Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-25

to conceali'' 6' "in tn
. some months had passed this way, when. op,
, IsVehing as she was retiring with the children \
'helr usual time, Mr., Grant said:
you return to the parlor, Miss Mason
lWheh you are at leisure2 | wish a few moment,
conversation with yoa"
Startled at the request she merely bo,oed a,
assent; and after seeing her little cLsres ~ ~
returned with trembling limbs 10 the narlor
where Mr.. Grant awaited her. As She erterl
ea ne e2sze t5SSaSe 80 meet her. ana led l,er 10
the sofa. '-'''' 80 ''ei y =
ded you?'' nay onen-
"Ofended me, Mr. Grant, o mol WIN
shodld you think that you had offended tnep,,
= have faneied that you were less frank and
oordiai IN your manner, Ella, for some time ~
Oh have not talked tor so much nor So free.
~ as you once did, and | feared that haA
Enew not how, grieved or panied you. II so,
70 . Never at any time or in any way, Mr. Grant
u iau gwen you cause to think so, it Is who
Should ask your forgiveness. have been duIl
perhaps Tor am not altogether well, and, for
.he Irst ume IN myiite, am somewhat nervous;
OUT olense inyour house | never had cause for,
and, do assure you, never thought Of"
SIT is well, . he said musingly. 81 am glad It
isso." ~
And silence Of some moments ensued. which
to Ella seemed interminable, vet which She did
not dare to break. At length Mr.. Grant rose
ana commenced walking the room; and, gather
ing courage, she too, left her seat saving:
III you have nothing more 10 say to me, will
retlre''
No, Ella, sit down again. I have much TO
say to you-Inuch which scarcely know how
to begin" Then taking her hand in his. as she
stlll STOOD where his words had arrested her. he
said, "Let me come to the point at once. You,
have long been as mother to my children; Ella
will you be my wife,"
lie paused; but Ella could not answer; her
heart throbbed so that she could not speak, and
she sank upon the sofa and covered her face
with her hands. He sat down beside her and
gently stroye TO soothe her agitation.
at is but little while Ella" he said. sssince
i deemed it impossible To love ery-.y,,t
ted Anna. AT the time when you spoke of leay-
ing us, was indi gnant at the idea of another
ever taking her place. Even now it is but a
first place in widowed heart that can offer
you; one that will never lose the memory of his
early love. Yet love you fondly Ellai better
than aught else on earth, and if you will be
mine will strive earnestly to make you happv.n
Still, Ella was silent; and when he spoke again
his voice exhibited much emotion:
81 fear have panied you," he said; 81 ought
TO have remembered that you were still too
young to give your hearts first warmth of love /
to one who has SO little to give you in exchange |
Forgive me Ella. If you cannot love me- at |
least forgive my folly. will leave you now,'' /
he continued.
''Stay" she murmered; but so family, that. /
in his agitation, he did not hear it, and had left
ed Hon, H. 4
more clearly, "stay, imploTe you. If hesi- l.
tated, she continued, rapidly, as he returned. !
his usually calm countenance much agtated- [
''lf hesitated, it was from no doubt of my own
feelings, but of yours. Do you, indeed, love |,
me?"
"Doyou doubt it?'' he replied, almost indig- /
nantly. "Why should profess love did not !
feel? Do you think l would deceive you Eh- ]
la?"
"No! o no! am sure you would not! And /
yet | cannot realize-it seems like dream |;
that you should love me-" She pressed her
hand over her eyes for moment and then pla-
cling her hand in his with something of child |
like confidence of former days, she said, though .
her tones were low and tremulous, ''BIr. Grant, |
the least and lowest place in your heart is more |,
valuable to me than the undivided love of anoth- |
err
ella! dear Ellal' he said, as, overpowered
by this simple acknowledgment, he clasped
her in his arms, ''as mnch as | can no@ love
anything on esstl love you. You will be mine
then, EI'al | am no longer alone.."
No answering words were needed now; for,
in that hour of joy, spirit communed with spirit
and each felt how deeply and sincerely the 9TH
er loved.
ella" said Aunt Hetty, with quiet smile. s
after the first congratulations were over, aud
when the bgidal party having somewhat subsi- |.
led, she and her neice were conversing little
apart, George Sydney was married again last
week"
81 am glad to hear it," replied Mrs, Grant
smiling and blushing as she met her aunt's
significant look, and recollected her own words
N relation TO second marriages. IL hope he {
nay be very happy
Happy! But are you not sorry for his wife? I
Is not second marriage always matter either
1f calculation OF convenience? Must not every
spark OF romance or freshness Of feeling be ex- /
-inguished before such thing can be thought h
#? Does net heart safaire.S-n H
"Aunt Hettyl Aunt Hetty" interrupted her
neice, in some confusion, spray do not bring up
all the nonsense of my girlhood against me, |.
was very silly then. ;"
Sand have grown wiser new, under the aus
pices of Mr.. Grant. All, Ella, was not a true
prophecies, dearl''
$40 some extent you were, dear aunt. + I
have given my whole heart in exchange for a /
second love, and am more than satisfied; but /
there are Very Few men like Mr.. Grant, and |
please do not tell him how foolish used ia
be.S'
Whether YOU are playing on the stage or the !
world, Your character should be weii dressed. !
f.,od lrcaIcl,Nb = ........1