The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-31
For few moments they both remained

accept my hand? NV heart is already yours
as think on more than one occasion have
betrayed to you.'
q will.' @~s-.s'.
She answered in calm, steady voice
though the twilight was not yet so deep rs
to conceal the bright color which came to
her checks, nor the light, brighter still.
which flashed up to her dark hazel eyes.
sAnd you will be content to be a village
schoolmaster's wife?'
'Why not? You possess energy, industry
and perseverance, three qualities which
when combined, rarely fail to keep want
from the door.
'True, but you have SO long been accus-
toned to every luxury
sWhen found that the estate of my uncle
was to pass into the hands of Artemus Cark-
ley, uade up my mind to earn my own
living. Of course luxuries would have to
be dispensed with. 1t is true that my friend
Mrs. Marsden kindly invited me to make her
house my home, rs soon as she heard OF
my uncle's decease, but the bread of depen-
dence must in every instance be more or less
bitter, let it be offered by ever so free a
hand.
:It is to Mrs. Marsden's that you intend
going tomorrow
Yes. | wrote in answer to her invitation,
that would spend three or four weeks with
her.
sAnd at the end of that time you had
made up your mind to depend on your own
talents and industry for a livelihood?'
sYes.'
"A decision which you now will not abide
by
'Why not? If marry a poor man, there
is the more need that shouldn't be entirely
portionless. claim years delay, and will
make the most of it,
Il shall not admit your claim. Make your
friend your promised visit, and then we will
be married.
'Under existing circumstances it appears
Though have it in my power to con-
vince you to the contrary, have you not
confidence enough in me not to insist on my
doing so till we sit together by our own
fireside?'
q have.'
This was said in manner which showed
that she was perfectly sincere.
'Be it SO, then,' he said, 'and think you
will not find that your confidence has been
misplaced
I've not a single fear that shall find it
to be-
sWhere shall our home be, Eleanor? Have
you any choice p
Il cannot say that have, since can no
longer dwell beneath the roof and wander
in the paths endeared and hallowed by
the presence of my uncle. He was very kind
to me, Mr.. Stafford. A father could not
have been moro so.'
sAnd yet he knew that by neglecting to
provide for you, you would be thrown PEN
niless upon a world that has no sympathy for
aught but ITSELF
4 don't believe that he did neglect to-
He even one day limited to me that should
! find myself amply provided for, and was
going on to tell me something more, when
! looking up. he saw that hateful Prynn
standing in the doorway
'Prynn was Carkley's asent?'
'Yes, while Carkley was absent from this
country
sAs YOU decline fixing on any place as a
future residence, will you leave the decision
with me?'
sCcrtninly.'
q have reasons for prcfering this town to
any other know Of
Il can think Of no pleasanter place. re.
piled Eleanor, 'and on one condition l shal
be willing to make it our home.'
sWhat is the condition?'
sThat we don't live near enough to Artc'
mur Carkely to have him for a neighbor.
am afraid my feelings towards him woult
not be such as | ought to cherish, should
often see him in my old familiar haunts.'
81 should be as averse to living near hin
as YOU possibly can be-
The rich purple which stepped the distan
hills was now fast fading to cold grey, an,
Eleanor, accompanied by Stafford, at las
turned her steps towards the fine old man
sion, which she was to leave early in th'
morning. and which she expected neve
more to enter.
sThrce weeks from to-day you may ex
pect to see me- said Stafford, us he unclos
ed the gate which opened on garden o
shrubs and flowers.
sNo place would seem exactly like hom'
to me, without flower garden said Flea
nor.
sYou shall have onc,' was Stafford's re-
plv. There's arosemary-that's for remem
brance. pray you love, remember h'
added, quoting from Hamlet, as he present
ed her with a sprig of the fragant herb.
Though the pale blue flowers had beel
withered and gone for months, the greer
leaves were still fresh, and their aroma float
ed around them on the dewey air.
sBut YOU told me that we were not to liv
in the neghborhood of Artemus Carkley'
estate said Eleanor, as the carriage il
which she was seated by her husbands sid
approached the broad avenue which led t.
the stately old mansion which had been he
former home.
Il told you we shouldn't have Carkely TO
a neighbor, and we shan't.'
Just as he finished speaking, they arrived
at spot where lights, previously intercept
ed by the out-buildings, could be see'
beaming cheerily from the front window
of the grey stone house.
sLook!' said Eleanor, sCarkely has arriv
ed.'
q think not,' replied Stafford, and tn
next minute the carriage turned into tn
avenue.
sWhat does this mean?' asked Eleanor.
sYonder fine old mansion is to be OF
home, and not Artemus Carkley's.'
sIIow can that be? l can't underestimate
sBut you will, when tell you that | an
your late unclo's adopted son.
you? Impossible!'
! Not at all. Did it ever occur to you tha
my name is the same as his was previousl.
to his taking the name of Herbert?'
81 knew that his name was Stafford, bu
then, though in most places it isn't com
mon name, within half dozen miles
here, almost every other house is inhabited
by a family of Staffords, while many
them are so remotely connected by ties o
kindred, that no account is made Of the re
lationship. And then, his name was Hollis
yours is Fredric.' 49,
.Yes, Fredric Hollis Stafford, or rathe
Herbert, for according to the will, l mus
resume the name your uncle gave me, whlc
by his command, relinquished when W
parted
'It seems strange that no one among thos
who knew you at the time you left, shoul'
have suspected who you were.'
'Not so very strange. The man OF twen
ty-four seldom bears striking resemblance
to what he was at the age of twelve. A
the mind natures, it not only changes tn
EXPRESSION of the countenance, but in
measure moulds the features. My umcl
and aunt, with whom have boarded slnc
Lo.or,o n schoo m aster. alone knew thet