Mountain Democrat., 1857-08-29
q headache and led me to shun the good

don't your
"MOre than 1 can tolI," answered
family.
~ can relieve you easily" she re-
marked.
HOw'-dO tell me, for it is painful, /"
Her look flashed through my brain.
She sat close beside me; she gathered
up my heavy -curis.- Your hair. child. {"
she muttered with almost closed lips.
twill induce brain fever-kill you, per-
haps. Let me cut it off," And she rea-
ched her scissors, fastened in their silver
sheath.
No, no." cried, for l was proud of
my hair, and like o fash came tho hideous
thought that the grand, beautiful woman
was jealous of me-of poor little gov
erness
Her eyes flashed fire; she stood, her
jeweled hand lifted, her eyes cleaning
with furious passion.
Oh, you think yourself paragon of
beauty, l can see. You wish to retain
your long ringlets, that you may mesh
them about the heart Of the baronet.-
Yes, you think your bright eyes will en-
slave him. Yes, you poor beggar, and so
disgrace him. He knows how well you
love him-laughs at it--dcspises you for
it he-he told me %"
A blank came over my hfe-oh, the
weary time that passed / would not
look at nor speak to the Baronet till our
little Gertrude died. / saw her well at
evening; was aroused at midnight by the
Baronet himself A deathly chill crept
over me, as cried, seeing his white face,
leave me, sir; how dare
He had not heard me, humbly hoped,
for his words dispelled my terror. MY
little Gertrude is dying and calls for you
Till she died, that dear heart rested on
my bosom in the morning 1 laid back
the damp curls, and kissed her cold lips.
She was gone. "Imust CO." / Whispered
over her clay, ~ cannot stay here it is
agony"
Not long atterI gathered my few clothes
and stole softly from the house, that envy
and jealousy had made terrible to me. I
shall never forget that night. The hills
were white with moonlight, and / wanted
to pluck one violet to take with me. In
that quiet hour knelt sobbing over the
mound, breathed one prayer, gathered my
flowers and turned to go, / knew not
whittier. A tall form stood beside ME
could not fear him now, nor dislike him ;
he was SO pale, 30 sorrowful, as he said
LILLIAN, what does this mean? Where
are you going my child?"
His voice trembled. turned away
and the tears ran down my cheeks.
Do we not treat you well, Lillian :"
he asked, how mournfully.
Yes, oh, yes!" 1 murmurcd, "you
have been only too kind"
And my poor little mothcrlcss child;
would you leave her, Lillian H'' ---.------- -
At this, lost all self-control. "Tf you
had not TESTED At me, sobbed, ''deSpi.
sed me, boastcd that I----I-,"
Stop, Lillian. What do these words
mean ?" he asked in stern tone.
Lady Isatel," l gasped; and as
grew calm, as far as my delicacy would
let me, I gave her cruel language word
for word.
"It Is false-all false |" he said. taking
my hand, "fOr 30 far from boaSting that /
knew you loved me, Lillian, did not
dare believe that one 80 young, SO beauti-
full, so good and gentle, might feel other
than sentiments Of friendship for man
60 much older and graver than herself"
His voice grew soft and musical-I was
astonished-my confidence deserted me.
Yes, Lillian, gladly would l make
you my own dear wife, !" he added, draw.
ing me to his side. ''True, you have mel.
ther gold nor station, but the wealth Of D
pure young heart like yours Is ell ask.
Say, will you take the place of the saint
cd one who lies here with little Gertrude? 4?
Lillian, tell me, can you love nae well
enough to marry met"
Oh! Heaven knows / had long loved
him, not daring to whisper it to myself
in the darkest night; and over Gertrude's
grave I told him "yes."
Poor Lady Isabel she had trusted to
her beauty, her gold, her power; and
they had failed her. When she first saw
me with my noble husband, she grew
white with anger, disappOin tmcnt and
terror, that her duplicity had been dis
covered. Poor Lady Isabel, she Is un-
married to this day. She loved the Bar
onct herself.