Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-06-02

to the name by which you address me.
and that my only claim to either, is that
of an imposter and deceiver."
She turned her lovely face, wondering
and puzzled towards me.
Thank heaven, did not yet read fear
and aversion in it.
mo right no claim!' she repeated :;
g what can you mean r.
/ told her frankly and fully. the whole
truth nearly as | have set it down here.
denying nothing. and concealing nothing.
not ever the useless secret of ms love for
her. When the brief recital was ended.
we both remained silent, but although
she had hidden her face, | could see that
she trembled violently with shame and
repulsion. The sight of her distress was
agony to me, ard | tried to say a few
words of apology.
"You cannot blame or hate me, Miss
Dundard. more than | blame and hate nv.
self, for the distress | have so unwilling.
ly caused you. Heaven knows that if |
accepted the charge Of SO much innocence
and benuty too lightly, I have heavily
atoned since, in having occasioned this
suffering to you. and nay own punishment
is greater than | can bear"
The coach stopped as l spoke, she
turned towards me eagerly, her face bear
ing traces of tears, and said, in a low
voice ::
"Do not misunderstood me, if / 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 was Tor
the last time but | watched her grace
full figure with sad distress. She was al.
ready recognized. for the door of the
handsome house before which we STONED
was thrown open, and a pretty woman,
followed by a fine looking, black whisker-
ed gentleman. whom l supposed to be nv
namesake. rushed down the steps. There
were loud ordinations of establishment
and pleasure, a cordial welcome, and
some rapid questions, to which Florence
returned very low and quiet answers
and quickly ex~tricating herself from the
confusion, presented me as Mr.. LIE Rov.
your husbands namesake, and the gentle
man who kindly took charge Of me-"
glanced at her face, to see if she were
hooking me, but it vas pale and grave.
Mrs. LIE Roy opened her pretty ewes
widely, but was too we'll bred to expose
surprise, and after introducing me to her
husband, in the same terms, invited me
into the house. Hardly conscious of
what | did, or of anything except that |
was still in the presence of Florence.
from which | could not endure to Danish
myself, | followed them into a handsome
parlor where sat IN old lady, who my
conscience told me was the rheumatic
aunt had so cruelty belied. Florence.
herself. presented me to this lady. who
was a fixture. and unable to rise from.hcr
chair, and before l could stammer an
apology and retire, related in her own
way chow different from mine) the mis-.
take by which she had been placed in
my care. and the history of the journey,
in which it appeared our host, Mr.. lie
Roy, had been a fellow passenger
When she had ended, they all crowded
about me, warmly expressing their thanks
for my kindness aud consideration, to
my utter bewilderment and surprise, and
cordially inviting me to remain there,
and make the acquaintance Of my name
sake and family. detached myself from
all this unexpected kindness as soon as /
could, for | fancied | read aversion in
the flushing and paling face, and droop
ing eyes Of Florence, and with one last
look at her, left the room. A moment
after, | felt the touch of a light hand on
my arm and turning, saw, with mute
surprise, that she had followed me into
the vestibule.
MIR. LIE Roy" said she, hurriedly, " l
cannot let you go away, misunderstood
ing me as | see you do. If | was silent.
while you SO humbly ~apologized for this
noble, generous, and honorable delicacy
Of your conduct, it was not from anger,
believe me, but because | was at first too
much astonished. afterwards too much
moved and grateful to speak. lowe you
more than | can pay, and should be mis-
cradle, 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
| don't know what answer | made, for
the revision Of feeling was almost too
great Tor words, and the rapture OF know
ing. as | locked down in her lovely face,
that it was not for the last time, quite
took away the little sense / had remain
ing. If you want to know how | felt,
ask a man who is going to be hung, how
be would feel to be reprieved.
Well, how time flies! 1t c~etainly does
not seem five years since all this happened,
yet Cousin Jennie (my Cousin Jennie
now, so bitterly ~reproaches US in her
last letter, for not visiting her in all that
time, that we have again undertaken the
journey, but undcr different auspices,
since Florence is Florence Dundard no
more, and sleeps upon my arm in the ears
no longer blushingg, hut with the conf
deDcs Of q wife Of nearly Eve years stan
ding, and register u nanes in the no