The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-04-04

like an impenetrable armor. L VIII not
describe infinitely how the first vague
feelings of regret changed to sorrow,
and from sorrow to deep, abiding agony {;
nor how the wretched woman struggled
with her love, and vainly strove to school
it back to duty, and into subsection to
her will. Meter will l tell OF all her
Inconsistency in resolving against, ana
yet seeking interviews with the object
and cause of this mental storm; how
she forgot to he restrained even by re-
gard for her child, though she felt that
her shame would in after years fall with
crushing weight on her now infant daugh'
ter All this, and much more which
transpired, we will pass over more light
ly than did these events over the sub
| iect of our sketch, and again look In on
her at the close of the seventh year of
her welded life
See, there is Mrs. Stone in the prime
of her womanhhod, pressing a kiss on
the lips of her little daughter, which, to
an observer seems far too impassloned
for an ordinary parting, and she ties on
the beautiful child's hat and sends her
out to spend the afternoon with play
mate. All about her still tells of aftlu.
ence, and there is now no look Of weari-
ness or vacancy on her face, but one of
intense, concentrated, overpowering
emotion, as she gazes a moment on the
retrcating form Of the little girl, then
closes the door and turns to her escri.
toire. Soon she passes to her dressing
room with an unsealed letter in one
hand, and in the other tightly grasps a
small package; the first she places con-
spicuously on table, and with the last
still held firmly, shuts herself in her
sleeping room. The afternoon wanes,
and the little Gertrude, now returned,
flies to find Mama, and prattle of her
sports, but she is asleep, and will not
hear In transport Of tears the little
one appeals to grandmama as thenext
resource. Poor Mrs. Crawford now
comes your hour, you must look on
your own work. and oh what specta
Gle your cherished darling, May, MUIR
dered by her own hand Aye, but
who is most deeply fesrfully accountable
for the awful deed
Como to this apartment, and read
this open letter before you reply, for
to you it is superseded.
MY mother let not harsh censure
rest too heavily on the memory of your
miserable child when she is gone, bit
with the foil Of truth turn it aside. Of
actual infdellty to my husband | am
not guilty, and you are the one who
must clear my name. For my little
Gertrude's sake implore this piece Of
Justice at your hands, for not from an
personal consideration would thus pain
you. When this meets your eye shall
have passed 10 an impartial tribunal,
aud wish not now to palate or excuse
my acts; but leaving, as do, daugh-
ter for you 20 rear, it becomes my last
sad duty to tell you the cause Of my
downfall, though l know it will pierce
you through as with many arrows
Home on yourself, charge the first
blame you urged and encouraged me
to give my hand to wealth and rank,
not having first, with the keys of mater.
nal truth and wisdom, unlocked my
young heart and showed me that it con
tanned chambers, which these empty
baubles could never fill; and long years
of writing torment have since been
mine, which rather than endure longer
or else be stained with blacklist crime,
now madly rush into the presence of my
Maker, uncalied by His dread voice.
This | do, feeling that no greater i'll can
betide me than to remain a wife whose
husband can never burst the barriers OF
the souls pcnt up fountains of love, and
cause its waters to play freshly and
brightly along his path Save my
child from such fate-such a curse
and yours in death will forgive and
i bless"
The unfortunate May, crazed by the
long coufict with her hopeless passion
had taken opium; little still adherina
to the paper in which it had been wrap
ped, which she still clutched, and wa,
beyond human scorn or sorrow. But
what the anguish and remorse of that
weak, erring mother must have been
when thus aroused as by voice from
the tomb Of her victim, | leave tC
the imagination of each reader.