Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-06-28


Yes. said Smitbers, but | didn't believe
you I thought you we're only endeavoring to
lull my suspicion 10 order to throw me off my
guard, and n supplaut me-
And said Desborough. which sister did
you consider my favoriteT
'Oh, that I couldn't discover said Smith
ers, i should have been jealous of you though
with either? for at that time | hadn't made
up my mind; but, now that | have, | must
lose nc time. If you are coming part Of my
way, | shall be glad of your company aud
depend upon it. I win not forget to send you
some bride cake
Accordingly they left the house together.
and parting at some distance from the house
Of Mrs Lincoln. Smithers repaired thither at
once, and knocked a knock that eyincsd his
usual confidence, with some small alloy Of
trepidation.
Now it SO happened that everything was
arranged most properly for the occasion of
bis visit, Mrs. Lincoln had gone out ; Mary
was painting an oil picture in tie breakfast
parlor; and Sophia was practising the piano
forte in the drawing room. Mr.. Smithors
entered the first apartment in bis wonted and
familiar manner, and, preventing Mary fiom
calling her sister, seated her in a chair, took
another close beside her. and commenced pro-
ceedings in the following manner
MY dear Miss Lincoln, Ihave that TO say,
to you. the purport Of which you may proba-
bly, know. My constant aud devoted atten-
tons could hardly be misinterpreted. / de-
clare that | love you, and beseech that your
words may give me hope
Indeed. Mr.. Smithers,' said Mary smiling,
!, did not interpret SO exactly as you suppose,
! considered your attentions pretty equally
divided between Sophia and myself. Had !
suspected they were intended wholly for me.
| should at once have told you snch inten-
lions we're vain
In vain, Miss Lincoln 2 exclaimed Smith
ers, flushing with a feeling between shame
and anger.
Perfectly sol said Mary. "As a friend,
and particularly as a friend Of Edward Des-
borough, | esteem you but lone you, | feel
| never can
i thank you Miss Lincoln for your can
dor, said Smithers. You are certainly not
prone to delude with false hopes; others,
perhaps, may not be SO obdurate-and once
gone, mind, ] am gone forever Allow me
to wish you a good morning
He quilted the breakfast -parlor, and re-
paired full of rage and disappointment straight
to the drawing-room, from which had issued
during the whole of the preceding interview,
the rumbliug and tinkling Of the piano-forte.
He resolved to propose at once to Sophia
the charming, bright-eyed Sophia-in every
superior to her naughty, deceitful sis
ter, and to crafty by one bold stroke, his
and revenge.
He drew his chair to Ter side, very much
in the same style as at the commencement of
interview the first, and Diminishing from his
countcnauce all appearance Of chagrin, put on
an expression of sentiment His late open
ing speech had been conned on his way to
the house, and as he certainly had not aDtici-
pated the possibility ~ofrcquiring such a speech
to two different persons on the same morn
ing, he resolved that it should dc duty on the
occasion likewise.
MY dear Miss Sophia Lincoln said be,
4 have that to say, to you, the purport Of
which you may probably know. My constant
and devoted attentions could hardly be mis-
interpreted. declare that ! love you, and
beseech that your words may give me hope
1t was a strange and startling fact. that no
sooner had Smithers addressed Sophia thus
IN the very same words he had just used to
her sister, than Sophia replied in very nearly
the same words in which her sister replied
Pardon me. Mr.. Smithers. said she, your
attentions were not. indeed, to be interpreted
SO easily. They seemed divided with toler.
able impartiality between my sister and my
self, and to her | suspected them directed
Had believed that l was their object, |
should have underworld to bring about an
eclairissment, that ] might tell you tho
truth
And that 2 faltered Smithers.
And that, Mr.. Smitbers.' said Sophia, lis
that wish to look on you only as a friend.
but that to love you is not in my power
Then have been prettily fooled between
you and your sister, exclaimed Smithers,
considerably excited. You have encouraged
me only to laugh at me-
Sophia appeared somewhat shocked at this
charge, but replied gently -
For myself. and for my sister. too. l can
deny such an accusation. If you had rem
dered your motives more marked before, you