The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-20

an uncle dying at Mayence begged HIM
to come TO him in season to close his
eyes and render the last services of the
friend and relative.
Anna said to him, Forget not to
return very soon." She could say no
more without beseeching him not to
leave her. This news grieved her the
most painful misgivings crowded upon
her. Happiness is so evanescent,--so
limited is the amount allotted TO any
individual. and the portion we might
hope to claim for ourselves is so often
necessarily shared with others, we are
prompted to steal away, like robbers, to
enjoy our prize in secret, daring to ex-
press Joy only in whispers.
The paternal Gulp received the news
without emotion, saying to Henry,
"Well, good journey to you, my son,
and return to us as soon as you have
properly discharged the duties imposed
by nature. When do you leave?
4" must 60 this night" said Henry,
/" to reach the coach that passes in that
direction eight leagues hence, to'mor.
row."
Before midnight, then, Henry set
forth, his traveling.bag on his back, his
gun on his arm, making a circuit that
would enable him, before leaving the
country, to see once more the home Of
! his beloved, and the glimmer of the
night-lamp that burned in her cham
| Der.
On his way he gathered sprigs of
heather, and. weaving them into n
wreath, hung it upon her window. The
/ Il 10 al 1T
| ing up the little chamber with tanciful
glow. Henry broke off twig of hazel
that almost touched the window pane,
and fastened on his way. The first
golden rays stealing into the little cham
Der found Anna still awake and restless.
Enclosing the window to watch the
dawn, and cool her aching brow in the
fresh air of the morning, she found the
white wreath and knew her lovers last
act had been this tender farewell.
Henry sent letter by every post,
but however deep may have been his
sorrow, it was for her who had remained
behind that this separation had most
bitterness, and ere long poor Anna had
lost the roses from her cheek.
After a time the letters became
infrequent, and finally ceased alto.
gether, and Annals heart was the seat
of sad forebodings that gradually
ripened into conviction. The poor
sufferer made no complaint, but her
hollow eyes and sunken cheeks revealed
the weight of woe this neglect had
wrought.
Weeping in silence in her chamber,
she avoided even the society of her
father and brother, and finally became
hopelessly i'll.
Conrad had written to Henry, receiv-
ing no response, and finally when no
answer was received to his fourth letter,
he started for Mayence. Two months
afterward he returned in a chariot pale
and wounded. At the end of few
days Of extreme suffering he died.
1t happened thus: Reaching May
ence Henry found his uncle in less
dangerous condition than he expected.
Reoyced at the resemblance of the
youth to his father, he attributed his
own immediate convalesence to the ar
rival of his nephew. This uncle was
very rich, and only one of his numerous
children-a very beautiful daughter
survived, whom he proposed to himself
Henry should marry.
The young man dared not refuse at
once the honor designed for him, but
asked for time to gain the consent of
his mother, at the same time privately
begging the good dame to Withhold it.
During the period this response was
awaited, he had become so interested in
his cousin, and so comfortably disposed
towards a life of luxury, he was not
sorry to receive his mothers reply urg-
ing him to accept all the advantages of
the union he was desired to consum-
mate. He finally forgot Anna, amid
the pleasures Of a large city, and taught
himself to regard the sacred engage.
ment into which he had entered with
her as childish sport, that might be re.
nounced by the mature man.
Conrad arrived on the day of Henry's !
nuptials with his cousin. Bitterly re-
preaching his old friend, and exaspera-
ted at not being able to move him by
the picture of his sisters distress. he |
insulted and provoked the renegade III
public; blows succeeded, and Henry |
telled the avenging brother with his |
sword.
Anna wept no more, but tears fell |
upon her heart and corroded there in |
silence. From this time she devoted |
herself exclusively to her father, who
was sorely stricken by the death Of his
son, and to prayer.
Prayer is the refuge of the distressed,
q sure resource when all other support |
fails, sacred bond between the human
and divine.
Henry found himself master of a
large fortune, and husband Of the pref
test woman in the city of Mayance All
this life Of luxury was filled with de
lightful novelty for him.
A year after his marriage, however,
his fatherin-law died, and his wife, an
invalid, desired to retire to the country.
He pure hased chateau some leagues
from the home of Father Gulp, and
passed the whole time there.
During this time Annals waiting end
ed. She died without apparent regret,
and was busted with the white wreath
that Henry had hung upon her window,
on the night of his departure.
One evening, as Henry returned from
a late hunting party, he became bewil-
dered IN the forest add cOilld diScerr no