Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-03

| edly, acquiesced 1t was certainly very fiat
tering that her charms had proved sufficiently
powerful to make him forget it but that he
should have yielded to the temptation with
out the slightest appearance of 4 struggle did
surprise her. as indeed, from their knowledge
Of his character it did Mr.. aud Mrs. Gaskoin.
Not that they would have expected him to
adhere to the contract, If doing so proved re.
pugnant either TO himself or the young lady
but under all the circumstances of the case,
they would have thought his conduct less open
to exception, If he had deferred entering into
any other engagement till he had seen Miss
Seymour. II wss true, that he had not yet
offered bis hand to his friend Gaskon's charm
ing neice but neither she, nor any one else, en-
| tertained doubt of his intention to do so
and Frances never found herself alone with
| him. that her heart did not beat high with the
| expectation of what might be coming.
| The progress of love affairs is no measure of
| time where the dttraI, or magnetic rapport
| (for perhaps magnetism has something to do
with the mystery), is very strong, one couple
will make as much way in a fortnight as an-
other will do in year In the present in
stance, Major Elliotts proclivity to fall in love
may have been aided by his persuasion that
! she was the neice of his friend Be that as it
may, on the thirteenth day of his visit, Major
Elliott invited his host to join in walk, in
the course of which he ayOwed his intention of
4 offering his hand to Miss Gaskon, provided
her family were not likely to make any serious
| objection to the match Ny reason for men
tioning the subject so early is" said he, that
/ in the first place, / cannot proIoug my visit;
! | have already broken two engagements, and
now, however unwilling must be off and,
rha 7 g. Ia
! tion the subject to you before speaking to
/ Miss Gask0in, because you know how | an
( situated in regard to money matters and that
! cannot, unfortunately, make such settle
Inent as may be expected by her friends
| l don't think that will be any obstacle to
! your wishes answered Mr Gaskoiu, with an
arch smile If YOU can find Fanny in the hu-
NOR, I'll undertake to answer for all the rest
/ As for her fortune, she'll have Something, at
all eventS-but that is subject, | suppose,
you are too much in love to discuss"
q" 1t is one there is no use in discussing till
| am accepted" returned Major Elliott 'and
| confess that is a point | am too anxious
about to think of any other
Prepare yourself" said Mrs Gaskoin to
/ Fran Major Elliott has declared him
self L husband, and will doubtless take an
opportaa.ty of speaking to tou in the course Of
the evening. Of course now the truth must
be disclosed and I've no doubt it will be a
very agreeable surprise to him"
When the tea-things were removed and
Frances, as usual was seat at the pianoforte
and Major Elliott as usual, turning over the
leaves of her musc-book she almost lost her
breath with agitation when the gentle closing
of door aroused her to the fact that they
were alone Mr. ami Mrs Gaskoin had qui-
etly slipped out Of the room and conscious
that the critical moment was come, she was
making a nervous attempt to follow them,
when hand was laid on hers, and - But
it is quite needless TO enter into particulars
such scenes do not bear relating. Major El-
lott said something and looked thousand
things Frances blushed and smiled, and
then she wept, avowing that her tears were
tears Of joy and so engrossed was she with
the happiness Of the moment that she had ac-
tuallv forgotten the false colors under which
she was appearing, till her lover said 81
have already, my dear Fanny, spoken On the
subject to your uncle"
g Now, then, for the issoKszent - thought
Frances but she had formed little scheme
for bringing this about. which she had forth
with proceeded 70 put into execution.
- But, dear Henry she said, as seated on
the sofa hand in hand. they diated on their
present happiness and future plans" dear
Henry, there is one thing that has rather per
picked me, and does perplex me still, little
do YOU know, l have been told ycu we're
engaged r
. Indeed Who told you that -
We'll | don't know bQt I'm sure heard
II Il was said that you were engaged to Miss
Sermour-tbe Miss Seymour, that lives with
Mrs Wentworth
Do yca kno1 her E. inquired Major Eli
OFT, interFupting her.
Yes. l do-a little"
81 Only a little -
We'll perhsps, | may say | know her
pretty we'll Indeed, TO confeSs the truth. I'm
rather Intimate with her
That is extremely fortanate,7 returned
Major Elliott
Then yeu don't deny the engagement, p
said Frances
Colonel Seymour. who vas M fathers
friend and mine, TerF kindly expressed . wish
before he died, that, provided there wes no
ohiertioa or either side. his daughter and
should be married but you see, nv dearest
Fanny. as there happens 10 he an objection on
both sides. the scheme. bexeVer well meant,
: defeated
'0l both sides - reiterated Frances with
surprise
. Yes on both Sides answered be Suil-
ing
'' But how DO you know that, when you've
neVe, seen Miss Seymoar-aS least l thought
you never had >
" Neither have but happen TO know
thar she has not the slightest intention Of tax
ing me for her hEshSBG7
oh - said Frances, laughing At The recoi-
lection Of her oER violent antiEa,hy 10 this ir
FeS,sEible man, who, aftey a., had taken her
haar. II s.nEru-..I S-.nlcSs ErI l.a-s s1r.e-