Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-10-26
For the Republican.
A WOMAN'S GRIEF
BY BELL LEE.


Allow me to show you, dear reader, in
side the gates opening upon broad ave-
nue., which leads up to country resi-
dence, few miles from New Orleans.
The house is built after the style of coun-
try residences in the south, with broad
piazzas, n-which rustic chairs are stand
ing, looking SO inviting. that you will not
fail to accept my invitation to lounge
here for few moments, free from the
suns burning rays, while l give you this
chapter from my life's history:
Here, in this house, surrounded by ev-
cry luxar- WAS reared. An only child,
was ne. rents pet, and from earliest
infancy my every wish was gratiticd |
grew to womanhood without one thought
of the future-cach day was a heaven OF
itself, and | cared naught for the morrow.
On my eighteenth birthday | was to be
shown to society through the medium of
grand ball, at this, my fathers residence,
and many were the invitations issued
among the elite of New Orleans and sur
rounding country.
At last the day arrived. and arraycd III
most becoming pink silk, trimmed in
point APPLIQUE, with my father birthday
present, set ofpearls, shedding their pale
light from neck and arms, | stood before
the mirror, and took farewell glance at
myself-not dreaming how vain | was
as my Octoroon maid fastened a spray of
flowers in my hair, and arranged more per-
fectly the folds in my noire antique. One
1 of the first guests to whom | was intro
ddced was Edward Laird, and he it was
who led me through the maizes of the
dance, and later, on his arm | leaned, as
we Quilted the gay parlOrs for the gayeI
supper room. Before we parted on that
night, dear reader, my heart was all Ed
ward 5, and only a few short weeks sue
ceedcd each other before l was his be
trothed. My parents blessed our betroth-
ai-and why should they not? Edward
was the most perfect type of manhood
ever behcld Tall and commanding il
person, with noble cast of countenance
and hair and eyes black as the raven:
wing, while in manners and conversation
Edward could not be surpassed. My low
er was to spend two years i'll Europe, ant
upon his return we were to bewed. Nev
er before to me did time drag itself st
slowly along as during those two year
which separated me from the dearest form
my heart ever knew But the two year
e passed, and one bright autumn day Ed
ward came to me here and pressed me t.
his heart, his faithful treasure" as h
called me- In one month more was let
I to the altar, and there promised to Glove
honor anG obey Edward Laird so long a
we both should live" | trust have KEEP
n that oath, for God knows l took it witt
all the saeredness tached to 1t. We'll
the honeymoon, those halcyon days o
bliss, was passed, and we were settled i
New Orleans. Our home was truly
luxurious one, and happier one for
few short months, than ever was beneat1
southern skies. l discovered ere Ion
that nay husband was given to indulgin
in the contents of the wine cup, and no
3 unfrequeItly, during the first year of ou
married life was he brought home in a
almost insensible condition l reasone
:, and eXpostulated, but all in vain-day a
ter day and night after light the venomou
1oI Il
v around the heart and brain of Edward
= and dragged him down to vice and ruiz
crushing my heart as dry leaves are crusl
= ed beneath the foot of man. Father an
/ smother were in Europe, and no 9th,
III earthly relative had to go to in my hot
of need. Piece after piece of househol
of furniture and jewelry was disposed of I
81 81 meet our necessary home wants, until tw
years had gone by, when returning OF
: day from this, my childhood's hom
where had come to spend a week, al
{ live over again in dreams those days wht
,. l was Edward betrothed, and rest II
tired, aching brain and heart, l found {
ID our gate post the auctioneer's flag, al
no na preparations being made to sell our HON
knew that it had been mortgaged, al
yet scarcely knew what mortgage W;
Strangers passed through my house exal
r a. ining those treasures ofmine, and makil
re- remarks which grated ON my ear, al
sunk into my heart like poisoned arrow
--' So long as we are happy, how little do
care for the misery of othersl My parer
ti- were to remain five years abroad, and
ND nd would not mar their joys by telling the
ors of the fiery trials through which W
ID, passing. After our home in the city "
In IN disposed, / repaired to my fathers hot
the and there remained until after the birth
''A our child. had hoped that the sight
this innocent one, pleading for life a
protection, would arrest my husband
nd; his downward course and bring him ba
md
n to me and mine, and, oh, the joy I exl
- rienced when l saw that slight char
- was taking place, and he was struggli
ad- to free himself from the demons w
y, ~, which he was surrounded.
The names of Edward and Mary La