Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-14
CLEVELAND, SATURDAY MORNING. AUGUST a. 1858.

"DO not distress me by asking the cause, my
dear Mrs. WallingiOrd. 1t will be hard trial
to leave such kind friends, and be again thrown
upon the world, bu: 1t must be done"
She covered her face with her hands, bat the
tears trickled through her fingers. At that mo-
uent the voice of Wallingford was heard in the
hall below, inquiring for Miss Give, and Con-
stance, springing down stairs, hastily informed
him Of Edith's resolution, and begged to know
if he could guess the reasOn.
Il fear can guess it but too we'll" he replied
/" This letter will probably explain it all 1t i
from Elmore. know his hand writing, for we
have corresponded- Take it to her, my dear
mother, that we may know the worst as soon
as possible"
Constance took the letter from his hand It
was addressed to Miss Edith Give, and directed
to the care of Edmund Wallinglord, and judg-
ing it better to leave him. took the letter 10 Edith
who broke the seal uneoncernedly, and after
reading few words, betrayed both surprise and
emation. The suspicious of Constance were
confirmed, but not wishing to intrude on EeT
confidence, she withdrew.
Edith had never imagined the real feelings OF
Elmore with regard t0 herself. Her surprise,
therefore, was great when she read his letter
containing an offer of his hand ard fortune, and
written in manner which did credit to his mind
aud heart. Ii made no claim for an equal return
OF love, but urged her unprotected situation and
the dlngers TO which one so young aud lovely
would be exposed. She read and re-read it many
times. 80 Why can not love him = she asked
heIselE so generous, so warm hearted, and
withal, so cultivated and refined Why should
pain him by refusal, wheE he loves me, and
he alone
Her heart gave the answer why, as the form
OF Edward WallingfOrd rose in her mind. She
raised her eyes, and he stood before her. Al
that moment the voice Of Constance called th'
children into her boudoir. Edith made move
meut to follow, but Wallingford laid his hanC
I gently on her arm.
"Will you not allow me a few moments
conversation alone With you, Miss Clivel7
Edith took her seat in silence, but locke,
around in some alarm for her letter, which, il
her haste, she had dropped upon the floor. II,
/ took 1t up and handed it to her.
May 1 ask If that letter has anything 10 j,
with your leaving us ;" said he, as he fixed hi
| eyes on her face.
Nothing whatever" Her reply was firm
/ though in a low tone.
"Tell me frankly, dearest Edith, DO you re
turn Elmore's lovei Do not tribe with me
but tell me at once if 1t is go. You need no
fear TO betray his secret, for his whole manne
to you made it obvious to every one"
Had she heard arighti She became fain
from suppressed emotion, but commanding her
self she replied as firmly as before
Mr. Emore was my fathers favorite pupil
and friend also. He is connected in my min.
with all that is most pleasant in memory, witt
my father and my mother. l value and esteen
him as friend, but nothing more -
He leaned over her and spoke in 4 voice al
most inartieulate from excess Of feeling
"If you DO not love him, viii you try to lOv
me p
Edith's answer is not on record, but as sh
sat the whole evening alone with Edmund Wal
lingfJrd, in the recess of the bay-windOW
which looked out upon the moonlit waters G
the Hudson, and conyerSed in that low, soft CT
dence, which seems peculiar to loYers alonG
we can presume 1t was not in the negative.
Great was the JOY of the children when toI
that their dear Miss Give was to be their sis
ter, heir brother Edmund's wife; and Luc
proceeded TO make known her Joy TO every in
mate of the house, wherever she could find
listener, from the attic to the kitchen. Bite
was the chagrin of Mrs. John Wallingfort
when informed, on her return, of what ha
happened during her absence; but when sh
discovered that the young couple were to fon
part Of the family Of COnstance-at the urger
request Of the latter, who dreaded being Ie
aluue with her mother in-law-she estabishe
herself in another abode, and Edmund and b
wife remained with Constance, till the old lady
death, which happened five years after the
marriage