Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-04-28


doubts. Ely time was not yet completed
r In few days | started for Scotland a
gain; but this time [ had nothing to foar
: Kate had promised me to write continu-
ally, and had pledged me her word not
to forget me day in her absence.
That day twelvemonth, | returned to
London again. [ came little before the
time [ had mentioned, thinking to sur
prise them. 1t was on an afternoon in
November, just as it was growing dark,
that turned again into the old street.
4 There was no one passing through it, but
myself; looked up at the window where
[ had sat at my studies, and saw that
was dark, but at the library there was a
strong light upon the blinds, on the ground
floor-a light so unsteady, that | knew it
came from blazing fire-and | could hear
voices; though l tried in vain to distin-
guish kates. Lingering with that strange
irresolution with which we delay some
times to seize a pleasure within reach, I
even shrank into doorway opposite,
when | saw the great door open. could
see that it was Mr. Thaine who stood on
the threshold Hewaited there moment
and held out his hand, for fine snow
was beginning to fall then went in again
and shut the door | crossed the road
quickly; but as passed the iron railing,
| noticed some one in the enclosure. 1t
was a man, and he stood quite near to
the window of little room at the side of
the house, almost on level with the
ground. | had never seen any one in
this enclosure and to find man there,
at dark, in the winter-time, excited my
curiosity. l heard him tap upon the
glass; and moment after the window
was opened cautiously, then could hear
voices whispering indistinctly; till at last,
they grew louder and I could catch the
words. It was Kate's voice heard first:
[ knew it too well to have any doubts.
81 dare not stay here any longer, Hen
ry," she said. "My father would never
forgive me for not telling him of this, if
he knew my secret"
''No, no, Kate; you want to be gone"
said the man. "Iou hate ne. You haven't
a spark of love for me-"
"Indeed have" said Kate. II love
you dearly, in spite of all. Yon are
good soul. Kiss me y
could see her in the dusky shade Of
the wall, leaning forward from the little
window, while the stranger held her in
his arms, and kissed her. They stood
like this for few moments; and then
they parted and | heard the window
shut down. Drawing back, l saw the
stranger look through the ratings to see
if the street was clear; and then he elm
bed over the high spikes, and dropping
on the pavement, walked quickly away.
/ walked after him, determined to ask
him for confirmation of my suspicious !;
and, if found them true, to 90 away a.
gain without entering the house. He
quickened his pace, hearing me behind him:
but [ kept pace up with him till, having
accidentally turned up street which I
knew to have no outlet, he was compelled
to turn back and meet NE.
"Stay y said [. "a moment ago you
were in the garden of Chillingworth
House, May l ask what you were doing
there 2"
what busy body are you ~ he
asked, in tone so coarse, that | shud-
dered to think l had just heard Kate
confess her love for him.
al have great interest in knowing
this" said L. "You shall not leave me
till you tell me-"
"Do you threaten me ?" he asked in a
bullying tone ; but Immediately changing
his manner, he said, "But tell me who
you are; and why do you ask this"
at does not matter who | am," | an
swered. off you will tell me the truth,
| will keep your secret. Was it not as
the lover of Miss Thaine that you we're
there"
"I wouldn't stand to be bullied thus" :"
he said, ''if you did not hold me at an
advantage. l don't exactly want to be
caught brawling in this neighborhood."
"Answer my question" said [, seizing
him by the arm. ~ will not trouble you
again"
"Well, said he, don't mind owning
that it aoaS as her lover that was there,
But mind, you promised to hold your
tonge."
let 60 his arm at this; and he has
tened away, leaving me bewildered. |
scarcely needed this confirmation, after
what l had heard and now the letters
which had lately received from Kate
seemed to me to have been colder than
usual. But how could | have believed
that she could have loved such a man as
this; or that she would consent to see him
clandestinely? [ remembered how long
[ had forborne to tell her of my affection;
and blamed myself for not having seen
that she was unworthy Of my respect
[ had resolved not to enter the house any
more. | would go home back to Scot
land, abroad; anywhere, rather than meet