Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-05-04

tured, was the residence of the Cousin
Jennie whose husband l was; very
fortunate discovery for me. Indeed, SO
far, | had not found the way Of the
transgressor hard, in external circum-
stance, at least, and when with her, /
forgot everything except her grace and
beauty, and my firm resolution 10 be TO
her more nor less than her cousin should
be; but out of that charmed presence
my conscience made me miserable.
am afraid l must sometimes have
betrayed the conflicts of feeling l had.
By my manner; but when l wa res
served, and ceremonious with her, she
always resented it, and begged me so
bewitchingly not to treat her 50, and to
call her by her sweet name, Florence, -
that had 1 dreaded as much as louged
TO do it, could not have refused her.
But the consciousness that / was not
what she thought me. but an impostor,
of whom. after our connection had csas-
ed, and she had discovered the decep
ton praticed upon her, she could think
or remember nothing that would not
cause her unmerited selfreproach and
modification, all innocent and trusting
as she was, this reflection, more than
any other, confess, and the knowledge
of the estimation in which she would
forever hold me, after my imposition
was discovered, agonized me. and l
would have given all possessed to own
it to her. and leave her sight at once,
though the thought of never seeing her
more was dreadful. But that could not
be.
At last We reached St. Louis. Do l
say cat last!' When the sight of the
spires and gables warned me that my
brief dream of happiness was over, ard
that the remorseful reflections l had
been staving off so long were now TO
commence in earnest. the thought of the
coming Punishment Of Florence, was
dreadful to me, and the time seemed to
fly on lightning wings as it drew nearer.
She was all gayety and astonishment at
my sadness and absence of mind when
so near home AMI Jennie, and when we
entered the carriage that was to convey
US to our destination. l had half mind
to take a cowerdly fight, rather than
encounter the scorn aRd disappointment
of those blue eyes; but l mustered
courage and followed her in. giving the
address found ip the port-monnaie, which
fortunately was the right one, to the
driver.
almost home !" said she, turning
her bright face toward me-we we're
rafting up the street and my time was
short-how can yoa be so cool and
quiel?"
because Miss Florence, II answered,
"'the time has come in which / must
confess 10 you that have no more right
in the home TO which we are Fastening,
than to the name by which you address
me, and that my only claim 10 either. is
that of an imposter and deeeiyer."
She tnrned her lovely fece, wonder
ing and puzzled, toward me.
Thank Heaven l did not ye! read fear
and aversion in it.
mo right no claim !" she repeated
"what can you mean?"
told her frankly and full, the whole
truth, nearly as have set it down here,
denying nothing. cOncealing nothing, no'
even the useless secret of my love fol
her. When the brief recital was ended,
We both remained silent, but although
she had hidden her face, 1 could ses
that she tremblrd violently with shame
and repulson. The sight of her distres.
was agony TO me. and 1 tried 10 say
few words of apology
''You cannot blame or hate me, Mis-!
Dundard, more than l blame and hate
myself" / said. ''for the distress have
Sc unwillingly caused you. Heaver
knows that if | accepted the charge G
so much innocence and beauty so lightly
l have heavily stoned since, in having
occasioned this suffering TO you, and my
own punishment is greater than car
bear"
The coach stopped as 1 spoke, she
turned towards me eagerly, her face
bearing traces of tears, and said in a Low
voice:
DO not misunderstood me If l was SC
silent"
The coachman threw open the door
and stood waiting. l was obliged tt
descend, and to assist her out. hardly
dared touch that little hand, though j
was for the last time, but l watched hel
graceful figure with sad distress. Sh.
was already recognized, for the door o
the handsome house before which W,
stopped was thrown open. and pretty
woman. followed by fine looking, blacl
whiskered gentleman. whom l supposed
to be my namesake, rushed down the
sipes. There were loud exclamation.
of astonishment and pleasure, cordia
welcome, and some rapid questions tc
which Florence returned very low ant
quiet answers. and quickly exiricating
herself from the confusion, presented mt
as "Mr.s LIE Roy, your husbands name