The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-03-19
WHOLE NUMBER 299

d ed her, and was panied to see it; for sine
: thought it proved that be bad not forgiv-
en- her the liberty she took at their last
= meeting. Since that time the fear that
she had offended him, had given her
e much more pain than she could have
{ wished, and now that this fear seemed
to be confirmed by his care to avoid her
she was more than ever troubled by it.
She tried hard to dispel all thoughts Of
him from her mind but she could not
d. it. Strive as she would to Danish
these thoughts, they would quickly re-
turn, marring all the enjoyment Of the
evening. At last, wearod with the eff
fort to join in the festivities which she
was in no state Of mind to enjoy, she
withdrew to an apartment which had
been nearly deserted by the guests, and
seated herself by window, the drapcry
of which served partially to conceal her
from the few who still remained in the
room.
Arthur, who had been watching her,
though afar off, all the evening, soon
discovered the place of her retreat, and
followed her there. She had not OBJ
served his approached, and when hs ad-
dressed her, she gave quick start
Arthur perceived it and said,
Am l intruding, Miss Hastipgs''
8 'Oh, no. was the frank reply, Il
have not had the pleasure of seeing you
: this evening. Shall tell you that l
e feared you was offended with me. Have
= you yet forgiven me for what you no
doubt thought was an objectionable
rudeness on my part =
/ How do you know that l have been
offended with you?'
c :" am sure you was the other eve
, ming, and have feared that you were
still
L will be perfectly frank with you
Miss Hastings. will own that l did
feel something like resentment at the
time. But l have thought calmly and
seriously of this matter since, and the
result has been that have become con-
vinced Of my danger; a danger of which
no one but you has ever dared to warn
me. | have sought you tonight to
thank you most sincerely, and to assure
you that myself and the wine-cup have
parted company forever
As Arthur said this, Ellen raised her
eyes to his face with such an expression
Of glad surprise that thrilled bis very
heart.
DO you remember the words you US
ed,' continued Arthur, when you pre-
vented me from drinking that glass Of
wine =
| am sure I do not replied Ellen.
l was too much frightened at my te-
merity, in taking such liberty with you
on so short an acquaintance, to retain
/. anything more than a recollection of the
general import of the words"
you said, l wouldn't do it, Do you
know this is the third time you have
spoken these very words to me- and
that between these times an interval OF
several years has elapsed'' =
Ellen started in surprise This sure
Ily cannot be, she said. Have We ever
met before =
Do you remember spending fort
night at Mr.. George Herberts, when you
was about ten years old =
Yes remembert that visit
And do you remember boy BY the
name Of Arthur Dunning, who visited
there with his sister at the same time p
Yes, recollect him too
We'll, l am Arthur Dunning.'
{ Is it possible p
Yes, quite possible. Do you remem'
ber one day when that same Arthur
Duuniug was about to demolish aPlay-
house Just constructed by little Mary
Herbert how you laid your hand upon
his arm and said pleadiDgly, l wouldn't
do iti'
Il think I have some faint recolleo-
ton of il now -.
you recollect, presume, visit
paid to your friend, Mrs. c., somo five
years ago.
Very WE'LL
DO you recollect one evening, dur
Jog that visit, falling into the company