Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-18
FREEHOLD@ n. J. THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST Is. 1859.

you love her, and that She Pshaw p
!, You may shaw as much as you like,
Sir Irresistible, but It's true, notwith-
standing | am myself engaged to that
very same Miss Martin"
For once in your life be serious
Ellery if you can"
t Seriously. Well, ifyou will not take
, my word, TIL swear it, Shirley. And if
you still doubt me. go and ask for your.
self; l give you leave. But you had
better take a friends advice, and inform
the widow of your matrimonial proposals
, whilst in the spirit"
Shirley came very near saying that
which were better left unsaid, as he rose
from his chair and paced up and down
the room. Ellery sat smiling to himself
as tilted back in his chair, with his cap
set j%auntily on the side of his head-he
finished his cigar, tempting the now
thoroughly irritated Shirley, by his mock
ing air, to knock him over every time
he approached. At last, having finished
smoking, Ellery rose, and as he was
drawing on his gloves, making ready for
a start, he said, come my good fellow,
don't be cast down. If you can't get Miss
Martin, take Mrs. Martin. One of the
the name is as good as the same as the
old lady has it, and really believe she
has a fancy for you"
He did not stop to hear his friends
answer, as he left the room with a laugh.
Shirley continued his walk-now rapidly
then stepping, again fast-till he came to
a dead halt in front of the window.
Impossible! There is no truth in
this world if it exists not in Juliette Mar
tin. | have heard her express an opin-
ion concerning Ellery, and even laugh at
him, which no woman ever does at
the one she loves, I will go, by George,
and ask her indeed. If It's true, then l
will never trust womankind again."
And walking to the glass he brushed
his dark locks as carefully as ever did
one of the weaker sex, and then. taking
his gloves and hat, be started for Mrs.
Empton's.
His own heart was humping as loud
as the old-faShioned knocker to his ner.
vous rap, as he stood on the door step.
He was ushered into the comfortable
parlor, where the suns rays came slyly
in through the closed blinds, playing
hide and seek with the roses of the car
pet, and where the red glowing light
fire fell upon the bright face of Juliette,
as she sat on allow ottoman, playing with
the curly headed Annie, whose silvery
laugh was echoed by the mellow cheerful
one of the mother. There was no one
else in the room. After the morning sal
utations, Shirley said, " Has not Ellery
been here ?"
YES" she replied, he and my sister
are out visiting"
Excuse me" he said, IF I ask you
one question, and not, I beg, deem me
impertiment / entreat you to answer
me frankly, for | assure you my whole
earthly happiness depends on your an.
swer. Are you really engaged to EIlely'?"
Who I, Mr.. Shirley? You must be
dreaming" said Juliette, and she opened
her large dark eyes still larger in her
surprise, her face and neck coloring
deeply as she met his glance.
There is no mistake in this" NUT
tered Shirley. "He told me this morn
ing that he was engaged to you, and bid
me ask you to convince myself"
Why the man must be Crazy, sure
ly. Yet | wonder still moro at you in
believing him. You to whom -"
and again the face was bent over Armies
ringlets to hide the tears swelling up in
those eyes, whilst the child sat demurely
listening, as if bound to recollect each
and every word.
II did mott do not believe him.
said Shirley ; though he told me that he
was engaged to Miss Martini
A merry laugh rose to her lips as she
quickly raised her face, still crimsoned
with brigh bushes. "Ah, yes, | see it
all now" said she. He is really en-
gagged to be married to Miss Martin
But whom on earth do you take me for 2"
For Miss Martin, of course-Miss
Juliette," was his amazed reply.
81 am Mrs. Martin, and the mother oil
this little girl" she replied and she
stopped to kiss Annie, for she was sadly
afraid the laugh would again break forth,
such a bewildered sight met her view.
1t would be impossible to delineate the
different emotions that chased one
another through Shirley's mind, as he
thus sat gazing upon the graceful Great
ufe, as she sat in that rich light. Pride,
shame, a wee bit of anger, at thus being
duped by Ellery. But high above all,
the strong the enduring struggle for mas
terry. Of course, the last Conquered !;
and the little cherub, sitting on her
mothers knee. listening to declaration
as the heart prompted.
What she replied l leave to the read
er's imagination but when JEANNE and
Ellery entered from their visit they
found them sitting tete-a-tete and smiling.
All was explained, JEANNE and her aft
anced magnanimously taking the blame,
while Shirley, in his happiness, readily.
~pardoned the plotters who had been the
means of giving him such a store ofpres-
ent felicity.
H Yesterday cannot be recalled.