The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-08-19
CuAT IER II.
r II e B r e

! Frederick Almyer, was in his dressing
room, and just about to apply one of Me-
chi's Patent" to his belathered chin, when
the door of his chamber was suddenly
thrown open, and to his infinite surprise,
his friend, Edward Clayton, stepped for
ward.
We say. surprise, advisedly for Aylmer
had deemed Clayton sojourner in the
land of gold, he having left New York
for San Francisco few days after the
conversation took place which we have
narrated in the proceeding chapter, to in
vestigate and manage case that had
been placed in the hands of the solicitor
with whom he and his friend were articled.
It was, therefore, with just cause that
Aylmer now exclaimed
.'By which of the telegraph lines did
you come? or perhaps you took the con-
venience of return fash of lightning"
Neither. came in the clipper Fly
ing Fish to Panama. crossed the Isthmus.
and catching the mail steamer General
Jackson, as she was on the point of leav-
ing Aspinwall, jumped aboard, and arriy-
ed here about half an hour ago."
"But the case?''
"Is settled. Our client died the day
after had sent the last dispatch, via
steamer to New York This of course
put quietus on all further proceedings, so
having seen-but can tell you this an
other time. How about the heiress? is
she wooed and won?"
Eyes" was Aylmer's quiet reply, !,
care you serious, Fred? No tricks upon
travellers, you Know
at is true, upon my honor, Ned.
sThen I congratulate you. But tell
me the hoaO, the when and the s0here?'
II shall scarcely have time,n answered
Aylmer, taking out his repeater and glanc-
ling at it. However, l will do SO to
loblige you, only I win be as brief as pos
sible You left New York, you know, on
the second day after we had called on Miss
Maxfeld. Well as agreed upon, / called
to acquaint her of your hasty. departure,
and to apologize for your appearance
to bid her goodbye. This visit led to
another, and o fourth. AT last, to come
to the point at once, when was not en-
gagged at the Office, / was either chatting,
or promenading, or at the theatre with Ida,
add"
aYou toldsme all this in your last letter
you sent me. -
$50 I did. Well. Well then, it was
about three weeks, think, after sent
1you that letter, when one evening during
la confidential tets a tets with her, / man.
aged, like Bob Acres, to screw my couf-
age up to the sticking place. and, pro
posed -
tAnd she blushed, and said ayes.n of
lcourse.n
"No-but you shall hear For several
moments she held down her head, and ap-
peared considerably confused: but at last
raising her face-and it was fushed--she
said
/ "Mr. Aylmer, you have SO completely
taken me by surprise, and what you have
ljust given uttersnee to is of such grave
nature, that really must beg leave of you
to refrain from. pressing me for an answer
until tomorrow evening, when ! shall not
only be better able TO give you more
definite and decisive answer, but also to
pay assproper Q regard for your feelings
as what | shall do for my own. shall be
at home from seven until ten."
ssAnd you went?',
i "Of course. When entered, found
three or four large trunks in the entrance
hall, and sone or two large carpet bags
IAlso lying about, while the house itself
looked as though it had completed all its
arrangements in order to clear at the earli-
est notice, / entered the parleE and had
lbsrely seated myself when Ida came in.