The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-08-28
PLUcKED FROM THE BURNING.
By FLORENCE MARRYAT.

Ing to him Cor so be fcndly\ tells me,
whose curse I had 50 nearly proved. Yet
weak and Frustrated as I am, canno
rest until l have written down the details
of my sad story; for while there is {
chance of their recital deterr,ng such a:
would tread the paths I well nigh stun
bled il, and that chance remains unheed
ed, I feel have not made all the repara
tien which lies in my power.
| must begin vita the beginning of my
life. My father was an officer in the ben.
gal army, but he and my mother dying
within few months of. each other, lett
me early to the care of guardians, who
imagined that by keeping me at a respect
able boarding school from the time
couidtalk plainly until the age of eighteen
they amply fulfilled the trust they had
undertaken. From my childhood knew
that when my eighteenth birthday arriv-
ed l should be sent out again to India, mot
for the mere object of marriage, but be-
cause there is shrewd condition attached
to the enjoyment of The fund provided by
the Bengal army fo7 its female orphans
by which, if they are to contInae tie draw
the allowance made for them, and which
ceases upon marriage, they must take UP
a residence in the presidency upon attain
ing manageable age.
I had no provision to look to except
that derived from the fund; and my.guar-
dams had neither the wish nor the ability
to maintain me; therefore at the time ap.
pointed set sail for India alone. sT
Having no near friends to leave behind
me, 1 had looked forward to this change
in my condition as an era in the life which
had been spent in school-rosm monotony;
but the reality did not fulfill my expec
tations. .alll@G 20 =.
Arriving in Calcutta, found myself
dependent On the hospitality of friends,t to
whose care / had been contided, if not for
actual support, at least for that protection
without which young woman cannot mix
IN the world.
was proud in spirit, notwithstanding
the humbleness of my position, and after
while the knowledge CALLED me, and I
felt that could bear 1t no longer. Acting
upon this impulse, and the advice of my
friends, I made the fatal mistake, which
so many of my sex have made before me,
of accepting the first eligible offer which
| received, and which happened to be
from Laurence Edwards, the rising part
ner in large mercantile firm.
l did not lore him. Whatever my heart
feels for him now,I must record that here.
How could l have loved him and yet
have this story to relate of myself? He
was grave, buslness-like man, some
twelve years older than I was, and whose
disapprobation ofmy lcvity was the occa-
sion more than once of our engagement
being nearly broken off. However, mat
tiers were made smooth between us. I
liked him as we'll or better than most of
the butterflies who were lowering about
me; my acquaintance congratulated me
on the excellence of my prospects, and |
endorsed their opinions by becoming his
vile. But very shortly after my marri-
age had dangerous Illness; so alarming
one indeed that the doctors recommend
ed an immediate return home as the only
means of restoring my health. My hus-
band could not go with me; he had but
lately returned from his tour of pleasure,
and the other partner of the house was
away, so he was compelled to let me de-
part by myself. Ae put me on board the
homeward bound steamer, was vigilant in
providing all things necessary for my
comfort during the passage, and full OF
cautions as to my behavior on my arrival
ia England; but he did not express much
grief at our separation. That he felt it
now know well, but he was a man who
could bow himself gracefully to the in
evitable; he feared to excite my alarm by
appearing to think too much of my state
Of health, and attributed his reticence
to want of feeling.
returned to England then, as 1 left it,
alone; and, for the first time, thrown on
my own discretion as guide Legally
was no longer child, to be looked after
and be directed by guardians; but in re-
i Il i :..-.L .--. q.