Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-04-29

thing 10 induce me to believe that he loved
me, except making a formal declaration.
and why should conceal it'll loved
him better than the whole world-better
than my own soul. Fatigued with dan.
cling, | sat down in the recess Of win
dow, where the curtains screened me from
observation. Presently l heard a voice.
which but too well knew, speaking near
me: swell Tom, believe you are my
friend, so | will tell you secret. All the
world has given me Miss Moreton; own
she is beautiful and agreeable, but SO vain
and fond of dress, that my whole fortune,
which is not at all overgrown, would melt
before the end of the honeymoon. No
no, Tom, have not the slightest intention
Of marrying her--so heartess too, only
think of her spending money for ornaments,
and dancing all night, while her father is in
prison for debt" They passed on. How
long remained mo,ionless with shame and
anger know not; il seemed 10 me an age.
As soon as could move, i went to find
Julia Melville, whom knew at school, and
telling her | was very i'll, begged that she
would request her brother to take me
home. ! never will see Frank again, tho
it break my heart. But tell me, do you
think it is true about my fatheri"
"lhope not" said Ellen, "if il is, we shall
soon know. But now you must take some.
thing warm, aud go Immediately to bed"
With the tenderness Of mother did
Ellen prepare and administer soothing
drink, and after smoothing her pillow and
seeing her composed to rest, was about 10
leave the room when Lucy called her
back.
ELLEN" said she, "can you forgive met
Ellen felt that she had more 10 forgive
than her cousin was aware of; and as she
stopped down to imprint Kiss on the fore
head of the penitent, tears fell fast and
warm on her face.
With the morning, came letters from
Mr.. Moreton; the story of his imprison-
ment was unfounded; the business was
arranged to his satisfaction, and he would
be home in a few DAYS.
From that night, Lucy vas an altered
being. She had received bitter though
|
Dorford, they were as strangers to each
other. She had loved as woman loves, bu,
once, and in the shrine of her hear, there
was no second idol. Though she had
many offers, she refused them all, and for
once the world allowed there was an old
maid from choice.
More than forty years have passed
away, and she lives in the same house
which she inherited from her father, whose
death took place a few months after the
events have related"
Aunt Fanny paused. Her young audi.
tors eagerly exclaimed: "But Ellen-Miss
Varnham--what became of herl"
| "A short time before the death of Mr..
Moreton, her eldest brother married, and
at his urgent solicitation she went TO reside
with him in a distant part Of the State.
OF Charles Germane she saw no more, and
learned that he had left the country. For
long time she bore up under the disap-
| pointment she had experienced, endeavor-
ing by an unremitting performance Of
every duty to Danish useless regret. She
cherished a hope that he would return;
but as month after month wore on, her
cheek grew pale and her step languid
She would sit for hours, her head resting
on her hand, while now and then tear.
stealing slowly through her slender fingers,
showed that her thoughts were sad. A
year-to Ellen Varnham long melancholy
year-had drawn TO a close. Leaving a
gay circle in her brothers parlor, she re.
tired TO her own room 10 weep in solitude
over the wreck which the past year had
made of her dearest hopes. So deep was
| her revere, that she was unconscious OF
| the presence of another, till a letter was
put into her hand. Mechanically she open.
ed it, but as she read, the warm color
mantled over her pale face, and her eyes
beamed through her tears with unwonted
brightness. "Who brought this letter :"
she demanded Of the girl, who stood ap.
parently waiting for an answer. "A gen.
tleman, ma'am, who said he would 81,
down in the library" In an instant Ellen
was clasped in the arms of Charles Ger.
maine. All was explained. After wander.
ing abou, the country for some months
dissatisfied and miserable, he came TO the
conclusion that he had acted rashly. Half
distracted at the thought of losing Ellen
through his own folly, he returned 10
Welby, where he learned that she had lief,
the village. Calling on Lucy for informa-
ton, she al once rendered all the atone.
ment in her power by confcsSing her guilt:
and the recital of her noble generous con.
duct of her cousin, only served TO increase
his anxiety to find her, and he had lost no
time in following her to her new home, and
confessnG how much he had been TO blame