Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-01-24
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Yet could suffer Clara to depart Ir..
possible IwOuld that very day make my
declaration. S
But the day passed, and though / was Of.
ten alone with her, every time I opened nv
lips my heart beat 50 wildly that / could not
summongthe requisite courage.
Dinner over, walk was proposed. / Of;
fered Clara my arm, and We wandered forth.
into the meadows to enjoy the beauty Of anl
autumn evening. The ~witching hour Of
evening has always peculiar effect upon
me; and now, with tho lovely Clara leaning
on my arm, ayerting her melancholy face,
and scarcely breaking the silence except to
sigh, / felt ashamed ofSmy irresolution, and
resolved to propose I
1t was easier to resolve than to execute :
My heart fluttered so that l was afraid to
speak Accumulated nervousness made me
pcwerless We FambItd on, The last tinas
from the declining sun had faded away in
the distant sky-the harvest moon was rising
full and brilliant--and Col Grant suggested
the propriety ofour. return before TIE word
had risen to my lips .
They are going<home," said Clara timid
IL, =
Il could rambIe thus all night, I-von-
|tpred tP reply
\ There was pause +,
!" | hope it will be fine tomorrow she,
said
!" Soido l., Sassmy answer; then feeling
that it was very feeble sort of a reply, j
added, L. And this is the last evening we
aie-t9 have you We will miss you terri
bly, z
She1said nothing
We walked on few yards, and said-s-
Are you sorry to leave England2a
/" Nd | am an orphan. l ave few friends,
and no one to regret me- :.
!" Do notch 4do not say shat, Miss Law!
renceP | impetuously exclaimed, and then,
blushipg, | stopped suddenly
u. ! felt her arm tremble within mine, and
heard d low sigh escape her, / trembled,
also. | expected her to spcak-to say some
thing which should encourage me to procsed
-butfshe was silent; and We reached home
before the word had passed my lips Up
bralding myself for my timidity, | deter
mined that at tea | would. declare myself
Il would whisper it to her at the piano
The Fates had willed it otherwise Clara
was not present at tea She was net we'll,
aud had retired to her own room Next
morning she was gone
Tho state of dependency into which Hell
at her absence, was truly pitiable. Mrs
Grant was excessively cold in her manner
towards me, and also thought the Gtl9nel
changed. But was too unhappy to pay
MUCK attention to these things. was per
fectly miserables and neglected my flute
s'What makes you so melancholy ~ asked
Mrs Grant one afternoon
!" Am I melancholy % I replied, with an
affectatidn Of joyiality. i" I suppose its be,
cause I'm poeticalp
More likely because you are PROUD +
\. sProud ~
:, t lat can you mean2"
"I mean, Mr. Meek, that you have tam
perqd with the feelings Of an excellent girl
that you have lost an estinlable prize, and
YOU know it-lost it cut of pride DO mol
pretend amazqment You know you Wor
Claras love, and yet allowed her to deSart
without word from you And why BE
cause she is poor
4 Indeed, Mrs. Grant, you mistake me
I have not triAed With her feelings / love
her; indeed i do, upon my honor Il was
only doubts Of her love
Mrs Grantsshook her head incredulously.
4 Mrs. Grant j give you ny word, as a
gentleman, it is So"
I You are willing to marry herr"
Tomorrow
4 Then lose no timcl Quick to London,
qyfck Lady Eastwood mast still be in
london Gosand plead your own cause,
and my word for it you viii make Clara the
happiest Of women"
That very night | was in London
After caEeful toilet | went to Portman
Square, where lived Lady Dashwood but
as came up to the door / began to hest
tate; surely it was not proper to call at this
hour would call to.morrbw forenoon.
ION the morrow l was in Portman Square
BIZ eleven o'clock The sight of some gen
tlemau looking out at the parlor window
made me SO nervous that Instead Of knock
Jig at the door walked past. About an
hour afterwards returned. when TO my dis
gust j found footinan loungng at the open
door What can these insolcnt fellows do,
always loupging on the door steps2 could
not face that 1unky, so walked away again.
I / determined to write The whole Of the
next day was consumed ii writing and in
tearing up what / wrote Skilful as / am
with my pen, could not on that occasion
please myself 50 resolved to give up the
plan and to see Clara myself, and open my
heart to her in the buraing eloqueneet Of
words
called next day The house was shut
PIP a bill was in the window Lsdy Dash
wood had gone abroad
4 Icame home and sobbeH like a child
To this day / am bachelor