Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-11-10
Gerard gioaned.
He cast his eyes on shat Harry.

Il presume, he said, she is engaged?'
Phoebe looked in the same direction
too /; then she turned her eyes upon him
archly, and said. Well, l may say no.
and may say yes. At all events. if she
is moi quite engaged, there are. to ME,
pretty strong signs that she very soon
will be !!
And she burst into merry laugh as
she concluded
Gerard laughed, too, but it vas not
with pleasure.
Harry TUNED his head round. as he
heard the ringing laugh. and stopped.
Come, come said he, you two see m
precious jolly together. should like TO
have little of that jollity placed to my
account!
Selfish beast!' thought Gerard.
Here: continued Harry, Withdrawing
the arm of Naomi from his, and handing
her over to Gerard-'here, Mr. Earle,
Just take care of dear little Naomi, vii |
you? 1 just want to have little advice
from Phoebe!'
'AdviceI laughed Phoebe. i should
like to see you take advice from me-
Naomi is your adviser-general; don let
me take her Office away
We will confer, if you please, Phoebe.
None of your nonsense with me You
know l won't stand that, cried Harry ;
and, seizing her arm. walking at such a
pace that they were far into the wood be
fore Gerard and Naomi entered it.
What way they walked on in silence,
to be sure! At last Gerard broke it, and
said. a little spitefuly. Mr.. VIlliers
seems to be a favorite here?'
What, Harry?' exclaimed Naomi
'Ah! he is indeed, every body likes him. ,
You do?'
'Me?-oh, very much indeedl'
Gerard coughed. His heart was full
of pain and sorrow.
'Ah, yes-yes!' he murmnred; to be
sure-ol cOursef
They walked on in silence until they
came to bend in the rivulet which ran
into the Wye.
Shall We sit here?' he said, pointing
to the bank.
i am not tired she answered.
we will go on. them be said.
She looked up in his face.
You look pale. Gerard she said; per-
haps you are tired. Let us sit here for a
little while.
He was pale, and he felt wretched.-
He determined. too. to know his fate a.
once, for he loved this girl now so in
lense!y that suspense was death to him.
worse than the certainty that she loved
him not, and was about TO become an
others. He went at it headlong. TAX
ing deep breath, as she seated herself
by his side, and threw pebbles in the
stream, he saio, Mr. Villiers came down
here to contract marriage engagement,
did he nol?'
She looked at him with surprise, and
her face became of the hue of Grim
son.
Yes she replied. 'he did,
He has been accepted, l presumed
oh, yesl'
And the lady loves him?'
with her whole SOUL cried Naomi,
with emphasis.
Gerard bowed his head upon his knees,
and scalding tears forced their way
through his eyelids down his cheeks
He could not repress them. nor a groan
of agony which burst from him.
Naomi bent over him.
Good heaven, Gerard? she exclaim
ed. Are you in pain?'
He threw up his head.
a spasm!' be said; Somewhat sever,
l confess; but, should it come again.
you. at least, shall be spared witnessing
the mortal throes 1 mnst suffer-
He rose up; Naomi did so. 90. He
took from about his neck fine gold chain,
TO which was appended locket-a trim
ket that certainly came from as near the
region of bis heart as it could be woin.-
He placed it in her hand.
1 have worn it from whence 1 have
taken it, said he, since the hour l re-
ceived it. l have never sullied the ale
glance or tarnished the promise then
made, by thought or act foreign to the
spirit of the boyish engagements l en-
tered into with you, Naomi. Into your
hands return it, since henceforth TO me
it will be the bitterest remembrancer of
false and foolish hopes; and to whom,
after this, you may give it, may the du-
ration Of your attachment prove longer
than it has done in my CASE
Naomi had become white as marble;
the loeket lay in her hand as she placed
it. For moment she was unable to ut
ter word, then she said, Gerard, why
do you return this to me? What-what
have l done to forfeit your esteem?'
Naomi, l have not spoken of esteem
you were ever worthy of thatl' he re-
piled, even from those you care less for
than me-
'Gerard!'