Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-27
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| Here IS letter for you, too. i don't
! think you need to wonder who IL is fron;''
and nodding to Florence significantly, the
| good lady drew me away into the porch.
"a queer business all this!'' she said. 81
am glad to see, at last. to the bottom of it.
! have often heard Mr.. Ashton speak of her
father. He is a dreadfully violent man; and
/ l suppose he would have been fully capable
| of coming here and shooting her. or Lord
| knows what" She talked on. l heard a
confused murmur of, "Given his consent
"A widow-Mrs. Raymond" "Found out
his nephew's vilainy," Taken one of his
sudden turns,r .'Mr. Ashton" Her maid has
a very long tongue" Servants know every
thing" Couldn't help listening" "She had
| puzzled US much.' Finally she wound up:
"Are you not surprised to hear that she is a
| widow, and just going to be married again?
| If she had been prettier | might feel very
anxious for you, Mr. Leicester; and | am
| afraid she is great fiirt."
L made gesture of warning, for Florence
stood in the doorway.
Il wish to speak to you, Mr.. Leicester" she
said.
Her voice was husky. followed her into
the empty drawing groom.
He is coming with Mr.. Ashton. They will
be here in an hour" She spoke abruptly,
impetuously.
'Well?'
She looked at me wildly, despairingly.
"What shall dO!"
1T is for you TO decide.'
"For me! Do you not know that / am a
slave-that / am the victim of an infatuation
that can not conquer. One cold, searching
glance of his steady eyes will make me fall
again under his control, as powerless as the
bird charmed by sepent. l have no will
where his is exerted. My vaciliation, my
weakness. are worthy of his contempt; and
have not the courage to tell him that | no
longer love him. | can not tell him that
stranger has supplanted him. And do l
know if you have! Frederick, pity me; do
not judge me harshly. have suffered so
much, have loved so much, that | can not
analyze my feelings nor understand them. l
have meant to act honorably by you, by him,
by myself; and am wrecked, wrecked,
wrecked!''
do you forgive me?" she asked, after a
pause.
Freely. Can you forgive yourself for
what you are about to do? / do not ask you
from a selfish motive, but will you not be
deceiving himr'
"Of course, L will!'' she exclaimed, passion
ately. He trusts me so entirely, and never
doubts my cOnstancyW
'How much of this trust is to be attributed
to his own personal vanity, and the satisfied
conviction that he is too superior to be for
sakeng | do not accuse him; | only put the
question. And do you really think he has
been true to you? Have you already forgot
ten how he behaved in the time of your
trial and troubles! his arguments? his pruden
tial considerations?
Hush! Don't remind me-"
"Florencel' | said, and | took her tremb-
ling, cold little hand, II have never loved
till now. | am very young, but | shall never
love again. This is the crisis of your fate
and OF mine. BE true to what is true. What
ever your decision, am yours for life. Yours
to have you mine; or yours at a distance
and as strangers before the world and
in the world God bless you, and guide
you rightly! for you hold in your hands the
earthly happiness of two human beings
your own and mine"
And his she murmured.
made no answer. for | would not say
what | really drought. We stood side by
side, her eyes bent down, and her whole figure
relaxed and weary.
Suddenly she started shudderng.
81 must leave you.o She passed her hand
across her brow, as if to rid herself of some
tOrmenting vision and forced a smile. .'Look
at me for the last time in this shabby gown
This was one of my minor trials; had to
abandon my wardrobe when ran away, and
| have taste for magnificence. must make
a toilet for the first time in three weeks
Three weeks only. is it. 1t seems as if
whirlwind had swept me through long ages?"
She was gone.
The butler brought in extra candles The
rooms wore a look of tte and preparation. |
wandered listlessly out of the house. |
went back to that memorable bench. Wild.
impossible thoughts chased each other
through my brain, such as-nol | can not
describe, | would not describe what felt
what contemplated. Hours wore away.
Back TO society and its claims. Mr.. Ashton
had no doubt already arrived with his guest
aud, of course, there were good-natured in
quiries going on as to my absence. ! cared
very little for their remarks, but better brave
II at once.
was very deliberate, very careful: went
to my room and arranged my dress: think
brushed my hair unintermittingly for ten
minutes. recollect how slowly i went
down stairs, never pausing, but secretly anx-
ious to delay the moment.
So that was Alfred Varnham! He was
talking to Mrs. Ashton. He was handsome
dark, high-bred. calm, grave, cold as a cold
man can be, courteous withal, graceful and
gentle.
| shook hands with Mr.. Ashton: where
had been?'' asleep" Well. | had been
dreaming, so my conscience only WINGED.
was presented to Mr.. Varnham. / saw
smile exchanged between Laura Hamilton
and Garry Ashton. Not muscle quivered-
and this was the man she loved.
answered mechanically and correctly,
put questions de rtguerr, made phrases of pol
iteness, and inwardly repeated, ''She loves
this man! she loves this mani'
Mrs Raymond will not sing, papa" Caro-
line Ashton said, although you have just re-
vealcd to us what n musician she is. and beg
ged the favor, through me, of one song!"
''Oh, she must CONSENT Mr.. Ashton ex-
claimed. Il must try my personal persua-
sionsn
| followed his footsteps with my eyes. Mr.
Varnham returned to his hostess, and Caro-
line drew me aside, whispering, Have you
seen her! What transformation Dress
and brighter hopes have turned our plain
MYSTERY into married beauty"
Then / saw her. but not distinctly. There
was, as il were, u field of strange vapor be-
tween US, and | perceived a radiant figure,
differing so widely from my late grave, quiet
companion, that could with difficulty recog-
niZe her.
The color of her gown was blue, and 1t bad
broad white silyery bands, shimmering and
glisteuing like melted stars. Her shoulders
were bare. SO were her glorious arms; had
never seen them uncovered before, and they
were dazzling Her hair was dressed in some
peculiar fashion,; ot course, in these days IL
would seem hideous and awkward. but il was
very beautiful then. thuse piles of massive
hraids, browning her head, with soft curl
peeping out here and there, and then one
hali-lalling as if Ia kiss the white neck thai
carried itself 50 proudly.
There was flush upon her cheek, grand
light in her large eyer. Gracious Heaveni
how madly worshlpcd her! not for her bean
ty-remember loved her days before, and
OWNED her power before she ever welded
il.
They were pressing her to sing; the whole
party urged IT, join your persaasioas 10
ours, Mr.. Leicester Miss Hamilton called
out. maliciously aud markedly.
Florence caught my eye; saw her color
rise. sprcak. darked. yarnhaIn slowly CLAN
c. d al both of us-
I,l..... ,,,r,..3 "a tn. hart, hastily SAVING