Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-08-19
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from lIarper's3 Magazine
A GIRLS DILEMMA.

This isthe anniversary of an important
day in my life. I will K ,cp it by recording
the events that led to my present position
let not those stay to read whose hearts have
grewn too old to relish love story
| At eighteen, l was: one Of the most
tboughtless Of. human beings. Ny widow
| ed father, rich merchant, had humored
every whim from infancy, and asked moth
ing Of me in return but light-heartedness
and affection. No one could have known
less than / of the shadows and sorrows Of
| life, OR have been more childishly occupied
lin the present. 1t was the night of my first
ball, to which | was to be introduced under
the most Aattering auspices; was half=wild
with ezcitena ent, sand,the moment niy toilet
was completed, Z few doan stairs to show
myself to ny father who. was not going
with me, as at first ARRANGED, being proven
ted, he said, by sudden and insurmountable
engagements. Well remember how i'm
patiently burst open the dining room door
and with what a bound of elation [ sprang
toward the spot where he stood, spreading
out my Beautiful dress. and making before
him .sweeping courtesy. seem to hear
now the soft rustic cf lace and satin to feel
the glow that burned On ny cheeks, and the
quick throbbings Of my happy heart. :. I had
not at first noticed, in my agerness, that the
table was covered With papers, and that nv
father was not alone Mr. Lacy, barrister-
at-law, his friend and mine-sdr / had known
him from my cradle-sa5 opposite to him,
and second glance showed me how grave
and anxious were the faces Of both
"What is the matter?" ( asked, laying
my hand carelessly on my fathers shoulder.
He looked at me fondly till ] saw tie tears
brim his eyes s-
''My darling8' he said, in an abrupt,
passionate way. "We will not tell her,
Lacy? It would be cruel let her have
at. least few more happy hours; she need
not know tonight. How will she bear it %
Mr.. Lacy looked increasingly grave. Il
had become very grave too; my childish ex-
cltement seemed to have given place to a
sudden and almost womanly seriousness.
! 1T is of no use hiding any thing from
me-" said, trying to smile, though [ trem-
bled from head to foot in vague foreboding.
Il could not 60 to the ball now; tell me
what has happened" The expression OF
my fathers face deepened to anguish; he
put his hands before it, as if the sight Of me
was too painful to bear. | turned to Mr.
Lacy
! ''Do you tell me-" I implored. Mr.
Lacy fixed upon me the fine searching ewes
whose reproof had been tie sorest penalty O
my life hitherto, and kept 10 the scrutin,
till ! could bear it no longer, earnestly ane
kindly as it was. [ knelt on a cushing be
fore him, and leaning my arms On his knee
in favorite attitude, 1 returned his gaz,
with steady though fearful one.
"Try me- / said perhaps / an NOR,
! than the giddy child you think re. Be
sides, It cannot be SO dreadful you are boil
alive and we'll p Is ],
I a peculiar expression passed over Mr.
! Lacy's face. He seemed hesitating wheth
er to draw rae into his arms, or to push mi
/ from him;-he did neither. but rose up sud
denly, putting me gently back, and took
few turns through the room. !. I. !. -
'Halfofd," he said presently, and ia ag.i
tated tones, "orce more renew my offer
Of what use is wealth like mine TO a lionel
~ ALL zig uClp Cdu give, you ma
keep your credit and breast this storm
You shrink from an obligation there is
chance Of your never being able to cancel
y Well, will change places with you Civ
t me in return-that is, if can win her t
consentt-your daughter as my wife" NJ
a father looked up with literal gasp Of as
: : tonishment Mr.. Lacy went on withou
needing him. 81 am fool, no doubt"
b said; "but the time has long gone by whe
Mildred was child to me- For the Las
two years have felt from the depths of n.
g heart that she was a woman; have tough
against the insane wish to win her for m
E wife; my age, my past relations with bel
: seemed to make it crime Now I hay
!, spoken; God knows, as much to save 20
! from the disgrace you are SO obstinately bel
: on meeting and her from, the povert1. eli
: would crush her youth, IS O. satisfy sny o:a
}, feelings What she is to me words cam,
!, say; how I will guard and love her, my lo1
e only could prove. Mildred, what do yc
d say p
). He paused opposite me, and took n
hand: | was like one in dream. Low.