Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-07-16
BEATRICE LANCASTER
BY mlRrAm F. HAMILTON.


house, reciting their spelling lesson, while
the remainder of the pnpiIs fdgetted in tbei
seats, piled and replied their books on thei
desks, and Cast restless, eager glances out o
i the opeE door. and then at the teachers
face, for it was nearly time for dismissal
and weary of a long afternoons confne
ment, the children could hardly wait for the
tinkle of the bell--the signal for their re.
lease. At last the spelling class took theil
seats, the bell sounded, and instantly there
was scene OF confasion- boys rushed out
of the door, and gave vent 10 their pent uF
spirits in whoops, yells and somersets, and
i girls more Quietly but not less gaily ran oui
into the open air. Soon their merry voices
died away ia the distance and the teacher
was Jeff aloae in that just now crowded
school-room.
She was young and striking looking
girl. Her form was erect her steP stately,
and her features. though Irregular were
! pleasing; her abundant raven lsaf was
wound in a sort of coronal around her read,
in a singular but not unbecoming fashion ;
her complexion was clear olive, aHd her
mouth firm in its expression, almost unpfeas-
antly SO when closed, but when she smiled
she was positively beautiful; then her whole
countenance changed; her large, fiery eyes
grew soft and tender, and the pride and hau-
teur that spoke in her every lineament, mar
ring her otherwise almost perfect beauty,
disappeared.
Just now one of those beaming smiles
lighted up her count eRauce; she stood by
her desk, ia her usual erect position. holding
a nute, yet unopened, in her hand. Il had
been brought TO the school-roo during the
session, and now that she was alone, she
prepared 10 read it. She seemed in no haste
to break the seal She looked at the bold,
firm hand writing, and pressed it to her lips;
then slowly unfolding it. she read:
..For some time past, Beatrice, 1 have
been unhappy; you have observed it, and to
your inquiries as to its cause, have given
false and evasive replies, but | eau deceive
myself aud you no longer. ! sought you
las, night VITA The determination to tell you
all, but could not utter the words that
felt would give you SO much pain. But /
! must trust TO it. What my tongue refused
to tell, must trust my pen. 1t is useless to
hesitate; the sooner il is all known the bet
ter for US both. Beatrice. find that have
mistaken the nature of my feelings towards
you. AS God is my witness when we were
oetrothed thought | loved you. still ap
precia1e your rare loveliness, and better
still, your many exceilencies of mind and
heart, but our affections are beyond our CON
troll, und much as there is admirable about
you, no. longer iove you At first de-
lermined never TO acqualnt you with the
change of my sentiments, but shrank
from a lifetime of deceit. could not at
the altar pe1ure myself by taking those sol
emn vows, and | knew, too, that you would
spurn the offered hand without the heart ac-
compan nied it. | have done very wrong by
hastily entering upon our engagement with
CUT proper knowledge of my true feelings
towards you. was charmed by your beau
ty, dazzled by your wit, and attracted by
virtue; | lnistook the whir. OF emouons
felt for love. But it is better for me to ac-
knowledge my faults, than to commit sin
by leading you to the altar when my heart
is another's Forgive me and forget me. -
Farewell, and may you soon find some one
more worthy OF your love than your friend
(if you still allow me that title-)
LOUIS MEREDITH
cheeks as she read-her lips were white, her
hands trembled violently; she could scarcely
hold the letter, death-li iaininess stole
over her, and she sank into chair and buri-
ed her face in her hands.
Not d tear, mol noan escaped her; she
sat in silence, motioniess statute, but
in her heart what whirlwind of emotions
was raging! Hos long she sat there she
lardIy knew; when at las. she looked up
the twilight was deepening, and she rose
with start from her seat. Her eounten-
ance bore the traces of her snffering-she
looked haggard and wan; the agony OF these
few hours had changed her fearfully, but her
eyes flashed With oil their usual fire, and her
lips were firmly compressed together. She
drew herself up proudly, as if she despised
herself for her weakness, and crushed the
letter, ,whieh had fallen from her trembling
fingers, contemptGously under her foot, and
then plcked-it up with look of disgust, as
if it had been some loaihesome thing, and
putting on her hat and shawl, sbe walked
firmly out OF the room.
She went rapidly on till she reached low
white cottage; she entered it, aud passed
quickly through the little sitting room to her
own apartment. Here she took from an in
laid box q package of letters, and adding
Jbat she had just received to the number, she
hastily collected every smemento, however
trifing, which had been the gift of
Louis Meredith, and placed them securely
together in readiness 10 retprR to haus.-
Then carefully arranging her toilet, she re-
turned to the sitting room. An old lady,
dressed with scrupulous nicely, was its only
occupant; she was quietly knitting. The
table was spread for the evening meal, she
had been evidently waiting fos ber daugh-
ter's return.
aYou are late tonight Beatrice,' she
said, "bnt suppose Louis came for you to
60 walk. 1t is foolish TO take such unrea-
sonable hours for his walks. Tea has been
waiting this half hour"
81 am sorry to have kept you waiting so
long, MOTHER returned her daughters sill
very voice, shut those walks viii trouble
| you no longer. Louis Meredith and have
parted forever"
The old lady dropped her knitting work
in her lap, and looked at her daughter in as
tonishment; at length she spoke
| "Oh, | see lovers quarrel, But you
will make il up in a day or two, and be all
the happier for it. Well, well-better dis
agree before than after marriage
ssMother,D said Beatrice, "listen TO me-
I shall never marry Louis Meredith. Moth
ing on earth could induce me 10 do 30. As
I said, we are parted forever and now let
me beg you never again mention his name
to me; let the subject never again be aliu-
ded TO between us; let all be as il we had
never known him.. Her voice softened.--
ssYou will not be sorry, mother dear. to have
your Beatrice again all your owns and
she took her parsnes shriveled hand fondiy