Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-07-23
VOLUME 13-.-.NUABER A.

was approaching.
ale has come to confirm his engagement"
thought she, 'or perhaps even TO claim his briIe.'
And at the thought she made strong effort with
herself, and before he had actually reached her
she was able to speak with tolerable composure,
and she was determined not to permit herself
again to be deprived Of her sefcommand, even
though the fine expressive eyes on which she
had so often gazed with delighted admiration,
seemed literally TO dance with Joy.
"How long have you been at the Springsl
asked she, after the first salulalions were over,
and he had told her that he had only been a very
short time in the country.
81 have only this moment arrived" /" replied
he, "and came directly to meet YOU"
"Then you have seen mamma" she returned,
in an inquirlng tone.
''No! have not spoken TO creature, except
one gentleman, with whom am acquainted, and
who told me where should find YOU"
And, as he spoke, he turned to walk with her
and drew her hand, (Which he had still! held,
Notwithstanding she had made several attempts
to withdraw it,) under his arm. This, however,
Maria could not submit 10, and drawing it gently
away, but anxious, while she did so, that it should
not have any appearance of being done from a
feeling of pique or ill.humor, she said, in as
cheerful a voice as she could assume
"Three years residence in a warm climate
does not appear TO have any deeterous effects
on your constitution, for never saw you looking
better than you are doing at present."
"The bright sparkling expression Of Swim
burns counlenance was in an instant changed TO
one of extreme seriousness and anxiety, and,
without seeming even TO have heard what she
had sad he exclaimed
"Maria! whv is this? You used to be in the
habit Of taking my arm when we walked in the
codnlry. There surely, then, cannot be any OBJ
lection 10 your taking it nowl"
circumstances are different now," returned
Maria, with forced smile.
"How different Oh, Maria, is it possible
that what have been told is true!"
81 know not what you have been told--but
know that it is not likely that Olivia Mein would
be very comfortable at seeing you and me walk
ing arm in arm together"
"Olivia Mein! What has Olivia Mein to do
with met" exclaimed the youngman in astonish-
ment. 81 am not accountable TO her for what
company walk with"
"Wilam," said Maria, with look Of great
ngenuousness, 81 am not in the habit of dealing
in mysteries, and SHALL therefore, treat you with
the frankness that think deserve from you in
return. Tell me, then, if correspondence has
not existed between you and her within the last
yearl"
"She wrote one letter to me, and wrote one
to her-that is all the correspondence that has
taken place."
"But your letter contained a declaration of
| love-"
at did so. or love pure, glowing and sim
cere" replied the young man, whose mind SEEM
ed at once to have penetrated the veil. "Bui
of love TO whom}' he asked with smile-"or
love for Maria Darnley. She, the only being
have ever loved!'
"But was not that a curious subject to write to
her upon!" asked Mara still at loss TO under
stand the real state ofthe case.
"You shall know all, my Maria," returned the
lover, "(or though it is subject that should
never have thought Of speaking of, but in sel.de-
fence, have no notion Of letting a shadow of
doubt remain on your mind out ofdelicacy to one
who has shown so little respect for herself.
last year received letter from Olivia, which she
said she had written as her mothers substitute,
who was unable at that time, in consequence of
a sore finger, 10 hold pen; and requesting me
10 make some inquiries about gentleman, u re-
lative Of her mothers; and also begging would
send two card-cases, one for each of her daugh-
ters. But although Olivia commenced by say
| ing she wrote merely as her mothers amanuen-
sis, she soon lost sight of that character, and af-
ter giving me good deal Of news, there was
passage that can give you by rote, for have
read it too o(ten and studied it too anxously,
not TO know It word for word. 1T has been re-
ported for some time that your old friend-(and
there was dash under the word old)-is going
to be married; but did not believe it, till few
days ago, when Charlotte went 10 call upon her,
(for we have always tried to pay her every at
tention in our power,) and found her busy pre-.
pairing some much gayer clothes than she is in
the habit of wearing. On Charlott's making
some remark about them, she said, with half
laugh, that she was preparing for a great occa-
sion, Charlotte, in her blunt way, asked her
what it was, when Maria replied 1T is a sort of
secret at present, but you will soon hear of it,
when it takes place.
"This looked so much like confirmation Of
the report" continued Swinburn, "that | ac-
knowledge it made me very unhappy, and would
have made me more so, if it had not been for
the concluding part Of the letter, which was of so
extraordinary character, that, although do
not believe that am particularly prone to van-
Ity, could not but consider it 10 convey some
very pointed insinuations. Determined, there
fore, whether you were married or single, that
no uncertainty should remain on her mind with
respect to my feelings, wrote to her. and told
her how my affections had always been engaged,
and how | was persuaded they would ever re-
main as long as lived. How she could, from
this, contrive TO propagate report that | had
made declaration of love 10 her, leave to her.
self TO explain, and shall certainly call upon her
to do 500
"Oh, mol" said Maria, "let me beg Of you to
ct the matter drop. am perfectly satisfied, |