Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-03-02

WOulu nave Oeen cOnlcnleu Win inc
ingenious triumph Of piquing one low
er and not committing herself with an
other. Pearson, however, was provo
kingly cool. He seldom alluded to it,
and when he did, it was with smile,
as if he was rather amused than other
wise. Could he have the impotence
TO think that she preferred hun to his
rivals? GA to suppose that the chain was
intended for the person she said it was?
He might find himself mistaken after
all
On the present occasion he had sat
for full half an hour, talking about love
in the old style, and had not once men,
toned the chain, though she had shown
a wonderful industry, and had worn all
the air Of being absorbed in an intercs-
ting task. At last taking hold of it
careIessly, he said
so the chain comes on slowly | find
My friend Mordaunt must not be i'm
patient
your friend Mordaunt may be i'm
patient ifhe please, SIR said Mabel.
Patient OF impatient, he must wait
until | choose TO give it,
(Which will not be long, said Oil
yer, smiling, when we consider how
great favorite ne is to Miss Gray
But / confess that the matter puzzles
me; for if he be worthy Of having a
chain he is worthy of having it little
quicker Il does not seem altogether
a labor Of love. DECLARE said he ia
king hold of the chainagain and look
ing mischicvously at Mabel, i de-
clare ii seems exactly as if you only
worked on this when | am here.
Indeed, slrn said Mabel, coloring,
Il should rather say that you always
happen to be here when am working
on it. What has your presence to do
with my working?'
'0h, nothing Of course!' said Pear
son, 'yet it struck me as odd that al
ways fluid The happy Mordaunt's chain
of the precise length that | left it;
doubtless a mere coincidence! But my
dear Miss Gray continued he, this
testing conversation must serve pre-
limnary TO more serious communi-
cation which | have to make. Are
you willing to listen"
Quite willing! let us have your 'se-
rious communication by all MEANS
said Mabel, astonished at his abrupt
urn.
Pearson drew his chair nearer, Miss
Gray said he, could poor Mordaunt
know how many rivals he con,ended
with, and how many smiles and fayors
arc layishcd on others, would he es-
TEEN this chain az love token, though
presented by the fair hands of Mabel
Gray herself!'
'Mr. Mordaunt,' said Mabel, slight
y coloring, is the best judge OF his
,wn thoughts, and will esteem any
,ift of mine at its proper value. You
,ir, have no right 10 assume the char
lc,er of Mentor; and if | have given
you any encouragement, you must for
,ct the silly within Of the. moncnt'
4, is on this very subject that |
would speak to you,' said Pearson,
My sentiments toward you have been
90 long and remain too unchanged TO
DC doubted for one moment. was
hull enough once to imagine that you
owed me, and heaven knows with
what rapture / believed SO; but soon
others were smiled upon-Mabel Gray
became the idol Of few trillcrs-and
gradually found myself treated as
one Of the ,hrong. This | cannot
nay, will not-bcar. have now come
to resolution on the subject, and
firmly intend 10 act upon it,
~ very dreadful one" said Mabel,
smiling. Oh! do let me hear it.
that will astonish me, now.
and break the monotonous loyemak!ng
Of my other admirers
~ simple one sand Pearson; 'butI
ono that will set your GOODNESS at de-
fiancc, Mabel, have brought myself
by long course OF mental discipline,
10 the power OF dreaming asI please.
intend 10 dream every night that you
are the most truthlul-moSt alieclIon-
ate--most constant of your sex; that
you adore me more than any lady ever
adored a knight in the old romanccs;
that our days glide on in one delicious
stream Of uninterrupted love; and that
our mutual conduct is a pattern wor-
thy Of imitation by every couple in
the Kingdom