Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-06-10

fer of marriage. A gentleman whom she
had known for years as friend, called and
requesting a private interview told her that
he had long loved and admired her, and that
be needed her presence to make sun light
in his home, her loue to make sun shine in
his heart, and urged her to bless him by the
promise oil a speedy union. Aunt Margaret
was herself too honorable to suspect anoth-
er of unworthy motives, and this man stood
| high in the regards of large circle of
friends, and SO she believed him when he
told her that he stood in need OF her love.
That night she sat in the same chair by the
same open window as in the morning, and
again she inhaled the sweet fragrance of
these apple blossoms, and watching the
lights and shadows which >the moonoeams
cast among the foliage, she gave herself up
to this new source of happiness. In the
morning she had the fulness of peace, and
now the fulness of joy seemed added there
to. Her full woman's nature was expand
ing now. She I'D not known that she re-
quired any other love, and she had not
dreamed of the depths of affection of which
her own nature was capable, but the con-
sciousness that she alone of all the world
was essential to the happiness of noble
man, that his path would be dark withou:
her love to tighten it, awakened the most
delightful emotions within her.
He sisters shed tears of joy over her hap
piness. "Did we moi tell you, dear Mar
garrett" they said, "that the best part of your
life was yet to come, and you sea that we
! spoke truly!'
Every one was anxious to lend helping
hand in the Preparations for the wedding,
and all went merry as marriage bell.'
The last day came, aunt Margaret was to
be married in the evening; the cakes had
all turned out just right, The dresses fitted
beautifully, and everybody was in the best
of humor.
The bridegroom elect mad sent for an in.
innate friend of his, with whom he had
spent two years in foreign travel, to come
on and stand up with him. He came, dined
with US that day, and was presented to aunt
Margaret and the bridesmaid. After dinner
the gentlemen withdrew to the balcony to
enjoy a cigar, leaving The ladies' in the front
parlor. How we'll remember just where
each one sat, for was then nearly as old as
Annie or her little friend there. Some one
sent me to little spare room at the back
of the house to bring something which |
could not find; went back and reported
that it was not there. "Yes, it is, you blind
little puss," said aunt Margaret laughing,
sfor saw it there this morning, and the
room has not been opened since; it lies Oh
the lounge by the back window"
"Indeed auntie, it's not there" L said.
"Then it has fallen under the lounge"
she said.
"But | looked under It."
"Ah, let US see whose eyes are youngest
now!" she said springing up and running
through the long hall. bounded after her.
1t was not ox the lounge, that was certain
She stopped down, and drawing it up from
under II looked at me as if about to exclaim
again "You blind little puss," when voice
on the balcony just outside arrested u.s.
The window was open down to the floor,
but the shutters were closed, SO that those
outside were invisible to US as we were to
them $50 this is the lady of your choice"
"This is the lady of my CHOICE" respond
ed vQice whose lightest tone was music
to aunt Margaret.
"And you have forgotten the pretty little
Miss + with whom you were so madly
in love last winter. You have left her for
one twice her age, and
81 can never forget the sweet face of
h.. l,o - othor cnoak.
er, "but you sec, man, she is poor; the old
gentl eman HASN'T sixpence TO give her,
and I'm hard up Just now. Those debts, of
which you wot, will be made known if l
don't soon find some means of liquidating
them. This lady is rich, rich as Cresus,
and generous and unsuspecting, and it is
her gold that am about to we'd" The
speaker passed on. They seemed to have
been leaning against the balcony for that
moment, believing themselves at distance
from all the inhabited portions of that old
house. looked at aunt Margaret as the
sound of their footsteps died away. She
sank down with her head against the lounge
and murmured, "Oh, God, he told me that
he loued me, and that he needed my loue TO
cheer him!"
She was so white and cold that thought
she was going to faint, and ran for water.
Before came back she rose up and went
to her own room. caught one glimpse of
her pale face, and it frightened me, but she
locked the door after her and would not let
me in. Two hours later she sent for me-
ran to kiss her, and she tried to smile, but
she was as white and cold as marble. NV
child, did you hear She could not finish
her sentence. Yes, aunt, did hear that |
man say that he was going to marry you
because you were rich, and he needed
promise me that you will never breathe
what you have heard! l shall not be mar
ried, but don't wish to expose him. Give
me your solemn promise that nobody shall
ever know from you what has happened"
sOh auntie, dear auntie!" cried in great
distress, sit is too late to obey you now, |
haue told mother and uncle and ever so
many,,of them! was so angry that couldn't
help it. You may cut my tongue out il
you please but indeed couldn't keep it,
and everybody in the house is SO indignant
at him.
Everybody" she repeated, Everybody
knows it; then rust devise some other
plan. Go now, and l will ring the bell
when want them to GENE and dress me-"
When her friends were summoned to as
sist her with her toilet she was no longer