The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-12-31

is it?"
"Nearly two. May sit with you littl
Alice9 lhave great deal to say to you.'
The weary look was gone in moment
it was very unusual thing for him to asl
to stay with her, and it made her colo
come.
lie brought chair, and sat near her, bu
where she could not see his face. He tool
up the book she had been reading:
"Who sent you this, Alice? Which of th'
adoring swains %
"Mr. Craven sent it to me-"
"Did you ever hear an old song-'Heigh
no heigh.ho! Pm afraid too many y'--?'
''Hush % cried Alice, rather pettishly
"if you talk in that way l shall send yor
away"
He took her hand, and held it in both hi.
own-''My dear little cousin, will you take
word of advice from one who really has
your good at hearth"
She neither spoke, nor yet withdrew hei
hand.
&"You have no mother to watch over you
dear Alice, and are placed in what know
must be very, very trying position. am
sure you always wish to do right; but it il
very hard to escape from the unki ind remarks
of the world. You are very young. very
lovely; many envy you-many censure
you"
lie paused moment, and Alice hid her
face upon the arm of the sofa.
"Do you think me presuming, dear Alice,
in speaking thus; we are old friends-we
shall always be friends, shall we net a.?
Her finger closed on his.
"Remember that you have much to answer
for-many responsibilities. Above all,
take care that you do not make others un-
happy, or tr1e with affection. which, if true,
is more priceless than all the wealth of the
world! You know what mean, Alice!'
eyes"
"Do not raise hopes unless you mean to
fulfil them"
She was sobbiDg, in low, subdued man
ner that went to his heart.
"You are not angry with me Alice 2"
Angry aritt him! II he could only read
her heart!
"We old bachelors are privileged persons,
you know. Nay, you must not sob in this
way. | only wanted to give you word Of
caution before CO."
"Go !" cried Alice, springing to her feet
so! are you going to leave me?'
He was not prepared for this. lie hardly
dared trust himself to look upon her, as she
stood there with clasped hands and CULVER
ing lips.
"Yes, ain going back TO Lecombe.
have been here too longn' he added, half to
himself-but she heard the words.
"Too long. Then you have been dull,
lonely, with us-and now you are going !
o, what shall What sha II we do without
you!"
"Nay, Alice, you will hardly miss me. 1t
is not as though were ii young man, and
could be more companionable to you. Be.
sides, my people at Lecombe want me and
but Alice, Alice, do not cry, can bear it,
dear cbild?"
That word recalled her to herself. 1t was
better to hear it from him. Yes he thought
Of her as child; and she-shs had dared
to love him, not as child loves, but as
woman. She had poured out her whole
heart at his feet, and perhaps he knew that
it was .o-perhaps he scorned her for it !
She dashed the tear drops from her ewes,
struggled to stay the sobs tha: nearly choked
her, and sat down by his side.
''Teil me about Lecombe."
Lecombe was his home-the manor house
Of n country village. He told her of his
tenantry, and how poor some Of them were;
Of the efforts he had made, and making, to
improve their condition; of the schools he
had built, and the new parsonage then in
progress; of how he visited among them,
and tried 20 win their confidence and love !;
and, as he spoke so earnestly and truthfully
of all this, bis homely face to her seemed
beautiful, with higher beauty.than that of
fals l. r.
felt before, that to be his wife would be the
happiest lot on earth, and one Of which
she was unworthy.
Mr.. Waring was in reality but distant
connection of her fathers: but Alice had
known him since she was little child, and
the name Of "Cousin Jonathan" given to
him then, had been retained in after years
She had always looked upon him as her
friend, but uncOnsciously had learnt at last
10 love him as woman loves but once. The
very fact of his being so many years older
than herself had, for time, blinded her as
to the real nature of her feelings; but when
she met with that love from others, which
from him she would have given all the world
to possess, she knew how 1t was, and bitter
very bitter, were the pangs Of wounded pride
and homeless love in her young heart.
"When do you leave us p asked Alice as
she rose to quit the room.
"To-morrow," he replied, without looking
at her.
That night they had an engagement.-
Alice made tea for them in the drawing
room.
"My darling, are you not well 90 said Mr..
Braybrook, taking her hand in his.
MIR. Waring looked earnestly at her for
moment. A bright crimson spot burnt on
each cheek, but there was livid circle
round her eyes, and her lips were almost
him-a thought that made his pulse bound
wildly and his hand tremble.
Could it be so lie tried to put the
thought from him. He dare not dwell upon
The footman entered "Captain Ray is
in the Library"
"Why did you not show him in here ?"
asked old Bray sharply.
Gle asked to see you alone, sir.
Alice had risen and walked to the fire.
place, where she stood, holding the mantle
shelf with both hands; but Mr.. Waring had
caught glimpse of her face as she passed
- 1t was deathly pale. Her father left the
room.
There was dead siance.
"She knew of this, hence her agitation,'
thought Mr.. Waring, rs he covered his eyes
with his hand, to shut out the sight of her
from before him.
The silence continued unbroken, and he
felt his self control deserting him.
"Alice, shall 60 to my room. have
letters to see to-and-l might be in the
way"
She turned to hlm-such mute expression
of anguish on her face that he uttered an
exclamation of horror and surprise. She
stretched out her hands to him, as though
in wild entreaty. He sprang to her, clasp
ing her hands like death, so cold, so life
less.
"Alice, darling, do not look in that way
all will be well. You will be happy-you
must be. God bless you and him !''
He hurried from her presence, feeling
unable to bear it even one moment longer.
The morning came-the morning of day
fraught with fearful interest to Alice Bray
brook-the day that must part her from Mr..
Waring, ssand decide the fate of Captain
Ray, for Alice had petitioned time to think.