The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-08-15
THE WIDOW.
BY GAsKELL.
Concluded. !

AS she uttered these WORDS she
bowed her head in grief, while for q
time. convulsive sobs shock Der frame.
Ny own feelings E.ay be imagined,
and do not know but in my soul l
detested most heartily the agents OF
this dreadful struggle, 80 disastrous to
our national prosper ~ and dOmeetie
peace. At length her grief exhausted
itself and she raised her head, her
cheeks yet wet with tie tears that had
fallen, and in q mCurniul tone sas
continued.
lyon must not thing me weak IN
thus giving wsy t. my feelings, for
We poor women have 10 other way OF
disburdeniDg onrselves OF woe. bat by
tesrs. l cannot think OF the past;
but yisases OF scenes ariss. that /
would not il l could, Danish from my
mind-for with their woes come q
calm aud halo OF pCa1efulness
She heeitaled q momen! as though
to recall her wandering thoughts and
iancies, and in less mourntul tone
went on.
"From tho mid.t of this dream OF
doubt and uncertainty. We were
awakened by the more than thunder
tones OF the guns Of Fort Sumter.
From one end OF our Union to another
gas heard the murmurs Ola vast ex-
element. No pen-no tongue can
tell how universal nor how great were
1.-The feelings reused by this unwontec
sound. The notes oil active prepare
ton and Warlike sounds arose on
every hand; and, from the pulpit, the
press and the roItrnm, the tocsin d
war was heard, as from Name &c
Texas, from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, the lightning fluid flashed the
news OF Cardinals resistance to execu
Tive power. This made my situation
Extremely embarrassing. My father
II Ike all political partiz.ns when theil
particular theory is assailsd, became
furious. He wished to exiort s pro
mice from me that | would nevel
marry or have anything more to d.
wiih my c0rsin, Unless he should re-
nouncs BIS rebrliious principles aDc
return to hiI former bsiief IN the In
tegrity Of the Union. But / dsrs no
thus outrage mJ feelings, i"r l hsc
not strength to carry out such pro
| mise should 1 make is;thereiors,
feared to burden my soul with tn'
| enormity OF falsehood. and entraatec
| him to spare ms. This but addsc
fuel 10 the fires OF his wrath, and
had to listen to language such as
hope never to hear repeated, and t
threats | would not like my dire
foes to hsve levelIed against them
Wrath blinded him-my passive re
sistance he could not understand, ant
| he was fully determined to bsnd O
break me, al tbs case nigh BE-, Il
his purpose. He would caat ms OF
did | dare lat think o! meeting M
co lsin. | must renounoe father o
lover, which liked, but one mus
give up. Even the li'e!ess faint int
which his cruelty threw me had ut
effect in moving him from his Pur
pose. He WGs iDhtxible. He rat
spoken and his will mus! be done
his purpose be accomplished be To-
Consequences what they might.
When the sound of distant s.rii
came to the ears Of nay Loser be WI.
restless as is the steed smelling th'
free air of the desert as 1t comes L
his nostrils from sfar Of. His talent,
mis- energy, his soul all seemed On
gagged in the struggle, and he wsitet
but TO note the course taken by BIZ
native state, before be offered hi
IserVices to aid in the resistance Il
what be called the "unrighteoui
tyranny OF the President and Con
gress OF the United States. Even my
words, in all else potent, in tais par
ticular we're unavailing, and though
sincerely mourning his srdor coul'
lBot, with any eloQuepce bad, shake
his determination. He was aware Of
the strict commands Of my father and
Iyoung, full OF hope as he was, be
Thought time would soften his prelu
Idices and they would die out OF them
selves. Therefore, he urged me to
secret union. He could not much
Longer linger by my side-duty, be
said, called him from me, yet before
ne went be wished to call me his.
There was no need OF explanation
with my father, he might for years
remain in ignorance OF it. Besides,
be himself, would be far more
cautious in danger. had be one be
loved, to look up to and be dependent
upon him, when the war was over;
which, he said, would be but OF short
continuance. Then We could tell all
and ask my fathers forgiveness and
blessing, and be would willingly grant!
it to us. What womsn in a similar
situation would lot have yielded?
VINO can long resist tho powerful
pleadings OF the hesrt and the burn.
ing desires OF an absorbing lover l
see now was wrong, but who can
blame the girl, who in the into1ica-
ton Of a pure and an unsslfish love,
thougntlessly deceived her psrents7
do not wish to eXtenuate my great
fault-for great It undoubtedly was,
but | wish to show you how was as
sailed and how | was overcome. l
have tasted of the Circisn cup Of
pleasure and have drank the dregs
of the deepest and most corrodlng
SORROW; yet my mind is now clear
and my Judgment is now purged
from the film once enshrouding it |
and | mourn the faults / have COM
mitted. Yet know they arose more
from impulse and generous devo-
ton, than from contempt OF parental
authority. II is not for child TO die
cuss the motives of her parents
actions, nor seek reasons Tor his
seeming cruelty; yet l cannot help
it might have bsen far other
wise with me, had my father shown
more wisdom snd less precipitation.
o bis conduct towards his only child.
d how | tremhlsi a. the step | 6nslly
,ouoIuded TO take. To plight my
roth to one l loved, age with all my
leaPt, but of whom | was forbidden !
0 think. The day after | had pro
nised TO become hi, | pssse IN /
tate OF trepidation and alarm, such h
g no pen can describe. | fels when :
met my father as though fa'sebood /
-as written on my brow, AID thst he D
,oked strangely On me-iust as q
lough be could look right through ii
ls, and read my purpose in my b
cart. verify believe mad he spoken Il
indy to me, l must have confessed ri
" deeign, for as it wss / ALTERED a.