Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-28

wildered, scarcely conscious Of what had
occurred. Then came reaction, and
started as though an avalanche had
suddenly fallen upon me, with its icy cold
ness crushing out all that was warm or
bright in my life. sent in an excuse of
| illness which was not feigned, and left
| the store. My mothers quick eye de-
tected my agitation. / made light of her
| fears-said with truth | had headache,
but did not add, as might have done, a
| heartache too.
Neryously / awaited Percy's appear
ance. Finally put on my bonnet, say
| ing / would go oat for walk, and if |
| did not return soon not to suffer uneasi-
ness, as / should perhaps meet Percy and
/ be out some time. He was at the gate
when / went out, and we sauntered off to
a beautiful spot on the lake, where we
seated ourselves for a long talk-that lake
with its wild heavings and tossings which
| illustrated but too truly the storm raging
| in my heart.
Reader, / shall not tire you with this
conversation. You can imagine its i'm
port. There were arguments, there were
strong appeals which | scarcely knew
how TO resist, as my own heart was plead
| ing the same cause. But was inexora-
BILE. My duty must not be sacrificed to
my affections. / looked that night to a
| higher tribunal for strength, else my weak,
loving heart might have yielded to that
which would have blighted the happiness
and prosperity Of two families.
Percy was going that night. All, me !!
What would life be without him9 At the
gate we parted. For one moment / was
clasped to his breast and kiss imprinted
on my lips, and he was gone-gone for
ever stood for some moments dumb
with agony.
How got into the house or into my
bed that night is still mystery. can
only now recall the anxious expression Of
my mothers face when recovered. Percy
was gone, / said, and she guessed the rest
without annoying me with disagreeable
questions. A great tornado had passed
over my life, and years afterward there
were times when my heart rebelled, and
| felt l might have postponed without
severing ali hope at once. But felt it
dishonorable TO bind him, when after O.
long absence he might find the letters
irksome.
never yielded to dependency, for the
knowledge that had thus sacrificed my
self sustained me. Yet | was never the
same lighthearted, joyous creature once
was. There was now shadow upon my
heart which was never lifted
Five years have passed away. / was
prosperous in all my speculations-seldom
had failure. There was no longer need
for labor. could have sat down in ease
if had wished. Sometimes | thought /
would write to Percy. But he might be
married, was thought which deferred
me.
In the midst Of this prosperity my dar.
ling mother showed signs of decline. |
travelled with her everywhere in the vain
hope that change of place would effect a
cure. 1t was attended only by disappoint-
ment. She went quietly to sleep in my
arms, leaving me in desolation almost
hopeless.
When | laid my mother in the grave
life seemed barren route, without tree or
shrub to relieve its monotony.
| sat for days afterward in a state of
loneliness, almost unconscious of what
was going on around me. There was
nothing to draw me from this fearful
solitude. / longed to lie down in my
plother's grave and, like her, be at rest
Grief will not always destroy US; we
often live on when every hope which
made life desirable is dead.
1t was summer when laid my mother
to rest in that sleep which knows no wax
ing. / was sitting musing in the deepest
melancholy, which even the odor of my
mothers flowers, which came with the
fresh evening breezes through the window
that soft summer evening, could not
arouse. The doors were open--footsteps
were in the room-footsteps not un-
familiar. turned and rose to my feet,
but to find myself encircled in the arms
of Percy Elmore.
The rest is soon told. Percy had
prospered; his sisters were both married,
their mother living with them. He had
come back to ask me once again to take
back that word unalterable, which did.
Percy Elmore and myself have been
married some years. We have no dis
putes about who shall rule. We are
equal in everything, and our only strife
is which shall contribute most to the