The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-06-09
No right? no claim 2 she repeated;
what can you mean

told her, frankly aud fully. the Who'll
truth. nearly as l have set it down here
denying nothing, not even the useless sc
crct of my love for her. When the brie
recital was ended, we both rem aimed 81
lent, but although she had hidden hel
face. could see that she trembled vio
lently with shame and repulsion. The
sight Of her distress was agany to me, and
| tried to say few words of apology.
You cannot blame or hate me, Miss
Dundard. more than | hate and blame
myself, | said, for the distress | have Sc
unwillingly caused you. Heaven knows
that if | accepted the charge of SO much
innocence and besuty too lightly, | have
heavily atoned for it since, in having oc-
casio ned this suffering to you. and my
punishment is greater than can bear.
The coach stopped as I spoke. She
turned towards NE eagerly, her face bear
ing traces Of tears, and said, in low
voice.
DO not misunderstood me, if I was SO
silent
The coachman threw open the door,
and stood waiting. | was obliged to de.
scend and assist her out. hardly dared
touch that little hand, though it vas for
the last time, but watched her graceful
figure with sad distress. She was alrea-
dy recognized, for the door of the hand
some house before which We stopped was
thrown open, and pretty woman follow
ed by fne-lookiDg, black kwbiskered
gentleman-wbom | supposed to be NY
namesak ake--rushed down the steps. There
were loud exciamations of astoni. .hment
and pleasure, cordial welcome, aud
soue rapid questions, to which Florence
returned some very low and quiet an
swcrs, end quickly extricating herself
from the confusion, presented NE as Mr..
Leroy, your husbands namesake, and
the gentleman who so kindly took charge
of me- | glanced at her face to see il
she were mocking tae, but it was pale and
grave. Mrs. LeRoy opened her pretty
eyes widely, but was too well bred to ex-
press surprise, and after introd ucing me
to her husband. in the same terms, invi-
ted me into the house. Hardly conscious
Of what | did. or anything, except that
was still in the presence of Florence, |
followed them into handsome parlor,
where sat an old lady, who, my conscience
told me, was the rheumatic aunt L SO
cruelty belied. Florence herself presen-
ted NE to this lady, who was fixture
and unable to rise from ber chair, and
before | could stammer an apology ami
retire, related in her own way (bow diff
ferent from mine y the mistake by which
she had been placed in my care; and the
history of our journey, in which it ap-
peared that our host, Mr.. Leroy, had
been fellow passenger. When she had
ended they all crowded around NE, warm
ly expressing their thanks for my kind
nes aud consideration, to my utter be-
wilderment and surprise, and cordially
inviting me to remain with them, and
make the acquaintance of my namesake
and family. | detached myself from all
this unexpected kindness as soon as
could, for fancied | read aversion in the
fushisng and paing face and dropping
eyes Of florence, and with ore last look at
her, left the room. A moment after,
felt the touch OF light hand on my arm,
and turning, saw with mute surprise that
she dad followed me into the vestibule.
Mr.. Leroy she said. hurriedly, Il
cannot let you 90 away misunderstanding
me, as see you 10. If was silent while
you SO humbly apologized for the noble,
generous, and honorable delicacy of your
conduct, it was not from anger, believe
me, but because [ was at frs. too much
astonshed, and afterwards too much
IL moved and too grateful to speak. / owe
you more than eau pay, and should be
miserable, indeed, if a false shame, which
you see has not prevented my telling you
this, should prevent you from continuing
an acquaintance SO strangely begun
Trust me, sir, | speak the truth
| don't know what answer made, for
the revulsloun Of feeling was almost too
great for words, and the rapture of know
ing, as | looked down into that lovely
face, that it was not for the last time, quite
took away the little sense | had rem ain
ing. If you would like to know how
felt, ask man who is going to be hung
how he would feel to be reprieved.
Well, how time flies! 1t certainly
does not seem five years since all this
happened, set cousin Jennie (my cousin
Jennie, now SO bitterly rcproaches US
in her last letter, for not visiting her iu
that time, that We have again undertaken
the journey. but under different circum
stances, siuce Florence is Florence Dun
dard DO more, end sleeps upon my ara
in the cars no more blu-hiugly, but will
the confidence of wife of nearly five
years standing. and | register our names
in the hotel book, as 'Mr. aud Mrs. LIE
Roy and bless my lucky stars, as | read
it over. Even while | write, Florence
lovelier than ever, as | tbiok, makes 1
grand pretenee of arranging our baggage
at the hotel where We stop, (and which