The Red Cloud chief., 1877-11-15
H DEVELOPMENT.

BY w. II. WARD.
Arthur Alden VAS the son OF a rich
old farmer, and being an only child,
would, at no distant day, become pos
SCISSOR of his fathers large-landed and
moneyed estate. The young man was
an expert at farming, and we'll educa-
ted in all the English branches, and
withal, a gentleman and Christian, in
all that these two words imply. Mary
Maiden was the daughter of a poor, but
honest, h%ard-tOiling mechanic. she be-
ing possessed of excellent sense, fair
common school education. and besides,
lovely in person and manners. without
a stain of any kind upon her character.
Indeed, she was none the less a Chris
tian than her accepted lover. Now
many people wondered why Arthur
Alden had selected Mary Maiden for
his future wife, seeing that he was viz
tually rich, and moving in the highest
circles of fashion, and she poor and
moving in the common walks Of life.
Yet, truly, all were agreed that they
were devotedly attached to each other,
and well knew that they were engaged
and the happy day named.
Mary had purchased her wedding at
tire; all plain, though neat and tasty,
and when returning from the city some
fifteen miles distant, with her 'nuptial
garments and when within plain view
of her home, t, e stage horses becoming
frightened at some unusual sight.
and jumped into ditch the high
way, at nee O%verturning the stage, and
severely wounding several, Mary among
the rest. Sac was taken up and car.
ried home In a fainting condition. A
physician was Immediately summoned
to restore her to cOnciOusness, and dress
her wounds which were bleeding pro-
fusely.
1t was soon ascertained that one arm
was literally smashed from hand to
shoulder, and one side of her face brOk-
IN and %disfigured in a most shocking
manner. An additional physician sent
tor, who was 500 on hand, had her arm
at once amputated at the shoulder, ard
her face dressed the best that could be
be done under the circumstances. Her
sufferings were intense during the first
few days, bat in a week or two she was
doing as well as could DO expected.
The neighbors said, "HOw much she
is suffering in body and mind, with the
loss of an arm, and her face to remain
SCARED all of her life; besides all this
her matrimonial prospects blasted for
ever, as Arthur Alden will rot think of
marrying her with all her deformity!
True, he visits her since the accident
from time to time, but only as a
friend, as it would not be exactly prop
er to leave her at once, but means
to get away as easily AZ possible. In
deed. since the accident he has never
spoken a word to her regarding their
marriage engagement, at which poor
Mary cannot find fault, for surely, Ar.
thur has nothing to say now on the sub
ject, as he considers himself, as a mat
ter of course, freed from all obligations
to marry her"
While Mary considered that Arthur
had a full and free right to deem him
self freed from the engagement, yet,
she properly thought that he would per-
haps, be better satisfied if she would
give him a written release. So the
day before the time set for the wedding
= come of, as agreed upon weeks before
he accident, Mary wrote the following
pte and sent it to Arthur by the hand
ia friend, TO be delivered to him that
vening without fail:
"HoME. Wednesday P. NJ.
Mr.. arthur Alden:
DEAR SIR-Wel knowing, Is I do,
that you have a perfect right to consider
yourself released from our marriage
engagement, without note or comment
on your part, vet believing that you
would prefer to have a special dis.
c~harge-too timid, perhaps, to ask for
one-I hereby grant you a full and COM
plete release from all obligations to full
ali said engagement. The reason for
ranting this release is too obvious to
ron to make it necessary to be named
here. May Heaven bless you. Arthur
Mr.. Alden, 1 mean-whatever may be
the fate of poor unfortunate
MARY MAIDEN.
The marriage, as previously ar
ranged. was to have taken place on
Thursday evening at 6 o'clock. An
old fsvorite pastor living fifty miles