True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-02
:. . g GQeeklg yonrIrtnal,
together, and went to read the papers to

her uncle, her regular evening task. =
So it began, and so evening after eve
ming it continued, Laura was obliged to
devote two or three hours to her uncle,
while Grace and Walter took long moon
light walks; or conversed together in the
piazza, or her Cousins clear, sweet voice
rose and fell on. the night air in songs,
while manly tone mingled with the
strain, and Graces guitar accompanied
the delicious music. ... .... T.. ........,.
Day by day, Laura's face grew paler
and sadder, and Walter felt that there
was no bliss to him like Grace's presence !;
yet neither dared speak of the change.
Laura saw that the love between these
two was stronger than, Walters love for
her had eyer been; but she sickened
when she tried to speak of it, and he
dared not approach the subject. Vi. o.,
1t was late one evening, when the cous-
ins had retired to their own room, that
Laura noticed how very sad Grace look
ed. She was pained; for Grace, like
Shakspheare's Beatrice, had little of
the melancholy element in. her, and Lau-
ra knew it was some deep grief that could
so cloud her young, joyous face. .
= Grace, what troubles you 2 she said,
drawing the young girl to her side.
'Oh, Laura, sobbed her cousin, I'm
so miserable ! .t,... -..
Why, darling, what can make you un-
happy 2 ... -....,. 5gu.~a l.,
'l-I-well, | may as well tell you all;
perhaps you can comfnrtme, This eve
ming, while | was walking with Walter,
he Iold me that he'loved me-
You, Gtace? >........ ....
Yes but he is engaged to somebody
else. And oh, love him so much !
He should not have told YOU if he is
bound to another .. .... ......s...
! He did not mean to tell me !; but he
loves me so much that he had to let me
know it, ,a .......,...... ...
How can he love you and her too?'
Laura was asloniShed at her own calm
ness. ,.........-
lie don't love her. But he says he
vas once far away from home, very sick,
and she nursed and took care of him, just
as you did, Laura, and he fancied he was
in love, because he felt so grateful to her,
and so he asked her to be his wife. She
said she would, and he thinks he is bound
by honor to fulfil his engagement. She
cannot love him as | do .-...
What is her name 2 ...- ...
He would not tell me and he asked
me never to tell any one what he had
told me. But he could not have meant
you, Laura, for | tell you everything r,
Laura carressed and kissed her cousin,
and whispered, All will be well yet,
Grace. Hope and trust = and then left
her. ..,.} 49,. .. ....,......... ....,.
The next morning she excused herself,
on the plea of headache, from accompany
ing them on their usual ride. She smil.
ingly bid them good by, and stood on the
piazza watching them off. Carlo, her
spaniel, bounded after the horses, turning
his head as if 10 bid his mistress farewell.
They were gone! Pietro carried her
habit TO her room again, and she was
alone still, she moved not. There was
a fearful struggle in her mind Must |
give him ,up?' she murmured. She is
so light hearted, that she would get over
this. He is mine; mine But he loves
, me moi t!' Time flew by unheeded by
her she was so absorbed in her revere
that the hours were as minutes. Al
length she turned and re-entered the
house with toltering steps she regained
her room ;once there, she gathered all
her calmness, wrote and folded note,
carried it herself TO Walters room, and
then, again in her own chamber, her task
over, she fell, without motion or con
sciousness, on the floor "
When Walter Elliot returned from his
ride, he found upon his table the follow.
ing note:-.
: Grace has told me all :; you are free!
.... LAURA
When she rejoined them the next NOR
ming, she was again calm, dignifed, and
even cheerful. Walter and grace never
, knew the struggle and anguish this had
cost our heroine, and Walter said TO him
self, She is too cold 10 love-
Grace went with Walter to his Phila.
delphia home; Laura stayed with her un-
Gle when he died, she still kept the
house, though part Of every year was
spent with Grace, Grace's youngest
} boy was, after much solicitation, permit
ted TO go home to Maanzas with Laura;
some few winters since, and Laura-slill
Laura Grahame--lives still in the old
house with him. If you ask her why
she was never married, she smiles, shakes
ncr head, and says she was intended for
an old maid and had to work out her
destiny. -GOdey's Lady's Book. .,...
ET- Reader take notice give you