Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-10

all the claret in his cellar, is her father, an
old reprobate; he wants TO marry his daugh-
ter to a Dutchman, as old an ugly as himself,
just because he is the owner OF thousand
dykes and hemp mandatory. | would
marry her myself-provided | could-to save
her from such fate. If | had the money
to pay the parson."
WWho is the tall lady !"
"That is Lady Grey sister of the young
ladys mother; will ask permission TO in
troduce you, and before my heart had made
ten strokes, found myself conversing with
them. Lady Grey discovered at once to be
true English gentlewoman; she conversed
well, and on many topics, sprinkling all her
talk, however, with certain quality phrases
that served to convince me that a stratum OF
hdrteur underlaid the affability. Miss Co
nyngham was herself have never seen an
other like her. Clear and honest was the ray
that shot from her deep eyes. She made no
effort at display or effect, but talked on in
answer to my questions, and proposed her
own with a combination Of suavity and dig
nifty that she would have worn if had been
her brother asked her TO dance.
tNo," she answered, "she did not dance
that evening"" She gave no excuse, but her
eyes looked cloudy moment after, when a
phlegmatic gentleman, with sinister lip,
came up with q similar request. She de-
clined it, mentioning the gentleman's name
to me, by way of Introduction, as she did SO.
It was Herr Won Holt He looked suspicious
ly at me; think he thought me q rival. l
stayed by her, however, saving her as far as
possible from his odious talk and amOrous
glances by interposing myself between them;
an oficiOusness for which she seemed to thank
me. -.t
He at length walked around to the place
where Mr.. Conyngham was standing. Lady
Grey was talking with DR.. Scandinayius, the
great Doctor Of Laws, and ! was at last visa
Wis with Miss Bess improved the OppOrtu-
nifty. Soon, however, Mr.. Conyngham came
and led his daughter and sister away. fol-
lowed them, and sought my own room, where
| tried to remember the length Of time l had
been at BrightOn-it seemed like two months,
so much of hope and fear had been crowded
into the limits of day. ] had forgotten my
illness, and business seemed a subject l had
been acquainted with in some former phase
Of existence.
cannot minutely follow out the events Of
the ensuing week. l will only say that met
the charming Miss Oonyngham everywhere.
I walked with her by the pier-chain-Lady
Grey, of course, on the other side-sOmetimes
danced with her, and once had the felicity Of
driving with her on the cliffs. l had preserved
the secret of the yentilator, though in my own
vindication I will state that had never list
ened at il since had known my neighbors.
l kept my room in perfect quietude, and if l
heard voices in the adjoining room, would
90 out that | might not overhear the conver-
sation; but there came n time, as l am about
to tell YOU, when l stayed. 1t was think,
about a week after my first acquaintance with
the Conynghams through the ventilator that,
as l sat busily answering my London cores
pondent, l became the unwilling eavesdrop-
per to q violent alteration in the next room.
| could not help but hear it. Lady Grey was
taking sides with her niece against Mr.. Co
nyngham. She complained bitterly enough
of the treatment her sisters child sustained
from an exacting father. He retorted by
charging her with dupicity and his daughter
with disobedience, and declaring that in this
instance his authority should be respected by
both of them. I found, as they proceeded,
that it all hinged on Her Won Hollis propo-
sails; it seemed that he had been accepted for
months by the father, and still PERSISTED in
pressing his suit notwithstanding the aver
sion of the ladies' "He wished TO marry at
once, so said Mr.. Conyngham 'he was tired
Of angling after a mere girl whose head was
apparently turned after Yankee adyentu-
rer.'
felt buzz in my ears as ] heard the
sneering remark-it was so then; they had
understood my Intentions heard Lady
Gray say, in reply: aYou are foolish, broth
er, to fancy such thing; and Bess is too
sensible to encourage a stranger"
hear tis sII Oh Gentleman say, 'Look, daugh-
ter. Won Holt is going to Dover tomorrow,
thence home to Holland; and / have decided
that you will go with him. a clergyman
will come here tonight at nine o'clock, to
marry you; we have made our arrangements;
| YOU can now make yours" Mr.. COnyngham
continued to impress upon his daughter that
necessity alone had thus hastened the mar
riage, and that they must make the best of it.
He then went out, probably to report to Won
Holt
s.What can you do, dear Bess ?" asked La
dy Gray, so soon as he was gone.
@Great heavens? don't know, but will
never marry that bad man. must conceal
myself until night comes and then fly away
somewhere"
ayes, that is it, you must run off; l will
see that q carriage is in readiness, and my
maid Betty will go with you to Barnwell de-
not to take the train. You can both 60 down
to Cousin Egbert's; he will conceal you til
this hurricane has blown over"
eyes, aunt" replied Bess, after little, "a
think it is the best way for me to adopt Il
this emergency; thank you for the he'll
which l so much need"
aNo thanks, darling, and the sooner 1t Il
arranged the better. l will 60 now to Sc
about it."
Directly she left the room raised mysel
upon the high chair, by the opening in th
= wall; 1 was irresolute; hardly durst loo
in. and yet must do it, l must let her kno'
: that heard it all, and that she had trien
l to help her. l cautiously peeped over an
! met-Miss Conynghams eyes. She, too, ha
climbed a chair, probably to see where
E what the yentilator led into, and we met FAC
= to face. I bowed and blundered an apolog
7 aboul her being in trouble, and
d "You need not proceed, she interrupte
! quietly, 81 presume you nave hearu u
K wrangling from this room2" She said
s quietly, but with face pale as snow.
l "Yes, l heard it all, and I am ready to he
u you, if it should cost me my life; Wou
u give my life for yours"
$ She colored at my vehemence, and h
le eyes were instantly sufused with tears. d
ST emotion emboldened me.
L "Give me the right to protect you," J" erie
T "The right to call you mine will forev
II place you beyond the power of that man.
y cannot speak of myself but whatever y
ID wish to know of me you can ascertain OF A
le Lovelace Lady Grey can ask him"
ID "Pray, sir, do not talk in that way,
ed said, yet saw she was not angry.
Ia "No, would not" I answered, g col
so not speak, on so immature an acquaintan
Ia if it were not that you are in trouble, a
nd need friend; how can l otherwise supl
the offiee2 Let me beg Of you to consit