Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-13

n ottoman, she on the rug, with her SUM
g head in my lap. For rarity, we wer
g alone. After talking awhile she began
II say over old ballads, in her peculiarl
It rich, low tone; and so intent were we
Il our enjoyment that neither stirred, thoug
/ we heard the door bell; then the parle
door opened, and the servant said-"ViI
: cent" ~
n Ada always answered that name. No,
e she rose shook out her long ringlets, say
e ing, half petuIantly, ''Too bad."f and wen
Il forward. paid no attention until the Wis
itor said, alt was Miss May Vincent
a wished to see." 1-i S'i5e4 4 81
: That voice! With beating heart
}. went forward, and Hugh Wilton took bot
my hands in his, saying, 4
t 81 have a thousand pardons TO ask. AM
the same number of apologies to make, 70
, waiting SO long ere fulfilled my promise
!, and then coming al this unreasonable hour
but when you have heard me through, per
? haps you will be disposed to mercy"
said sholld be merciful, for l knew
: he must nave good reasons. 10
|, He had been detained in his business fo
the suit was carried up to higher cour
then in session. Every day they expected
to close it, but it was prolonged almost be
yond endurance,& he had just arrived in thu
city. Rainy as it was, ,and l'te in theevening
he could not resist the wish to ceme; & after
giving us such proof OF his anxiety to see
US, he hoped the rest would De excused.
i remembered had not introduced him
to Ada. For a moment her beauty seemed
to dazzle him, then he turned to me say.
ing,
"What were you doing when I entered!
1t formed beau tiful picture in the dis.
tance there, framed, as it was, by the fire
light. Let us go and sit down-it looks so
inviting"
We returned to the fire. Ada sat on
one side, on the other, and Hugh directly
in front; but after few moments he said
laughingly,
"This is not so pretty picture as before
will you let me have your seat, Miss Ada!"
and he rose.
Ada changed places with him.
ats not right yet," he went on. "St
down by your sister; and what were you
saying! Something very low; think it
must have been love secrets; don't let me
interrupt you."
"Oh, no, shouldn't mind you at all"
Ada said, little saucily. 1T was no love
secrets. however, only some old ballads l
was repeating.'
"Ver ses! then you will surely 60 on out
of pity for me, as have had bothing but
dull, dry law till am tired. Why don't
you resume!" he continued, after pause.
Ada looked little surprised at his cool
manner, then replied, arehSssp .
-"f do not think am .ses II good atsc c3sts.
ing" -r-t7 = ~ t-.'sf' - =
90" he returned, gravely. edo yod know
that refractory little girls are put in dark
closets, or sent to bed supperless!"
''I've had my supper, thank you," said
she. laughing triumphantly.
"But the closet?"
"There are none here;" and she looked
around. '
"Then can stand you on stool in the
corner, and pin my handkerchief over your
face" 5='H
But she met him there with little re-
tort, and they kept up spirited conversa-
tion, she threatening and laughing in her
arch, winsome way, sinking out her ring
lets, and Frightening her eyes when she
gained any victory. Presently somehow
the conversation took grave turn, and we
sat there till almost midnight with no
thought of time. 7-
Then he rose suddenly, saying he had
no idea it was So late; but he had been SO
pleasantly sntertaiaed he should want to
come often, he said that we must tell him
if his visits were tiresome.
Ada said she would. 80 tsf
When he had gone she put her arm
around me, saying,
"Let Us sit down and talk little" ~ 4
There came new guest in my heart; it
put its cold hands on the very spot where
Hugh Wilton's love lay warm and throb-
bing, and felt tempted to shake her of
rudely and tell her my ways could not be
hers. Then looked in her swee. face
why had God made her so beautiful! Z.
':it's SO late, Ada" 20 ~
"Only moment, May, darling; Pm not
bit sleepy, and your eyes look bright
Why did you never tell me abou, Hugh
Wilton, May!''
What was she that must lay my heart
bare before her! Could she not pause a
moment to think he interested me! She
went on
81 like him so, May; he is just what one
keeps longing for. II the world were.6aled
with such men, what a brave, delightful
world it would be. When | meet with
such man, and he loves me, shall marry
him. One could trust him 80 thoroughly
could feel they were loving the true and
noble elements of life, instead of those
weak, wavering things that seem to have
no soul. Oh, May, there is a new world
lying before mel"
There was new world lying before me, :,
dark, thorny, tangled ways, why must her
lie be so much better than minei Why
must she take the little eve lamb ] had
cherished in my bosom! All, it was SO all
over the world. This burden had come
floating down TO me, but there was no
wicket gate in love. knew how it would
be. could look before me, and see how
gradually they would come to love one an
other, but ! remembered her promise and
took comfort. .-.---
Hugh Wilton became q constant visitor.
Whether he had any preference for Ada, :.
could hardly tell, for he treated US both