The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-04-21

"Horry, is it possible" said the love
ly girl with beaming eyes, chat you
know not Of my wealth-of my for
tuner"
"BortuncI" I gasped, letting go her
arm, and looking torror-strickeu.
"Go on" said Maria, kindly, "hat
would make no difference to me"
"Doarest beloved girl Of my heart,
pardon my presumption. / had no
suspicion that you we're any other than
the portionless girl I knew a year ago.
Had suspected this" I added proud
ly 'I should have crushed the dawn
ing passion within my heart; 'tis now
too late-rioh or poor, my heart is ir-
revocably gone. should have delayed
II should have hesitated-but feared
my brother might speak first He isl
somebody am nobody"
"Your brother, Harry, would have
been rejected" said Lady Maria, dryly
"and now, dear Harry, I would not will
lingly offend you, but you must lot me
think this but a burst of boyish pas
sion"
Il NNNkEtlGA Us nNN opNhHs
"NoI I was a boy when I came here
a happy, merry, careless boy-I AN now
a man, and you have made me so. II
remains for you to decide whether my
manhood will be one of glorious bappi-
ness, or whether I become a desperate
and hopeless wretch, whose career upon
earth Heaven in its mercy will short
en-.
aDon'tl don'tl" she cried, "don't say
such wicked thingsl"
"Thoy are not wicked, Maria. II is
oven so. Like the gambler, 1 have un-
willingly placed my whole existence on
the hazard Of a die--death or life upon
a woman's smile You may try TO de-
ceivc yourself, but you must believe
me. When once a mans eyes have FIX
ed themselves in love upon you it is
for ever"
"Horry Harcourt," said Lady Maria,
quickly, "I would not believe it true
for all the wealth of the Indies"
"Why?' said /, trembling as with the
ague.
because can never be yours, she
continued, with a deep sigh
"You do not love me2" 1 gasped.
"IIarry Harcourt, why press me on
this painful subject tell you plainly
that can never-no, never be yoursl'
"But why?"
IL am engaged to another, and shall
be married in a month"
"Ahl I suspected tiny brothorT" ]
shrieked.
"No; to one you do not know, and
whose name, in your present humor, /
would rather not mention"
"Heaven have mercy on mel is this
reality, or some horrid dream? Can il
be true? another'sl"
IL am sorry, Harryw she said in hol
softest tendcrest tone. 81 should moi
have come, had suspoobd-"
"Sorry! sorry!" cried; "sorry, in
decdl Why? 'Tis but a boys heart bro
ken--nothing more. But-but--it
this engagement irrevocablo?"
81 have been engaged this twelve
mouths, faltered poor Maria, who reall,
did feel for me.
"And you love him2"
"Hc is a man of noble character,
man to respect rather than love. He il
much older than I an and yet I haC
looked forward with delight to our union
as Of one wise and discreet promisin,
great happiness--until just now"
"Until just now?"
ayes, Harry-if that is any satisfac
ton to you--know that Iregret my pre-
cipitancy. should have seen more OF
the world ere I tied myself Do no
, mistake me. Your passion takes me b
surprise; but had been free, gratitude
: pride-for you are a noble fellow, Har
: ry--would probably have led me to re
turn your generous, your disinterestc
affection. II is now too late. My wor
T is irrevocably given, and to talk even o
G what might have been is crime
, Not another word, Harry, or I leay
e you Calm yourself, or everybody wi
, be talking about us. / shall leave
+ soon rs possible. Would that l had nj
p como!"
b / was stunned, overwhelmed, annih
y lated teh ike some guilty wretc
? condemned to dis. I knew that hoT
S there was none, Lady Maria Tempt
t ton would not have been so hard, but
IT temper her refusal Anothers tt VI
fearful TO think Oft was maddeniu
n and il nearly drove me madl-When
1 Joined my brother and sister tried
rally. It was faint attempt. It w
1t no consolation for me to know that th
evening Lady Maria had refused him q
so, / pitied him; pitiod any ono wi
pr had TO endure the torture Of her smi
e and know it was anothers,
l. / believe earth has no such 9th
pain as this How I passed over tn
D. Christmas eve, and how / endured tn
Christmas day, I knew not / hea
IN the sirens voice, but I understood
,r not
ID 1t was very late, and the merry par
was about to break up. had made i
arrangements 10 start at day break.
Il "Lady Mario" | said in as stately
70 manner as / could assume-it was va
y, unkind and very ungenerous, but
y could not help it-"I am come to wi
ss you goodbye. / leave tomorrow MOI
e, ing, to join my regiment"
n $50 soon" she replied, raising /
m eyes brimful of tears to mine. "W
.h go? The Christmas merry-makings
y not over; and who knows, ere tho n
" year, you may bo heart-whOIe or hi
e. pyF