M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-06-01

room worn more happy. homelike char.
actet My father read the ne wspa per a t
ease IN his ample chair, my handsome,
Lively aunt perpetually interrupting lin
witNfrelevant remarks. | sat near the
tea able, for a certain hour had been
fixed and we waited for our guest be
fore I've began our favorite meal. had
a book, to hide the changes Of my coun.
,ensAlse. Had | doubted my cousins
love De fore, | should have doubted il no
longer; how earnestly and searchingly
he looked at mellow grave and sad he
appeared
TAesnock came. 1t was natural |
shousEstart; but IL was hard TO smffe
naturally at my aunt's pleasant railery.
Mf. Lacy came in. He was one whose
self governed, serene manner precludes
Halter or embarrassment ia Others. The
gentle lriendness of his greeting re as
sured me for the moment under il |
could hardly imagine the strong, pas
slonate current to exist that sometimes
broke its bounds. Z,
The evening passed smoothly and
presently to all externals. Mr.. Lacy
was very grave, but taen il was to be
expected OF the sou who had Just lei
his fathers death bed, and aunt's AMI.
mated tongue filled ~ the intervals
when conyerSatiOn would have tagged
Frank aud sang toge ther at my fathers
request, Tor feared to appear unwilling;
besides, it precuded the necessity of
my exerting myself to talk. Frank was
very serious, and, thought, averse to
singing with me, but at the same time
he had never sung 10 greater advantage.
The ordeal was over at last. Mr..
Lacy took his leave, without anything
IN his manner to make me fear. or hope
that my secret was discovered. A wee k
passed; he was constantly with US,
showing me the same tenderness as ever,
somewhat graver, but certainly more
gentle, He seemed, too, to make a
point Of seeking Franks society, and
spoke Of him in high term TO nv father.
Oh what a heavy heart carried during
that period Looking in my glass /
thought with wonder at the change SIX
months can work in mind and body
AT the end of those seven days, | came
to resolution that nerved me with
something like strength. thought |
would seek direct interview with Mr..
Lacy, tell him the whole truth, and
throw myself on his generosity, Let
him but release me from an engagement
that became every hour more lntolera
Bile to contemplate, and | woud con
seat ini-eEter no other. Let him but
free me, and would live unmarried for
ever-yea, though | must take labor and
poverty as companions.
1t was the very evening of the day
had come to This decision, that chanc
ed to meet Mr.. Lacy on the stairs, at the
hour of his usual arrival. Here was the
desired opportunity, but trembled to
avail myself of it. He forestalIed me
Give me quarter of an hour alone,
Constance, in the library said he. Il
have wished to have few private
words for days.
We went in he placed me in a chair
near the fire, and closed the door careful
ly, then came up to me, standing before
me as he spoke:
This day six months ago, Constance,
made a promise | am going to redee III,
If you are not happy, | said, | will free
you from the engagement you made 10
me. You are not happy suspected
the truth from your letters when away
and | saw it cor hfirmed the first night
of my arrival. The expression of your
face, The tone Of your voice, when you
spoke toyour cousin, would have set the
strongest doubts at rest, killed the most
pertinacious hope He paused mo.
ment, and then went on as calmly as be
fore Il acquit you of all blame, Mil.
drec it was that acted the un worthy
part, taking unmanly ad vantages of my
power 10 help your father and your un.
tried child'S heart If | were not now
the only sufferer, | could scarcely beal
the retrospect; but | am, thank God =
As tor your father, our fears magni!ieC
his danger; the little help was able tt
give, has re-eStabiiShed his position a;
iirmly as before. He will repay me
you owe me nothing. have had a
wild dream, but am awake at last
awake enough to see that it was d fool
idea that man like me could win Q
young girl's heart
He was calm no longer but he turn
ed abruptly away 10 hide his emotion
Mr.. Lacy cried, striving to stin,
the conflict Of my love, Il would fair
do right. have deep esteem for yol
i | broke off. Give me little
time, | added. passionately renewin,
the effort; shall conquer this love o
mine-l vii! become worthy of you af
ter all =
Conquer the purest feelings OF wo
mans heart! Offer yourself sa critic,
to my selfshness No, no, Constance
yours is the seaSun of blessedness--min
is already past. Presently | will come
back to you in my old character. ana b
able to say with less difficulty than d,
tonight, God bless you BOTH vii
kiss you for the last time
He casped me in his arms, and kiss
ed me, seemingly with more earnestnes
than passion, but il was the very dept
of passion. As the door closed upon hin
strong impulse seized me. onge
to call him back. Was it true did no
love him ?
saw acne of my family that even