The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-03-08
POOR little EMILY.
The History of a Prudent
Marriage. y
BY MISS MULOCK.
CHAPTER I=CoNr1NItrn

thc icSt VI Tue StOry lleS IN n n y
shell; for have never got 10 the bottom -
the matter yet, and l never Shall now.
John and Emily parted in the old fathers
presence; he insisted upon that, aud in nv
presence, too for Emily begged l would
stay. And at the last, oh! how she clung
round the young mans neck, and promised
MIN faithfully that she would marry him,
as solemnly, and John Stenhouse is man
vino never breaks his word, that if he were
alive on the day she came of age, he would
claim her again, and marry her 'in spite of
man or devil He said that, those very
words, for he seemed half maddened by the
cruelty shown to her, the tender, delicate
grl, made 10 be love- md talen care Of
And then no kissed her-o.., Low he kissed
her! 1t makes me cry to think OF it,"
Poor fellow Rut, for all that it would
nave boon very imprudent marriage, !"
said Mrs. Smiles, coldly.
"lnprudcnt or not, it never came about,
you see, though what happened I have
never found out. Most certainly, John
Stenhouse formed no other attachment
lie worked hard in the Office, and out of
oifice hours led most solitary life. He
dld not even ask about Emily Kendall;
though sometimes when, Intentionally.
used to mention hor, he listened
as II no was drinking in every word.
ana took care that during the
i
heard myself This was not great deal.
1or her father kept her separated from me
as much as he could, which WAS human
nature, suppose. But had news of her
sometimes, and always told them to John.
The only thing L did not tell him was a
rumor that reached me, no. ridiculous il
seemed then, that my husband and only
laughed at it, OF her intended marriage to
John Bowerba, =
"Tfemember it was who fold you, and
how indignant you looked, But you sec I
WAS light after ALL" said Mrs. Smiles, not
w,.EHut a little air of sclf-satisfaction.
well. no matter now. John never
named Eral!yS name, nor do L know if he
ever heard the report or not; but certainly
Just about that time he went up to London.
Whether it was to claim Emily, whether
he asked her again and sis refused him, or
whether he heard the report aouA. her and
John Bowerbank, and never did como Cor
ward and ask her, soodness only knows!
All know is that, within two months of
Emily's coming of age, without my ever
seeing him-for | was laid down with that
bad fever, you know, and Edward was too
miserable about me TO care much for any,
body outside-John Stenhouse had quit
ted Liverpool aud sailed for India. And
there he il now, for aught know. He does
not forget US, poor fellow; he writes to us
Mt Christmas always, and last Year he sent
III Ahoiph oithi W iCtCl lllO Ou luy DNln-
day. But he never names Emily, and no
never gave the slightest explanation about
anything"
Perhaps" suggested Mrs. Smiles.
there was nothing TO explain. Tho young
lady had changed her mind, that was all.
And no wonder. A marriage with the head
Of the firm instead of one of tho Junior
clerks is so very much more suitable. But
look! is not that the carriage driving up?
MIR. Bowerbank's presume. Oh, dear! if
could but see one of my daughters driving
away in her own carriage"
Mrs. Knowle did not answer. She stood
half hidden bekind the groups of idle
gazers which always gather to stare at o
bride. There was n mingled expression in
her frank, rosy faco-half pity, half ten
derness, yet lifting ever and anon across il
shadow of something elsa something
not unlike contempt. Coarse looking, un-
cultured woman as she was. she possessed
that which makes at once woman's utmost
soitness and utmost strength-n loving
heart and clear conviction though she
not clovor enough to put it into
thoughts, still less into words OF the di-
vineness of Love. Love, which, when NUT
ual, gives and eXacts nothing less than the
entire soul OF man and woman, and en-
forces as an abs olute duty tho truth Of
which marriage is but tho outward sign,
seal. and ratification" What God hath
Joined together let not man put asundeI'
Il wonder what made her marry him.
murmured tho good matron Of thirty years
standing. "My patience! if | had given up
Edward Knowe what would he have thought
of me? What will John Steuhouse think
of her?"
Nothing at all, probably. He may be
married by this time himself"
81 don't believe it'll never believe it.
Men may be bad enough. but they're not so
bad as women. They'll not often sell
themselves, soul and body, out Of nero
cowardice, or break solemn plighted
promise from sheer qr."
But her father. was bound to obey
her father"
"No, she wasn't" replied Mr.. Knowle,
sternly and strongly. "My dear, you're
not bound to obey any man living, not
even your own husband, who is n mighty
deal closer to you than your father, when
he tells you to do wrong thing. If Ed
ward Knowle said to me, Emma, I'm
hungry, and | want you to chop yourself
up into mincemeut for me, = well, perhaps
i might do il, if he really wanted it and it
harmed no one but myself But if he said,
Emma, I'm hungry, and want you to GO
AMI steal that leg of mutton, should say,
NO, sir. Gods law is q higher law than
obedience to you. steal your leg of nut
ton for yo'rself. But stop-thcy'vt
opened the hall door-she's coming"
She came, the little pale bride. No
even the excitement of the bridal gayeties
the breakfast, the champagne, and the
speeches, could make her anything but
pale. She leant on the arm of her father
who was an extremely handsome, gentle.
manly, we'll dressed and low voiced per.
sonage. He put her into tho carriage will
the utmost paternal care, with a kiss and {
benediction, both of which sho received
passively. She seemed altogether n pas.
sive, frail, gentle creature, such a one as q
brave, strong man would take and shelter