The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-23

ed-does 1T concern me personality
"You will see when We reach Welgate"
How tantalizing am growing very in
quisitive; but ! suppose it will do no good to
ask any questions You have become 70 virtu-
ously discreet"
The seventeen miles were very long 10 Grace
she converted very much at random with her
cavalier, her thoughts being occupied with
speculations as TO the probable cause Of their
journey she was unable, however to form any
satisfactory conjecturcs and was still engaged
in meditation, when they drove into tho little
town of Welgate, and stopped at the principal
hotol.
The ladies were Immediately shown by the
attentive landlord into the small paror on the
left hand side Of the hall, and left 10 amuse
themselves for time as best they might Tho
room offered about as much to delight the eye
and tho imagination rs such apartments gen
orally do. The walls were hung with maps
and Autographs of the Presidents Madison,
with checks of delicate pink John Quncy
Adams well fed and good natured Jackson,
with that startling energy of aspect which
charactorlZes bls pOrtraits--over all, the mas
sive faco and dccp-sct cyes of Washington. A
pitcher filled with hiacs and snow balls, stood
in the open fireplace; u hard sofa, studded
with innuperable brass-headed nails, orns-
mented the recess at the end of the mantel and
window curtains of green paper shed CHASTITY
light on all around
Grace threw herself on tho sofa with an ex-
clamati0n Of wearinoss Fanny walked to the
glass, and surveyed her little person for mo-
meut, but the effect of tho green curtains was
such that she turned away in disgust an OK
animation Of the maps and tho Presidents was
next accomplished.
How much energy you have after our long
drlve!" said Grace now that you have made
the tour Of the room, You had better ait down
and rest awhilcn
"A drive of twenty miles is nothing to me"
replied Fanny; 81 feol quite vigorous yet-far
too much 10 TO enjoy sitting on that rigid old
sofa. | wonder what cabinetmaker anon 2
the Spartans invented the pattern of it But
how little strength you have, Grace; am
afraid you will not DO able to bear the exotic
nent of hearing my important secret"
Oh yes, shall, she replied, quickly
dear Fanny, do not keep mo any longer in
suspense. ! know it IL something that relates
10 meo
| "You are right. If you have strength to
undergo the shock we will PROCEED at once to
business. 1t will be as well, though, TO call in
Charles and Fred if can find them"
She stepped into the hall, closing tho door
AFTER her
Half an hour passed, and Grace was still sit
ting on the hard sofa but the look of weari-
ness had vanished from her features, and her
eyes, bcaming with joy, were raised to tho thcc
of Henry Seymour. Her hand was clasped in
HIS and he was speaking in an earnest tone.
| reproaohed you, Grace ] thought you
yielded very readily TO your fathers wishes
and now find that you never received one OF
all my letters"
Not one" she answered and something
| like rage came over her. ut the thought OF all
she had suffered from her lovers silence.
"You zee how it is said Seymour "you
400 how bitterly opposed your father il to mo
How can you ask, Grace, that should 60, and
leave you in such kecping-in tho hands Of
those who will do AL in their power to make
you hate me, and who deny me even the poor
consolation of writing to you! ] cannot do it
dare not" And he went on to paint with al
the eloquence of passion, his fears lest she, s,
beautiful and admired would fail in constancy
when no was far away, with nothing TO recall
him to her mind he dwelt on her influence,
over him, on the energy with which, inspire,
by the certainty that she would be his at last
, he would combat and conquer fortune he spok
OF her fathers harshncss and determination +
sacrifice her affection to his own prcjudices
and at the words spirit Of defiance awoko il
r Grace
When, Mt last, he proposed secret marriage
it did not need nil the good reasons that h
urged to reconcile her to tho measure /
seemed 10 her excited Imagination, only fiji
ting repayal of hor fathers treatment only
spirited declaration that she was no longer Il
be ruled like a mere child, that had not sense
or discretion sufficient to regulate her own con.
duct If, for moment she hesitated, it was
not from horror at the deception and the diso-
bodience, but from the fear Of discovery
Fanny and her brother" she said "and
Mr. Fenton-can we rely on them"
Perfectly Fanny is u dear, good girl, and
would do anything for you. In fact led her
to expect something of the kind when we ar
ranged this meeting. The others are honor
able, manly fellows who will never betray us.
There is not the slightest risk you can go on
| with your journey, and will proceed direct to
n. Once there, Grace with what courage
| shall begin my new career; nothing will be
too difficult too sclfdcnying for me and long
before the time your father named s over,
hope to be able to claim you in the face Of the
whole world, if need be-"
A gentle tap was now heard ut the door, and
| Miss Allward entered
"Come, Fanny" said Seymour "joip your
ontreaties to mine, and persuade this timid
| girl to do what is best for her own happiness
SO Grace yielded; Charles Allward was sent
in haste for clergyman and before she had
fairly recovered from the surprise of meeting
her lover, tho ceremony was performed, and
her fate sealed forever.
A brief hour, md they parted, full Of hope
| and love. For thc present, Grace was happy
the time of repentance and relnorse WAS yet far
distant.
The little pleasure trip ended and she re-
turned home, gay and animated rs Of old. Her
parents hailed the change with delight No
suspicion Of tho cruel wrong that had been
done them, crossed their minds they saw only
that their child was happy, and rcjoiosd with
her.
Grace heard often from her husband; his
letters came under cover TO Charles Allward,
through whom sho replied they were full Of
love and devotion, and longings for the happy
time Of reunion. He was not very explicit, TO
be sure, m TO when that time w1 expected IN
arrive. Even Grace, much as she delighted in
his expressions Of tenderness, sometimes wished
that he would descend IN matters more COM
monplacs and practical and state how his
business prospcrod and how soon thcy might
reasonably look 10 have their marriage known
She hintod something Of tho kind in her ro-
plies; but Mr.. Seymour did not notice it. A
true statement Of his affairs would have been
rather dsooursging His feelings toward
Grace had altered materially when the ardor
Of pursuit was over, and it was certain that he
could claim her whenever he saw fit to do NO.
lilo did not regret their marriage, or ooasc to
love her but he thought there was no necd Of
haste about the matter. The new career Of
industry aud prudence proved dstasteful, and
was soon abandoned the Office WAS left in
charge Of his clerk, while he lounged up and
down the fashionable promenade or drove his