The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-04-07
perceiving her mistake.

arose rs Alice went through the intro
duction, and bowed smilingly.
"My sister has just been enumerat-
ing your virtues, Miss Herbert"
"Oh, Louis, you should not tell tales
out of school" exclaimed Alice, blush.
ing; "and now, to punish you, shall
not allow you TO remain while take
my lesson; leave the room, sir, instant
ly.' And the little dame threw open
the door with a grand flourish. Lou
is laughed gaily.
"Why, Alice, you are a perfect lit.
tie tyrant," he exclaimed; "but as |
have incurred your dispIeasure, sup.
pose ! must now suffer the penalty"
and taking his hat, he bowed grace
fullyto may and withdrew.
Louis Meringer was tall and well
proportioned; jet black curs fell over
a brow of snowy whiteness; his eyes
were large and dark, but they had a
strange, uncertain light, which many
considered diagrceabic; his features
were fautess. and, added to his beau
ty of person, he possessed that we'll
bred elegance Of manner which is of
itself irresistible; but alas a williams
heart was hd by all the outward gra-
ces which can adorn man.
The next day Mcringer was again
in the paror; and as he did not offend
his sister, he was allowed to remain
until the lesson was over. At first,
May was somewhat embarrassed at
his presence, but by skillul tact he
soon placed her at ease; and almost
before she knew it, they were carrying
on an animated conversation. Alter
this their intimacy rapidly increased.
Sometimes Meringer would await her
in the parlor; at others, meet her as
she went to or from the Hall; on such
occasions he always accompanied her
to her destination.
May, at length, began to look upon
these meetings as right and natural,
and seemed greatly disappointed if
anything prevented them. With all
the tervor other pure, guieless heart,
May Herbert loved him; and with all
the faith of woman, she believed him
when he told her that his love was
stronger than death.
1t was on lovely moonlight night,
in the early part Of September, that
May, accompanied by Louis, was
walking slowly along the road leading
to her home. Ali the evening Louis
had seemed gloomy aud dcpressed.-
At first, May forbore questioning him
as to the cause; but at length, grow
ing fearful that some trouble was at
hand, she ventured to ask him the rea-
son of this unusual depression.
"Oh, May" he exclaimed, in a voice
of well-leigned passion, "how can |
be otherwise than gloomy and depress-
ed when | think of our unhappy stu-
alton. / love you, May, dearer than
liie-decper than words can tell; and
yet" he paused. But as May ro-
mained silent, he again went on. 81
know my father will never consent to
our union; but have a plan in my
mind, and if you agree to it, we will
be beyond having his conset. Will
you agree to it, May"
"Certainly, LOUIS she answered,
without moments hesitation. 81 am
sure your plans are honorable; why.
then, should not agree to them, when
my happiness, as well as your own, is
at stakeP
May looked up, but at that moment
a cloud obscured the moon; she could
not catch the expression of his face.
Dear May" he murmured, as he
pressed his lips to her forehead, "listen,
then, and will explain my meaning.
| have, as you know, studied law, al
though | have never practiced it; my
plan is this: consent to be mine at
once, and we will be married pri-
vately. Twill then Immediately start
for New York, and open an office there.
Ihave many friends in the city, and
am sure | would succeed. The fear
of ever losing you being removed, and
the consciousness of possessing your
undivided love, would nerve me to the
unaccustomed task. In one year will
return, and claim you as my honored
wife. May, you will not refuse your
CONSENT"
His voice had sunk to one of deep,
passionate sntreaty; he clasped both
her hands in his, aud was gazing half
fearfully. into her face. But May had
been brought up by II pious mother;
she had never known deception, con-
sequently it looked hateful to her in
any form.