The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-07-14

at the old place. Every one seemeh sat
is6ed with the disposition OF The pfopeT-
" except Ellen, who had now grown into
a woman Of extraordinary beauty. lhad
not seen her before for five years, and j
was surprised al the spleudor of her ap-
pcarance, even in deep mourning. Ste
phen was unchanged. He did not lopk
an hour older or younger than when
first saw him. Bu, the death Of his grand
mother, having left him master The
place, had opened a new phase ~ his
character. He grew suddenly lagghly,
reserved, ard distant in hia iresimsEt oi
myself; and had scarcely 6nislledFoad-
ing the will, before Ne intima'ed, in the
broadcast manner, that my presence would
be no longer necessary,and retired with
out exchanging any words on the sub
jeci.
had not reached the outer door when
Miss Debray overlook me, and begged
mo to step into small reception room
with her.
II beg your pardon, Sir" said she, "Pr
stopping you, but my molAssF aud myself
need advice at this fimesm,
81 assure you,my dear young ladSthhi
no one can be more happy 10 give il tr
with more sincere wishes for youf wel>
fare"
81 am certain Of il, Sir: My grand
mother had always great confderce ln
you. She bnde me apply to you 1s' ap
times. | must be frank wilh'you, and tel
you what you may mol have known hlth-
erto. From my earies, childhood have
been dependent on my grandmotiler,and
have lived in her house, with my mother
and my cousin Stephen. Stephen is NOT
whai you take him TO be-"
| interrupted her by smile. She pnus'
ed, and continued:
"Yon smile; perhaps lsm wrong, =.
You lawyers have grea, opportunities TO
study faces and characters. Bn', Sifs il
you have thought, Stephen yHuiiiu slqp
any other than an accomplished daceivcr,
you have erred"
81 never thought him other than that" "
"Why sol How did you learn fha,i"
"Fivs years ago, when first saw you :.
and he took a ruse from the basket you
had ga!hered for your grandmoilreE. |
think saw through hlm then"
"You did; you did. |, is just that !
wan, now to speak Of, and am unable
TO tell ro>day whether Stephen hates or
loves ne most, His love is more to be
abhorred than his hate; for his love is sci.
fsh--wholly so. But my mother he has
hated with intense hate from his child
hood. She whipped him once. He new
er forgave it, She fears Him now, poor
mother! But | do not fear him for my
self; il ia only for my mother. He will
wrong her out Of every far'hing Of her
propeuy,if he can. He would murder
her il he dared. You hive no idea OF
his fendish natufe. Now, Sir, will. You
take care iha, mother receives the lega-
cy from grandma, and then size will be
comfortable, even il my property prove
worthless"
"Yours, Miss Debray? Your property
is large andyaluable; you can never know
want"
81 don't know, Sir; am poorly versed
in these matters. My life for some years
has been made up Of fear Of Stephen, and
love for mother, and-and- :"
"Bo frank, Miss Debray. There is an.
other party in interest Never mind his
name"
"You are kind, Slr-,here is; but Ste
phen has often hinied that, unless mar
~ him, will find myself poor. wish
| knew his reasons"
II, was merely to frighten you. !
drew the deed of trus, myself, f,and think
the property, as pointed out TO me by
your grandmother, must be worth n, least
a quarter Of million. The city is grows
ing all around it,"
$50 I have heard often. But I fear"
"Ellen, Ellen!'a a voice called in the
entry. rose aud passed our. Mrs.Dc-
bray and S!ephen were coming in. Tho
former said, II am glad TO have met you.
sir. Stay moment. Miss Debtay, this
your cousin, has selected this
day to make certainly ill,rned proposals
ror your hand. would have preferred
=