Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-21

carefully replacing them, with an expression
of suilen obstinacy, in my pocket Z
q Then the scene commenced after the most
approved fashion. shall not give the details.
Miss Marlborough with blanched check
declared that in visiting Mr.. Green she h:
never designed proceeding to such daneeTo
measures. She had no enmity toward NJ.
WescOt, she said, and if she only were con-
cerned, would never have complained; her
little sisters future was a thousand timts
more her concern. But this proceeding
against Mr.. Wescot would wound Der deeply,
painfully-indeed, indeed 1 must forego it.
Mr.. Harvard, who had been so very kind to
her, strongly disapproved of it: nay. ] ad
besought her to never rest until she alte ed
my rash determination; she owed great cal
To him, and could not consent to wound him.
She feared she bad been very rash in goir & TO
Mr.. Green, and she had put me to a great
deal of expense and trouble. 1t was only
proper that she should return me what had
expended. | was very kind. and she did not
mean to find fault, but hoped / would aban-
don the proceedings. and receive what
thought my services were entitled 10.
Here the young lady drew out her purse,
handed me a bundle of bank-notes, and ceased
speaking.
Never before or since have felt an emotion
of such profoundly mortified pride, such hope
less humiliation. This was, then, the result
of my devotion to the young girl! This was
the estimate she had of my motives and my
characterl While 1 was fondly regarding
myself as the champion of innocence against
base fraud and wrong-while my whole mind
and heart were ardently absorbed in the
struggle against the one who had wronged
her-while | was actuated by the most
chivalric and heightened sentiments of COM
passion, Indignation; nay, actually by toce
which had grown and increased with every
passing hour since our meeting; now, when
the young lady stood In this relation to me
when, like an honorable gentleman, | had
espoused her cause without fear or desire of
reward, now | was to be met suddenly by a
proposal 10 pay me for my expense and trouble to
discharge my wages for labor done. to take
my lawyer s-clerk receipt, and dismiss me!
Never, | say again. have ] been so much
mortified and Inundated. Iblushed crimson,
and, for several moments, could not speak.
| saw her gazing at me. and her bushes
slowly rose in answer to my own.
miss Peterborough has painfully wounded
me" l said at length, in a low voice, and
bowling; Il am 10th to think that it was
Intentional | trust it was not. What |
have done and designed doing was without
any view to pecuniary reward. | have as
much money as | need. | wish to assist a
lady who has been defrauded-to right a
wrong. Your money would have burned my
palm Madam" said blushing crimson, and
carried away by mortified vanity; Il would
have done for you what brother would
would have hazarded my life! | was ready
to charge this man with his villainy. and force
him, if necessary, by personal violence to
right you. | was unselfsh, if | know myself;
my father taught me to interpOse my arm,
and my breast, if necessary, between a weak
woman and cowardly oppressor. l was
brought up SO; you might have. See
Madame, l am blushing like girl with
shame! You have offered me-moneyw
stopped. | felt so much humiliation-so
degraded that could say no more. The
young lady's reply was broken by emotion,
and more than one sob testified TO the depth
of her agitation. Indeed she had not meant
to hurt my feelings, she said; she had only
done what Mr.. Harvard had told her to do: he
said that ought to be offered remuneration
for nv services. She never could forgive her
self for making me feel so badly; would for
give her and not think her ungrateful for all
my kindness and goodness? She very
young-hardly more than child-she knew
nothing of the ways of the world: for worlds
she would not wound one who seemed SO ge-
nerOus. and-kind and-good.
She looked so beautiful as she uttered these
broken words-her voice was full of such
pathetic music, her moist eyes instinct with
so much accomplishing sadness-the sob or
two which escaped from her lips went so com
pletely to my heart, that all my shame and
modification disappeared, my face flushed
with passionate emotion, and, carried away
by my feelings, / lost sight of every dictate of
propriety and decOrum. l caught her hands
in my own, covered them with wild kisses, and
told her, in agitated yet ardent words, that |
loved her, would always love her-she might
think me presumptuOus, crazy, intrusive but
no matter | loved her and would give her
my life if she wished it! Then l stopped.
.'Mr. WadsworIn!''
That was her reply in tone of hauteur
mixed with a species of incredulous wonder.
1t brought me to my senses. | drew back,
and for some moments we remained silent,
looking at each other.
Miss Peterborough has treated my mad an
nouncement as she should have done,' said
at length, with collected calmness, the calm
ness OF despair; iron mere a stranger it
was even an impertinence, for which humbly
ask her TO pardon me. 1t shall not be repeat
ed. Farewell. Madam. Here are the papers
which You forbid my using; yield, you see.
Nay every happiness attend you! Pardon
the insanity of young man who has no ex-
cuse to Offer for his rudeness but sincere feel
ing. Farewell forever. Madam"
And with a bow l left her. She was weep
ing.
CHAPTER V,
| RETURNED to the village with tempest
raging in my breast. This, then. was the
result of my chance visit to the placel In
two days | had fallen in love with a woman
told hpr that I lnvad h.,r anCwared