The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-06-07

nc uooT opened SOlllE ana wei
known step entered the room. Starting
from her seat, she turned her back to the
light and haughtlly confronted the ntru-
der, for sudden revulsion had came ovel
her feelings. Shame crimsoned her cheeks
at the mere thought ;hat Hereford had
seen her weakness. Proud, proud Mary,
how much that naughty bosom wars.
with your peace! Hereford, who thought
in the hall he heard sob, started back at
the indignant Juno who now confronted
him, her checks burning, her bosom heav-
ing, her whole bearing indicative of haugh-
~ anger.
"Let me understand YOU" he said al
length, ralIying himself from his embar-
rassmcnt. Are you serious in saying
you will go :o>night.W
"To be sure | am, sir.'
"Then have nothing more to say"
"Very well, sir"
"Mary," said he, again looking back.
"Sup'
At that cold rcply-so naughty, so
singing to his prde-ilerelord felt his
proud cheek burn, and turning quickly on
his heel he strobe from the apartment.-
The next moment Mary heard the hall
door changing behind him.
in spite of her anger that sound struck
coldly to her bosom, for she knew how
high spirited Hereford was, and her heart
misgave her that she would never see him
again. She tried, however, to shake this
feeling of, and began humming a gay
tune. But it would not do, her voice
choked, her eyes filled with tears, and
leaning against the mantcl-piece she wept
uncomtrolIably.
As for Hereford, he left the house in a
whirl-wind of passion. Nothing, he
thoug t,could have been more CALLING than
Mary'5 manner, when she rejected his
last overture. He forgot that, after the
tone he had assumed, proud woman
like Mary, could not be expected to reply
otherwise to his almost imperious demand.
Never again, he resolved, would he
cross the threshold Of her house.
Bat time brought better reflections, and
when his anger had little cooled he saw
that Mary was not wholly to blame. ~
was hasIy and exacling," he said "She
will be sorry for what she said, and make
a ,ac!it apology by not going Tonight
Then tomorrow, will call on her and
all will be well.
Bat he lt;le knew how proud woman
can act. Even though her heart should
break, Mary resolved to go on the party,
for she loresaw that her remaining at
home would be considered by Hereford
an apology.
And she went. Mary Beaufort was on
lhat evening the gayest Of the gay. Her
smile was ever ready, her wit flashed
keenest. the ioyousness of her spirit seem
ed to defy all bounds.-Bu, little did her
fascinated listeners dream of the pent-up
agony within her heart. She might have
been compared to a ruin deCkcd in flow,
er#. OF midnight waters, glltteling on the
surface but dark within.
Hereford, when he head Of her going,
had no longer any doubt that her Injus,
lice was wanton and premcditaicd. His
returning soitness passed away. He re-
garded himself as triled with, and unwil>
ling to remain where his modification
would be the subject of remark, he left
lac ensuing day, without even word Of
explanation to Mary, on a long and Grill
Gus journey.
A proud heart may conquer its passion
if the object is unworthy or 1t has been
sighted without cause; but if its own
pcrversty has brought about the separa-
ton, sooner or later it will melt into ten
derness for the absent object. 1t was So
with Mary now. On hearing Of here
r'ford's departure, she resolved to cast him
forever from her heart; but IN few days
her purpose began to waver, for she re-
collected that he had not been wholly,
to blame, and so she gradually began 10
nourish wish and then hope that he
would return. "Surely,' she thought
che will not carry his anger to extremi-
ties.n But days elapsed and still he was
absent. She repented now that she had
gone on the party. She blamed herself
for her hasty words. for her self-wiIl, for
her indom,able pride. Still no Hereford
came. Weeks passed, and then months
Summer became autumn, and autumn
winter; and as the flowers dropped so did
Mary; for her pride was now completely
subdued, and she spent hours alone weep.
ing vain tears of regret over her lovers
absence.
Alength she fell sick. Her illness was
long. and for awhile her life was despair
ed of: but when almost at the gates Of
death favorable change occurred in hel
disease, and she gradually recovered
She arose from that sick bed different
being, lndomitable pride had been the
great fault of her character, but that was
now wholly eradicatcd. She had beer
purified in the furnace of affection, and M
one now was more gentle and loveablC
than Mary Her affection for Hereford