The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-02-13

affections are beyond our control, ant
much as there is admirable about yol
I no longer love you. At first 1 deter
mined never to acquaint you with th
change in my sentiments, but I shruD
from lifetime of deceit I could no
at the altar perjure myself by takin
those solemn vows, and I knew, too
that you would spurn the offered han'
without the heart accompanied it.
have done very wrong in hastily enter
ing upon our engagement without prop
er knowledge of my true feelings toward
you. was charmed by your beauty
dazzled by your wit and attracted BY
your virtue; 1 mistook the whirl o.
emotions felt for love. But it is bet
ter for me to acknowledge my fault thar
to commit sin in leading you to the
altar while my heart is another's. For,
give me and forget me. Farewell, and
may you soon find some one more wor-
thy of your love than your friend, III
| you will still allow me to claim that tt
| tle,) Louis MEREDITH.
Every particle of color forsook Bea-
trice's cheek as she read-her lips were
white, her hands trembled so violently
she could scarcely hold the letter; a
death-like faintness stole over her, and
she sunk into a chair and buried her
face in her hands.
Not tear, not a moan escaped her; !;
she sat there in silence, motionless as
statue, but in her heart what q whirl-
wind Of emotions was raging How
long she sat there she hardly knew
when, at last, she looked up, the twi-
light was deepening, and she rose with
| start from her seat. Her counteuance
bore the traces of her sufering-she
looked haggard and wan ; the agony of
those few hours had changed her fearful
ly, but her. eyes flashed with all their
usual fire, and her lips were firmly COM
pressed together. She drew herself up
proudly, as if she despised herself for
her weakness, crushed the letter, which
had fallen from her trembling fingers,
contemptuously under her foot, and then
picked it up with look of disgust, as
if it had been some loathsome thing,
and putting on her hat and shawl, she
walked firmly out of the room.
She went rapidly on until she reach
ed low, white cottage; she entered it,
and passed very quickly through the lit
tie sitting-room to her own apartment.
Here she took from an inlaid box pack
age of letters, and adding that she had
last received to the number, she hastily
collected every memento, however tri-
fling, which had been the gift of Louis
Meredith, and placed them securely to-
gether in readiness to return to him.
Then carefully arranging Her toilet, she
returned to the sitting room. An old
lady, dressed with scrupulous nicely,
was its only occupant; che was quietly
knitting. The table was spread for the
evenings meal, and she had evidently
been waiting for her daughters return.
g You are late tonight, Beatrice"
she said; "but, suppose, Louis came
for you to go to walk. It is SO foolish
to take such unreasonable hours for his
walks Tea has been waiting this half
hour"
1 am sorry to have kept you wait
ing, mother" returned her daughters
silvery voice; but those long walks
will trouble you no longer. Louis Mer-
edith and I are parted forever"
The old lady dropped her knitting
work in herlap. and looked at her daugh-
ter in astonishment at length she
spoke
"Oh, see; lovers quarrel. But
you will make it up in day or two, and
be all the happier for it. Well, we'll;
better disagree before than after mar
riage."
Mother" said Beatrice, listen to
me- shall never marry Louis Mere
dith. Nothing on earth could induce
me to do so. As said, we are parted
forever and now let me beg you never
again to mention his name to me; let
the subject never again be alluded to
between us; let all be as if we had new
er known him." Her voice seftened
g You will not be sorry, mother dear, to.
have your Beatrice all your own Pr
And she took her parents shriveled
hand fondly between her own.
Mrs. Lancaster was touched by this
expression of tenderness; fer Beatrice,
though most devoted daughter, in fact,
the only support of her poor and wild
owed mother, rarely made any demon
stration of her attachment, and this ca
ress, slight as it was, filed the mothers
heart with joy. She drew her child 70
her side, and kissed Ler tenderly; but
Beatrice escaped from her embrace, and
saying cheerfully, " Are We never going
to have supper J" led the way to the sup L
per table. She talked gayly during the
meal, and, though she ate little. succeed
ed in Withdrawing her mothers atten-
tion from her want of appetite.
Not the most watchful eye could have
detected shade Of sadness in her face
or manner that evening; indeed, she :