The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-08-19

dress, and you may believe me,
Ned, when / say that rever beheld such
q superb looking creature in all my life, as
she appeared in that costume and at that
81 eagerly rose to greet her, and extend
ed my hand. Without offering her own,
however, she bowed stiffly, and begging
me to be seated, sat down and thus began:
."Mr. Aylmer, am now about to throw.
myself on your generosity, and beg your
forgiveness for having, in most gross and
mean manner, imposed upon your cred
ulity"
II was thunderstruck at this begin.
ming" "5a
.fYou may we'll look surprised" she
continued, guessing my feelings from the
expression of my features, "but you will
be more SO when have related all. You
have heretofore supposed me to be Miss
Ida Max6eld, the daughter Of southern
planter, and the possessor of immense
wealth. In none of these einstances, how
ever, are your suppositions correct Miss
Maxfeld being now, as for months she has
been. staying with friend out west. /
lived with her as q companion" but hav-
ing by certain occurrence incurred her
displeasure, was by her discharged with
the threat, too, that should / apply to her
for a character to enable me to get an
other situation, I should be refused.
1sI determined to be revenged. Well
knowing that she was not known at all in
New York, and that Mr.. Clayton, senior,
her sole surviving executor, was now in
Jamaica, conceived the bold plan of
passing myself off as her, being well aware
that her name would command me plenty
of funds. But shis was not oil the ad-
vantages 7 expected to reap from the as.
of her character. To ensnare
some wealthy suitor, and finally, a husband,
was also an important item il my plans;
and thus, by union with him, at once
place myself above all dependence.
"Noneb but fortune-hunters, or brainless
exquisites, however offered themselves un-
Ill at last met you in company with your
friend, at the opera. will not conceal
from you the fact. that frst'I regarded
you with no more affection than / had
your predecessors; but afterwards, as the
real noblenesss of your nature unfolded
itself unto me, and the pure, disinterested
fervor of your affection became more pal
pably apparent, there was gradually rous-
ed in my breast feeling which it had
never known before that Of love. Yes,
I. loved you sincerely, devotedly, but the
false position in which I stoed in regard
to you, hermetically, closed my lips from
ever revealing the fact unto you in words.
How could I? Would you not have
spurned me from you as q wretch unwor-
thy the regard of an honorable mana "a
wretch, only fit for the vilest Of purposes
Mol I could not do it, neither could ]
tear myself away from your sweet society.
The dream was of too exquisite o nature
to be thus rudely dissipated. .z. ~
Last evening you brought matters to
a climax by asking my hand in marriage
but base as I am, and have been, | could
not carry on the deception further. Come
what might, 7 determined to reveal the
whole matter to you, and then Gas you
will have noticed the Preparations on com.
ing in,) leave the city. Mr.. Aylmer,
have asked you; and again repeat it, viii
you, can you forgive mi"
4rYou know what I said at the opera
Ned about my marrying Miss Max6eld?'
y o<,lIo.,f
asI said that if / married her. it would
be for the excellencies of herself, not hel
dollars. This remark guided me in my
conduct in the interview ! am speaking
of. Having paused for q minute or So
not from hesitation, but only to arrang'
my words and ideas into something lik'
order, said:
"Ida-as / know you by no othe
name, will still cali you that; Miss Max
field I know not for, her fortune / carr
not. You I do know and love. Th'
charms Of your, face and form frst wo1
/ my admiration;sa further acquaintance
with you added to that feeling of esteem
and friendship, and these combined hay'
produced in my breast as profound low
for You as ever man felt for woman,
cannot offer you wealth, it is true, but
can offer you heart, which, in its wealth
of love, will every way make up the def
cheney, Dearest Ida, say you will b
mine, and ere another sun bids the worlt
good night, you shall have become min,
/ 4 4. !