The Van Buren press., 1874-06-09
MISCELLANY.
The Unwilling Bride,

Mcllwain could easily forget her. WheI
first met her, she was sixteen.
The mother of Ruth Mcllwain det
while she was an infant, and her father
remained widower for ten years, ape
then married a lady who had a daughter
b. her former husband TIE second
Mrs. Mcllwain was a womun df plausible
manners, but of selfish and artful dis
position, and her daughter Ellen resem
bed her exactly.
Jonas McIlwain was one of those every
day persons who nave nothing marked
in their character, if we except only {
great portion of obstnacy.
One day when Ruth had jsst entered
her seventeenth year, gentleI IN whom
she had never seen before, came to tei
with the family. He was a widower, abou
forty years of age, of good figure ant
fine manners, but plain even TO ugliness
He was silent and reserved. Ruth paiC
little attention to him, ard would have
thought no more about him had not hel
father said to her when lie was gone
"Wel!, Rath, what dc yon think of Mr.
Walker =
Il think he is extremely ugly" re-
piled his daughter.
"Humph - responded her father
"that is unlucky, tor he is to be your
husband
"My husband, father?' said Ruth
raising her blue eyes and gazing at heI
parent with look OF astonishment
"Oh you are jesting; that is impossi
Bile
Not at all, answered Mr.. McIwain.
"You will find it very true ] assure
you am serious y
81 will never marry him, replied
Ruth, "and scarcely think he will de
sire an unwilling bride "
But you will not be an unwilling
bride, persisted herlfather.
Don mistake me, father, continued
Ruth firmly, but kindly. "In this mat
ter | must consult my feelings ! cannot
commit SC great a sin
We'll, we shall see, " coohy respond
ed Mr. Mcllwain, and the conversation
dropped.
/ Caleb Walker was a man OF immense
wealth. In early life he had emigrated
to Louisiana, when the city OF New Or
/ leans was scarcely more than village,
and by iudiciously investing the means
he possessed he amassed great wealth.
No man had kinder or more sympathiz-
ing nature than Caleb Walker. He was
very charitable. but as he shrunk from
/ observation, and was so unob;susive, the
knowledge of his benevolencSswa almost
invariably confined to hiirsst'~,Hd The re-
cipients Of his bounty.
! Mr. Walker continued his visits to the
McIlwains, and Ruth made it point to
keep ont Of his way as much as possible
She had little difficulty in doing this, as
he paid no particular attention 10 her
Sne perceived, however, that her step
mother and sister were frequently closet
ed together, and that their minds seemed
always occupied with something that she
could not discover. They sometimes
looked at her in peculiar manner.
One day, when she wac alone with Ell.
! len, she said:
"What is it that occupies you and
mother so much p
Her step-sister ans rered with great de
liberation, The preparation for your
marriage, my dear "
My marriage, sister. With whom p
Your father certainly has informed
YOU that you are to marry Mr.. Walker, "
replied Ellen, looking fxedly into Ruth S
/ face.
"Oh yes, he said so, replied Ruth
"but cannot believe he means it. "
"Why not;' asked Ellen, elevatine
her eyebrows.
Because. replied Ruth it's a very
summary way Of dsposing of my affec.
tions, and think am entitled to a say
in the matter.
Ellen laid her hand on Rutl's shoulder
MY dear she said, don't be silly
You certainly will marry Mr.. Caleb Walk.
er. He is a gentleman of immensa
wealth, and will make you an exeelen,
husband Besides, he is fond of YOU
though YOU will not give him chance
OF making you sensible of the fact. There
is not Il girl in the community but wha,
would dance at your chance. am sure
] WOulu
"Then take him, said Ruth
I" But | can't take him, replied Ellen
q. he don't want me- Besides, my dear
everything is settled in your case even
your wedding wardrobe is purchased y
Ruth took her step sister by the hand
Is this true p she asked solemnly.
"It is true" replied the other.
Mr. Mcllwain, was absent in the coun.
try Ruth, therefore, went 10 her step.
mother who listened to her supplications
with countenance as immovabe as
stone.
IL am surprised at this nonsense, y
she cried IL expected to find you q
reasonable girl. Are you going mad
Do you really know wha: you are refus
ing? This is preposterous. There is
scarcely young lady in the country who
J would refuse Mr. Walker. What arc
your objections to him, pray:"
IL don't love him, " sobbed Ruth.
"Woll, who said you did?' cried her
stepmother, =" But you can do so you
will have plenty of time, and he is kind
man and will teach You to do So"
Il will be committing sin if | marry
him. won't mary a man that scarce
Is know and do not love, " said Ruth.
"You may alter your opinion, re-
piled Mrs McIlwain. at is to your
father YOU must say that.
"Will you not appeal to him for me y
sobbcd Ruth.
I uEo - replicd her step mother stern