The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-31

had plapea inei for the time' far beyond the
reach Of her taunts.
81 judged your future by my own heart"
repeated Charles, attempting as he spoke, to
draw my work from me again. "Oh' Mel
ly, bid me hope that / have not judged
wrongly 1" -. .r.
What right had to tTemble with delight
at his welcome words! What right had the
warm, tell.tale bushes to write for his peru
sal, my secret upon brow, lip and cheek!
was poor, and what right had l to woman's
love and joy! Charles Howard was proud
man-what could he want of love! The
thought was torturing to me, and with o
quick, spasmodic effort, said to him. "Do
not, do not taunt me, Mr.. Howard. l do not
deserve this from you."
"Taunt you, dearest !" he said, drawing
me passionately towards him. "Taunt you,
who have grown to be nearer to me than
any one elsel when came to you this morn.
ing to ask you to be my wife-my wife, Mel
ly!" he repeated. .....
"You can not mean what you are SAYING"
sobbed. "You are rich, learned and proud;
am poor, unknown, and unloVed. am q
Sewing girl"
"Well, what OF that!" he asked, holding
me off at arms length from him, as though l
had been the merest child, and looking half
sternIy, half reproachfully in my face. 81
am weary OF pride, pomp and show. l ask
for the love Of your true womanly heart--a
heart that has been kept pure and free from
the corroding dusts Of the world. Give, oh;
give me home there; Nelly If there is
condescension on either side, it is on yours.
You are ttuet and purer than am. Do not
interrupt me. If you were not, your life
could not flow on so calmly 80 gently.
am better man when near you, darling"
Oh, how like bewiIdering, beautiful
dream his words made everything to me J.
How rapidly and intoxicatingly the assur.
ance ut his love went through the waiting
chambers of my soul ! forget everything;
hardships, privalions, insults, sofro~ and des.
pair, as for one little moment he drew my
weary head TO his breast, telling ME that
henceforth and forever it should be my shell.
ter, restng-place and shield.
aha, hn, ha p broke through my golden
JOY the quich, musical laugh OF Leti,ia Lang.
don. "Really, this is interesting How
lucky for me that took freak to rise early
this morning! This beautiful, pathetic tab
leau, tree OF expense Ha, ha ha Shall
| summon spectators. Mr.. Howard /"
'JuSt as you please, Miss Lnngdon," was
the cool, carelessly. given reply, as he drew
me back to my seat. "Perhaps your enjoy
ment will be increased, however, if you have
the selfish pleasure of knowing that it is un
shared by one else i"
"Really, Charles, this is little beheatll
yoo," she replied, in conciiatiDg tone.-
"Don't, | beg of you, triae with this poor,
unsophistcated creature any longer. OF
course it is perfectly excusable, for gentle.
men have right to seek amusement 90 they
choose but this girl, this servant of mine
really, she makes me blush that am a wo'
man."
"Come here, 1etitiu; and let ME l5ok al
you while you are bIushing," was the reply
given with light laugh.
"Well, yes. anything" said she. "only
let this girl be sent to her room. This is nc
place for her."
A quick, fiery anger shone in Charlet
Howard's eyes at these words, such as
had never seen there before; yet his voice
was calm as he said aloud to her: "Very
WE'LL" and then whispered to me, "l'll take
care of you, darling do not fear"
Half an hour later, as / was pacing to and
fro across my chamber, Letitia Langdon
came to me, her beautiful features darkened
by frowRs. | did not tremble at her anger
!! but stood up silently and proudly before her,
waiting for her to commence the merciless
} tlfada which she had in readiness for me.
"Well, what have you to say for yourself9'
she began, her voice quivering with rage
"atsMer -
But I did not:cars to speak, and SO temain'
! ed silent.
"Why don't you answer me I" she asked
with stamp of het feet.
"First must know by what authority you
ovoss;on mo - I renlied
: "Girl, are you not my servant, working
for the home give you! Are you not &C.
} countable to me for your department."
} "If do not please you, I can easily
, leave," said, turning away from her.
: eyes, and leave me you should, but fol
Mr.. Howard's kindness and pity. Foolish.
ly enough, have promised not to turn you
] out of doors. However, be careful how you
! conduct yourself or you will go now," she
said, sweeping proudly toward the door,
She stopped suddenly added, 81 have few
3 dresses whieh you may as we'll make for me
t MIR. Howard thinks you will please us bet
t ter than any one else" By.
I could not but smile at her presumption at
: she closed the door after her. "Mr. How
ard thinks you will please U.S." Irepeated
to myself, thankful that her insinuatioh hat
|, no longer power to rufffe the calm Joy OF my
r hoarf o.,