Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-07-16

filled the mothers heart with JOY. Shs
drew her child TO her side and kissed he
fenderly, but Beatrice escaped from her EN-
brace. and saying cheerfaliy. "Are we neve
to have supperle led the way to the table
She talked gaily during the meal, and thougi
she ate little. succeeded in withdrawing he
mothers attention from her want Of appe
] lite. :
Not the most watchfai eye could have de
tected shade OF sadness in her manner
or face that evening, indeed she was ga3el
I than usual. No wonder that her mother
good, unobseryaDt soul-beliesed that she
was happy in her release fFoas the tie that
had bound her.
A few evenings bud passed, azd Beairice
stood in the Little string Eeom dressed fer 9
party. Never had she looked more beansi.
ful than now ar her simple white dress,
with its erinssoH ribbons. and red roes- bat
in her hair. Mrs- Lancaster looked at her
ia admiration nor was she alone in the ap.
| precfatiors of her child's Ioveiiness.
| She was the belle of the evening at Mrs.
Mercer'ss and not even the youthful heiress,
in honor OF whom the party had. been made,
ead to whom Louis Meredith was said ro' be
sfEanced, could divide the honoss of beiie-
ship with her.
Il had been well known throughout the
village that Beatrice and Louiss had beeneh-
gagged, and The fact of their separation was
was narrowly watched, no look or gesture
betrayed that she had been aoyed by the
sundering Of the tie.
She was surrounded by admirers, sire Ia !
smile for this one, a command for second
and merry words for others; and, as il at
irncted by some irresistible charm, Louis
Meredith hoyered near her-eyen when talk
ing with his affianced brid de-. Therese Bene-
dict. he heard every ord that fell from Bea-
trice,s lips and saw her every motioH
His eyes flashed aHgriIy as he saw her smil-
ingly receiving the ,aeeentions oHepe4 her, and
contrasted her manners Eowards s44 with the
careless "good evening" with which she me.
hini; her hand had not trembled in his grasp,
and he was piqued at her evidentindifferer rce !;
he was Jealous, too, and almost gnashed his
teeth with rage when he saw her apparently
listening with the deepest attention TO the
half whispered words of Ralph Mercer, the
only son of their host--Ihe wealthiest man
in the village.
Louis looked at Beatrice, and then at The
rese-the one a poor village school teacher,
aud the other a wealthy daughter of a distin-
guished lawyer--and he could but ackuowi-
edge how far superior. in beauty, grace and
talent, was the humble teacher he had dis
carded TO his aft Inced bride.
His eyes were open. He knew that he
still loved Beatrice, and that without her
money, Theresa would have been utterly in
different TO him.
He could bear il no longer. He stole as
soon as possible to Beatrlce's side and said a
few words on her coquetry and heartless-
ness.
She turned her large flashing eyes full up
on him with a look of contempt.
MIR. Meredith forgets hialself," she re-
piled, boldly; "his opinion is utterly indiffer-
ent to me. What right has he to criticise
my conduet!''
She waved her hand in token of dismissal;
and he left her with a strange mixture OF
love and anger in his heart as he saw her
asan--the centre of circle of admirers
full OF life and animation. The hours flew
rapidly, and when at last the gay company
departed, Louis saw with bitter Jealousy,
that Ralph Mercer was the devoted atten-
dant Of his discarded Beatrice; and he sought
his home angry with himself and the world.
The excItemen. of the evening was over,
and alone in her chamber Beatrice thought
of all that had passed. She had triu mphed;
but, alas! what an aching heart had been
hidden under that gay exterior!
Shn had I.,vaI Inns M.arufsifla ,yifh II fhf,
ardor OF her passionate, but reserved nature,
and not SO easily could she thrust him from
her heart. Tue struggle to appear happy, to
deceive all about her with show oi indif-
ference, was too much for her. She longed
to be away, aud right gladly did she accept a
lucrative offer to take charge of a school in
large town of Muntfort, where she might
escape the Argus eyes oil q Whole village.
Mrs. Lancaster made TO objections to the
proposed removal, and ere long Beatrice and
her mother left Langdon forever.
II
'' Is Mr.. irving in 90 said a young man,
evidently stranger, entering the large es-
abIshrnent of Messrs. irving g. Co., the
most successful Of the many successful mer-
chants in Montford.
.tHe is, sir,' was the reply Of the clerk
addressed. "Step this way, sir, and l will
show you to The counting room. .
Threading his way through boxes and
bales of goods, the gentleman followed his
guide, and was ushered into the room.
Mr.. Irving was seated at his desk. busily
engaged in writing. He looked up as the
boy approached him, and seeing the stranger
exclaimed:
"Ah, Meredith, how are you! Take
seat and viii be at your service in a few
moments. ~
He turned again 10 his desk, and rapidly
sealing the letter he had been writing, gave
that, with several Others, TO the boy in wait
ing, and then turned to the new conner. He
looked at him searchingiy; then, bursting
into fit OF laughter, exclaimed whats
the matter now? Have you lost your last
fyiepd, or have you got heavy note failing
due, and nothing to meet it, hey!''
Meredith shook his head. "Only my old
compi Ia inf," he said; s'a teuch of the blue
devils, apd so dropped in here to see if you
couldn't exercise them as ssaaI. You are
always SO happy, notwithstanding yoa are
SO busy
''lyot,CitEstaading!' interrupted Irving
because I'm SO busy, you might say, and
come nearer the truth. Take my advice;
go 10 work yourself, and III venture you'll
be no more troubled with these blues than
| am.
"The remedy is worse than the disease"
said Meredith. "Why should care to make
money! You know well that my poor The
rese left me more than know what to do