The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-01-14

pcup of bitter misery, which l must,
for my duty and for hobor's sake,
drain to the last bitter dregs.
Could l have foreseen the sacri-
fee that would have been required
of me when 1 gave that rash prom
Use to Henry Hilton, it would never
have been given. But what man,
placed as l was then, with dishon-
or starring him in the face, would
have acted differently Not for my
own crime did / suffer, but for q
brothers. In that hour Henry Hill
ton, the lawyer, came to me and
told me he would save me, and l,
in my joy, told him to ask of me
anything in return, save my honor.
Then when l had made a name
for myself came the summons to
attend him at once. He had need
TO recall me to my promise made
years ago. When l reached his
bedside he told me he had a daugh-
ter, just turned sixteen, a mere
child. lie was dying, without rel
atives or friends, save me. And
now he asked me to fulfil my prom
ise-marry his daughter, Cora Hill
ton, this child, at once, at his
death bed
What could I do? But oh, the
anguish of my soul! La only two
weeks-the first of April was to
wed my love. Honor and duty first
love must go-and so l told him
yes. Even then he was sinking
fast. 1 went for the clergyman, as
he directed me. In few short mo-
ments my dreams Of happiness with
my fair love were dead.
God teach me to do my duty by
this fair young girl whom he has
placed in my hands at such cost
to me! God grant she may never
suffer the anguish of mind which
has come to mel l mean to do
what is right by her, but it is hard
to keep the face ofmy love from my
mind.
May.-It is quite two months
now since my marriage. Cora is
indeed a child. Her education was
never finished and is sadly neglect
ed. l must make her study to fit
herself for contact with society. /
shall send her to a good boarding
school. In the meanwhile l will go
abroad and see if can drown my
sorrow.
Poor little girl! She calls me
Col. Maplewood. She has never
been able to call me Walter. Alb,
well, suppose | do look old and
stern to her. l will speak to her
to night about the boarding school.
June.-It is all settled. She is
quite sensible about it. When l
asked her if she would like to fin
ish her education, she replied
Eyes, Col. Maplewood, above all
things" And then she continued,
in a somewhat strange manner, l
thought, 81 know l am your wife,
Col. Maplewood, but it all seems so
strange. l think it best that
should return to school and finish
my education in such a manner
that though you may not love me,
yet you will never be ashamed OF
your wife. 1 think all arrange
ments could be completed to-mor-
row, and had better go IS Miss
Hilton"
l was too much surprised to
speak, so 1 acquiesced by nodding
my head. 1 am alone now. l took
her to the school and explained 70
the lady principal our relationship,
and all that l thought was absO-
lutely necessary. To accomplish
her education as 1 wish, it will take
five years-five years in which l
can be comparatively free. 1 will
send in my resignation at once and
go abroad.
August, 1861 am almost tired
of this wandering from point to
point, with no object. l have now
been married two years and five
months and have not seen my child
bride in over tvs years. Neither
have l heard from her directly. The
principals letters come regularly
containing glowing reports of Miss
Hilton's in her studies.
Well, l don't know bus what
shall be glad when her school day;
are over, and l can go home to 8
t life of domestic bliss. All, no-not
70 home of bliss most certainly,
but at least to comforts. wonder
: if she thinks of me much, and 10 sht
growing any prettier. l have Gu
= riosity to see her. All, me! How
= things and people changei At on
, time, 1 could, 1 imagined, almes
| have died Of grief at my hasty mar
e riage and the separation from he
q who was to have been my bride
, Shakespeare says truly that "mel
D have died, and worms have eatel
! them, but not for love-" While
e was ready, in my grief, to put al
end TO my existence, she whom
!. had imagined constant was consol
g ing herself with a new lover.
5 half believe 1 could go back to th
states and fall in love with my lii
tie wife. Well, I'll take run dow
n in South Africa and at the end o
|. the FIVE years Pn make my wa
# home again and settle down.
o May, IS70.-Home at last in dea
II old New York, though truth to say
= felt more like a stranger when
n landed than a native born. My oil
# friends are not all dead, as foun
when 1 dropped into my club.
e have been away 50 long that the
a all seem to have forgotten m
Is strange marriage. They must inn
CINE my wife dead. l have sal
k nothing as it is a sore subject to m
of In month l will go for Cora, an
s then-ob, well! let the future tai
care Of itself The five years a
TX up and l have come home to n
as duty.
~ At the club I met Archie He
derson, a warm friend, and wi
or served me as captain. He is 8 gs
al liant fellow. Lord help him, he
.. in love- The upper ten OF t.
ld young men seem to be crazy over
new star in the armament Of sOciet