The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-06-10
MY SECOND WOOING'

luckily for me, it was brought up to my S
room, instead of being laid on the break
fasttable. grew desperate. and forthwith
packed my por:mantcau, ordered the coach
to be stopped at the end Of the lane, rushed
down the avenue to meet ii, got inside, with
a vague fear of being seen and stopped 1t
ventured on the box, and did not feel sale
till arrived at home-fnr | had still
home, changed. sa,ldepcd, humble us it WAS.
and good dear mother, aud a kind-heart'
ed. loving sister.
Such fun. GeralJ," said nv sister Jane'
the next morning; "your old friend, Hester
Deriny. is going to be married to Cousl"
Jobn.'
"What John Hartlandi never heard
a word of it,"
"Y.s; but listen. They are-all going
tour to the Rhime-,he Iartlands and Der
iugs-and have asked me to go with them.
and you too. I was going to write this
very ,lav, only was afraid YOU found !: SO
pleasant at the generals that you would
not come away AMI ma NINA dit not much
like nv going unless YOU could accompany
US. But now YOU will go, wont y"n! =
I needed not much persuasion. The
Rhin. ?-I wish it had been the Nile, or
the Gang.s, to have takeH me farther away
from my emhar' asm"nts. Thus the coward
ly weakness of nv nature led me always into
fresh troubles. rather than look the present
ones in the face.
What lovely evening it was! How
the ,in,s Of the sunset fingered Oh tn
heights. as we stood upon the "Rhenlsl
strand"
Hester Dering was an indefaigable sketch
er, aud her fance, Cousin John, very m"c
preferred clarnbering to the highest pol1
he could see, "to Look for a view, TO hinge
by her side whilst she Was drawing; SO ths
in our rambles, was constantly left to es
cort her, my sister Jane and Cousin Joh
taking little excursions here and there, an
bringing US word Of wonderful 'prospects
who's. picturesqueness they generally mea
ured by their extent.
Hester had flushed her sketch in tt
III deepening twilight, Nov, Gerald, sa
she, as she put up her pencils. II shall
able to talk to YOU. have been very, Vel
much interested in all you have been t.
lE ling me. hope you have not thought II
me Indifferent because | went on drawing
mo" said offering my arm, which S
NV took directly mo. like to talk to y
while you are drawing, because you do
look at me-"
AN odd reason" said she, laughir
"IIave you no better =
"Oh yes Because we are such very {
friends. Hester, and l don't feel
least afraid Of you. Yon are not Satire
though you are SO clever; and then you
- engaged, you know"
The best reason Of all, you think;
no won er, modest Master Gerald ,consi'
ing all the mischief you have done.
seriously, Gerald what will you Go, W
we get home again, with these two enga
meuts of yoursa Which Of the two
have tried in vain to discover-do
really love? Al cant say. love best. as
would ask child if it loves its nurse OF
sugar-pluns best, for there cannot be
least comparison in q true love"
WELL" said I. "you may laugh at m
you will, but solemnIy declare | {
know"
Then, I fear you love neither the
nor the other. Rose May was decid
your first love-"
oh, as for that, was desperately in
at ten year old, for whole bolyday, W
'' certain fairy queen Of seven. as perhaps
may remember, Miss Hester"
- o ', "Meaning me, suppose! Yes,
=. 1870 wv were happy days. Gerald! Do you
e" member that tou-house in the Ga
"s"' which we made believe was An ench
'"'''' palace, and the gardeners dog WAS
s" ss" dragon TO guard me, when I WAS tn
~ .,,.. cl,antel princess, and you the knig
rant z"
80 20 yea. yes" said I, with sort Of
nd the
many % .,S >,, NV -, .s. ..' 49,, .,o
III man 80 - =, :. :.sTH.,-< !,
IS and '"s III, - s:,i,o- :
every -, - - -
before s", ,.,, = ,oo,;
y ~ suddenly into ones face-- HfIL!a
'''p Few her looks, bu. every one
q rich 81 .Liksdne1pectsdI Hight surprises. !
r Her eyes were more soft than brig
70 more dreaming than penetrating.
r came ,he;r c,,o,,s bs,er {, knew. what il !,
steamer nevefthoueht about.it; but those raj
j upon. aeah.v..eus,a Like no other looks.
~ ma'o plunged into ones soul and when q