with deep flush Of
happiness In her dark, fIeckled, honel
lace, that looked anything but a brides
and yet whose PLAN features grew radiat
ly lovely for single moment when, a.
she Was pronounced the wife of Colds
worth Lee, the stately man pressed hi
cold lips single moment to her fore
head. But ne dld not perceive it,
They boh knelt before the dying
woman's bed, and with a 1ace full of 10,
she blessed them, kissed each of the
lips, ard then, without a strug
gle, entered her eternal rest, happy!
During the two days following, Annie
Lee saw her husband twice, both time
= beside the coffin OF his mother. She en-
tered timi,ily tn beg him to leave til
darkened room of death, lest he shoulc
scken himself 10y mourning so constant
but botn times he gravely dismissed be
by touching his lips to her forehead. an
saying:
!" Poor child, you caunot know tn
depth of my grief"
And she went away satisfied, eve
8, happy, not knowing that there was any
thug strange or unnatural in her hus
bands Treatment of her.
i? The day after his mothers burial,
did not appear at brea ktsst. Annie wait
ed until the dinner hDur, aud then enter
Ell his rooms. They were empty-s
was he study, but on his desk there wa
an unsealed letter addressed to his aunt
whom he had sent for, and who Was ex
= pect.d to arrive that day. She mechan
lcaliy opened the folded shetland let he
eyes fall upon 1T, as she wandered Why,
he had been called away suddenly, h.
, did not address her, his wife. And sh
remembtrsd too with her first great pam
OF pain, that name, which she had longe'
z, 50 much to hear from his lips--the nam
of Wlfe--had not yet passed them. A
this moment her eyes caught a passage
miow way in the written sheet, that occa
stoned all else to be forgotten. 1t rea
thus:
:" 1t was only to have my mother die i
peace that consented to make the awk
ward, ignorant little fright my wife
she l. not to blame; she Is honestly en-
titled to my name, but orly in name Ca
/ ever acknowledge her to be my wipe
/ would die with shame to be obliged t
live with her and to ask my friends t
receive her rs my wife. Hence an 60
ing away to hide myself in foreigl
country, and will never look again upol
her hated face. She will reside at M
home, where | wish you make home
with her. My attorney is instructed Il
comply with her every demand, so tina
she ne, not Want for any comfort OF
luxury BY the time this reaches YOU
eyes, | will have sailed for Europe"
Whenthe aunt came to the Lee mansion
she found the young bride lying uncon
scious on the study floor with his letter
in her grasp. She recovered conscious
ness after time, and fully realized hel
situation but she did not weep, sh.
seemed like frozen image. SO Irightfull,
still and motonless was she.
Il cannot touch anyt hing belonging t,
him." she said, aud she went away t.
Loyal Oak, her own home, whittier Mrs
Dare, the aunt of her cruel husband, fol
lowed her.
AS days passed, she confined as lifcles.
llnnkinp having no interest in alOh1