Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-12-07

In the meantime Lord Temple had opened
the letter read it, and attributed its profes-
sions of fidelity to the discovery that he was
Lord Edgzr. and not .Mr. Edgar The
doubt of which till now he had given Bertha
the benefit, vas now clearly against her. II
grated painfully upon the refined sensibilities
of such man. that so young and beautiful a
girl should display such matronly craft, and
that she should pretend to address him as
dear Mr.. Edgar The whole thing was evil
IDENTIFY got mp. Ineffably disguised, he felt
that his affair with Bertha was now utterly at
an end. Why should he trouble her for an
interview No; he would not
As Bsrtha Vas descending to ne Craving
room, Lord Edgar was descending to the han;
and just as our heroine entered the drawing
room his lordship wandered in the garden.
What did all this meant Bertha rang for
her maid The maid was equally puzzled =
Passing rapidly from one thought to another,
Bertha's mind at last turned to the letter.
+" You are certain you gave it to him yester-
day." she said. 'sIf you failed you have ru-
ined mew
"Oh, certain, miss" responded the maid,
with most determined resolution to stick to
it.
But Just then Bertha's eye fell on some
scraps of paper, which were strewed upon the
ground The suspicion flashed across her
mind that these we're the fragments of her let
ter, and that it had not been delivered yester-
day Her own handwriting soon convinced
her of the former fact. Turning to her maid
with firm look that alarmed her the more
from the deathlike paleness of her face she
said, '' You did not deliver it yesterday"
mop responded the maid, after pause,
and trembling in every limb, whilst Bertha
slowly reascended to her chamber, but shortly
afterwards descended to the garden.
1t was not without pain that Edgar came to
the conclusion that Bertha was calculating and
selfish, like the rest of the world. The one
hope which had bound him to society was
broken, and he felt inclined to abjure that
faith in high things which had so ennobled
his character. Rain was beginning to fall,
and be entered one of the &rbors in the gar
den, and contemplated the beautiful shrubs
and flowers by which he was surrounded
There was no one near him, and he exclaim-
ed " Nature, thou alone art true true in
beauty, true in fidelity TO your destiny. is
summer, and you wear the livery of joy.
bright, shining. smiling filing the eye with
beauty, the heart with gladness. Winter
to it-ever faithful to the marriage vow which
has bound you to the revolving year Man
alone is false; woman, beautiful and falseI''
As he looked out upon the scene bis mind
was SO deeply absorbed with these thoughts,
that he did not hear the footsteps that ap-
preached. They paused. came on again lit
tie, paused again. He heard them not
Again they came on, and some one entered
Tba ir,or hrrf
Lord Temple wished to be alone. He rose
and stepped forth.
Good Heavens! what voice was that? Who
was it pronounced his name, in a tone so low
and so sweet, that it seemed to touch his very
heart? He turned The lady had risen and
was standing before him, she raised her veil
a little and he beheld Bertha, her face pale,
and her lips quivering with emotion. In
wonder he rushed back to her.
Miss Fitzsimon," he said softly, when
she had sat down again, - what does this
mean? OF do I meet you again by accidentY"
No." she replied, recovering herself after
a while, and loosiHg her hand from his, % I
have followed you; came on purpose You
have received letter from me"
ssI have to acknowledge that honor" re-
turned Edgar, coldly-the very thought of
the letter chilling him in an instant.
Bertha remarked the change. She could
no longer control her feelings
"You have wrongrd me p she exclaimed
bursting into tears.
s.Wronged you, Miss Fitzsimon; believe,
on he contrary, that have to complain"
'sYou believe, them" she continued, calm
ing herself, '.that have condescended out of
a Difference to your rank, to pretend part /
had not played; to pre-date letter in order
to represent myself in different light from
that in which you viewed me. and that sup
ported this 70, gerry by addressing you in your
feigned name, when had become aware of
your real one. No. have not done that. I
wrote upon the instant, stung with shame at
the ingratitude with which your friendship in
less prosperous hours was repaid. My ser
want betrayed me. She failed to deliver that
letter until after your true position had been
revealed to u.s."
"Good Heaven" exclaimed Lord Tenn
pie
81 do not ask you to believe me-" replied
Bertha, with mixed expression of pride and
scorn "Nor have followed you with any
other aim than this-to free myself from an
inputation under which could not live
You'll pardon my boldness, my lord. Per-
haps have the greater right to your consid-
Grafton, since it might have been expected
that you would have sought shis explanation.
not l." She rose to depart, but Edgar de-
tanned her ssYou are not less gentleman,
trust, said she, proudly, ethan when you
appeared nothing more than one. Let my
hand go, and suffer me to depart
But oh, Bertha is this all is nothing
more to be said p
Nothing" she replied, emphatically.