Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-11-10

e on the dressipg-table; placed them in thei
I box, and took them out of the room wi,hou
D saying a word. To my dlsmay. | foun'
Josiah in the boudoir. There was Away
4 some difficulty about the lock of the safe
which was very elaborate; he took the key
out of my hand, and opened the door fo
= me, and almost before had placed the dia
monds in their usual place, he renewed hi'
, hateful offer 1t was on my lips to tell hin
that ! knew of his baseness; luckily, a.
events will show, restrained myself; bu
| did solemnly declare that, come wha
might, would never be his wife. He tried
to frighten me with my aunt's disPlasure.-
In the midst of our discussion, in came
Lucy from the dressing-room with mes.
sage that her mistress wished to see me i'm
meeistely. ,@...-
Il, vas relief, at al! costs, TO be out ol
Josiah's presence.
my aunt was sitting in her easy chair,
wrapped in her dressing gown. Her manner
was all kindness TO me-she made me sit
close by her. To my surprise, she Gid not
say one word about the marriage; she began
talking. accidentally as it were, about the
alterations she intended TO make in the
house she asked my opinion of her different
plans. Ireplied incoherent!y enough. I'm
sure, but she took no notice of my manner.
AS we lived in the neighborhood Of Lon
don it was Josiah's custom very frequently
to discharge pistol out of his bedroom
window. Hearing the report, It recalle TO
my mind that had left the keys OF the safe
with him. My aunt kepi these keys in a
secret place in her room, and was always
very careful TO see that they were safely
deposited before she went TO bed. l was
puzzling my head now to get these keys
from Josiah, for had not the courage to 60
for them myself, when there came tap at
the door, and Lucy brought in the keys say
ing that Mr.. Josiah had told her to give
them to my aunt.
The conversation about the Improvements
was resumed, and soon found that all this
| had really reference to cur marriage, my
aunt choosing to assume by implication tha.
! I bad consented TO the match.
Il, was a warm, su!try night, and on pre-
tence Of wanting air, went to the window.
How my heart beat! Looking out could
| jus. perceive, in the breaks OF light on the
path. figure hurrying down the garden,
strained my sight hard to be assured
of the fact. The time had come TO
tell my aunt of my cousins conduct.
] i turned abruptly from the window and
threw myself at her feet. AUNT, cannoi
| A.. H.
utter astonishment and dismy, there was a
knock outside the door; it was Josiah; he
bad come 10 ask whether Lucy had deliver
ed the keys.
my aunt answered Josiall's question, and
he went away; then turning to me. she
asked, in severe voice, what had to say.
Il knew 1t was in vain for me to speak
without proof. was silent through pain
full helplessness. My aunt waiting a while
T for me to speak, sternly declared had will
fully thrown away my best chance in life;
! hence forth she should never recur to the
subject, and she bade me good night.
\ reminded her thst this was my first act of
d:sobedience to her wishes; l declared
would never marry without her consent
1t was all in vain; Notwithstanding my tears
and protestations, could not move her to
forgiveness.
But however great my distress of mind
it was for the time lost in bewilderment at
: Josiah's conduct. 1t could not have been
, more than FIVE minutes after he had inquired
about, the keys, that he hurried into my
cunts dressing-room, without as much as
j knocking at the door, and told US, in going
the rounds of the house, he had found one
s of the dining-room windows, which opened
d on the garden, unbarred, and the window
= open. He was certain :hcre was some col.
: lusion with the people outside; thieves ever
j now might be secreted in the house. HI
rang the alarm bell which was connected
< with the room. His manner was so perfect
: ly natural that began 10 believe | mus
d have mistaken the voice. The woman ser
It wants, greatly alarmed, came budding int
: the room, all but Lucy! Where was Lucy
$ Nobody knew: she was not upstairs. Jo
:, sieh and the :wo men were TO search tn
house. The butler declared he had bimsel
/ shut and barred the dining room windows
,fI Presently, we heard voices outside in tn
y garden, and Josiah came back to my aunt
7, room laughing; be said it was all o falls
,. alarm. The butler and footman had pounce
d upon Lucy just as she was coming in at th
b window. The wretched girl was hurrie
into my aun.'s presence and cross-question
ID ed, Josiah standing by quite unconcernet
L What had she been doing! she was s
I'd scared and frightened. All we coul1 gai
from her was, she had gone to meet hi
lie sweetheart.
I'd My aunt gave her warning on the spo
Of and declared she should leave The hous
e, next day. s-r
Id Il was far too excited to sleep that nigh
,g Josiah's voice!-was it Josish's voice!
could think of nothing else.
l Early in the morning Lucy came into n
l room, crying bitterly. She begged al
~ prayed would intercede for her with n
cd aunt.
ELF Tell me, Lucy, whom did you really {
to meetp
, why, miss, only my young man. she r
nt piled.
's- What an hour to choose, Lucy!'
en- Yes. miss, but he's at work in Londt
he all day long,
ss- was determined to solve the myste
re about Josiah.