Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-03-20

John Hunt. l knew he was still at the
same window with his companion.-
Mortimer Craddock sat down beside
me. I ought to have said before that
he was an old friend-a very sensible
man Of thirty five, with an ample for
tune, and unmarried-a well known
catch, in short. He had at one time
been supposed by my family to have
partiality for me but / had always re-
garded that as a delusion.
This evening he began to converse
very earnestly on serious matters. lie
talked about my family, and my atfec-
ton for them; about himself, and his
WEAKNESS Of the life he lead, and so on.
[ answered mechanically. Neither
John Hunt nor his companion had re-
appeared in the ball room.
I askc Mr.. Craddock to take me
through the library, as found the air
Of the ballroom rather close. There,
in the same corner, were John Hunt
and Emma. She actually had her hand
IN his, and I saw him draw down the
curtain, to hide them as we passed.
1t was very quick and sharp, that
knife thrust through my heart; but it
was soon over,
We went to supper BY the time
we returned John Hunt and his friend
were standing outside the door OF the
suppcr-room, and gazing very earnestly
at US as We passed) was in tolerable
spirits.
Miss Blanche" said Mortimer Grad
dock. when we took our seats on the
sofa in a deserted room up stairs, 'thls
is perhaps neither the place nor the
time to make the avowal which is on
my lips. But | have waited q long
time, and as | do not expect an answer
now, it matters little when or where
YOU hear it. l love you. | wish to
make You my wife. l would try to
make You happy. | think | could
VIII you marry me -
/ Without a moments hesitation, an
swered YES"
Miss Blanche" pursued Mortimer,
slowly and gravely as before, 81 am not
young man. / have very little TO-
nance in my character. Permit me to
ask you to withdraw that answer of
yours. should feel happier if it had
been preceded by more reaection.''
"This is triaing with my feelings !"
| son the contrary, l do not wish you
to hazard your happiness without ample
consideration. This day month I will
ask you for an answer"
! So saying he left me. l was q little
bcwildered. l had never had an offer
before. Mortimer Craddock I had
never thought of in the light of a lover.
Now, it seemed, I was engaged.
/ I was trying to make out whether the
chandelier which overhung the room
had been raised or lowered to its presen,
position, when | was startled by a
blanche, darling!'' in my ear.
1t was John Hunts companion-the
pretty girl-my friend Emma
She had come, of course, to conhde
to me her triumph, and to enjoy the
, little feminine satisfaction of sympathi-
zing with me-for she knew how regu-
lar a caller John Hunt was at our house
1 put on my liveliest and kindest man.
!. ner.
"Well, dearest Emma, you have en-.
; joycd the BALI"
every much, indeed and you?''
Excessively"
s'Has Mr.. Craddock been amusing?'
/ Strange to say during the first words
Of our conversation, the startling avow.
al he had made had passed away from
my mind !; at the mention Of his name
it rushed upon me, and blushed scar.
let.
), "Why," said she, laughing, " one
would suppose there was something be.
tween you! Blanche, dear, don't look
, so cross. | have a secret for you.
have made all scrts of promises not tc
tell it, but | couldn't keep them if my
, life hung on the balance.'
| knew the secret very we'll. She
was going to say she was engaged tc
John Hunt So I answered, with as
much Of smile as I could muster, ano
, holding my breath.
81 am ready to hear it,
"You know John Hunt z" nodded,
and a slckening sensation came over noe.
"Well-well-he is going to propose tc
you tomorrow.
"Say that again." [ gasped in cruel
agony, and doubting whether l had
heard her correctly. She repeated the
same words"
/ "Too late, too late !" 1 sobbed, and
felt as though my heart would break.
| tainted, [ believe. At all events,
the next recollection l have is Of being
surrounded with kind people near an
open window, and Of seeing-of all
othe1s-John Hunts face, very anxious
and very pale, on the outskirts of the
little throng which crowded around me
[ shut my eyes. [ could not look at
him. | went home directly, wishing
that was dead.
i When | awoke the next morning the
following note was handed me:
s. AVENUE,
! Wednesday morning.')
'Mr Mortimer Craddock presents his COM
Dliment5 to Miss Blanche 49, and begs to
say that circumstances obliging him to leave
tie country for period of years, he is I'M
der the necessity Of withdrawing the inoui
ry which lie made last evening. lie hopes
he may be permitted to tender his best wish
es for Miss Blanche's happiness in life.'
That day, as Emma had said, John