Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-24
MAY MELTED AND MARRIED.

awhy have you never been married,
May2
This question was asked by gentleman
some thirty-fve or six years Of age, who had
been for nearly twenty minutes closely watch
ing the motions Of a lady who sat near him al
a work table.
The gentleman was fine, noble looking
man. with frank, well formed features and
pleasant expression. He was handsomely
dressed, and to Judge by the looks ofhis hair
you might have said that he had q wife, had
he looked in other respects like q married
man-which he did not.
The room in which the two were sitting
betokened wealth and taste. Its occupantI
were evidently in the upper ranks of life.
The lady addressed was person offair, in.
teresting face and graceful form. She Ger.
tainly did look remarkably well, as she BEN
her head with its abundant and shining hair
and piled her white hands in the task which
employed her sight and apparently his wholt
thoughts.
Probably conviction of her attractive
ness and worth had caused the question
which her companion put in such a hearty
abrupt tone, that May started and dropped
the red worsted work upon which she had
been intent.
"What question" she cried with q light
laugh-just as if cared about being mar
riedp
"Why should you not care, May? Surely it
is the best and happiest state for man or
woman
"Granted with proviso," said May; "but
Mr.. Rossiter, if you think so, why have you
never married"
"You are true Yankee, May, and answer
aquestion by asking another; but tell me,
now, why you are, at thirty years of age,
still sngle?"
"How dare you say am thirty years old?
Upon my word, ifyou were not brother to
my sister-in-law, I'd not speak to you again
for week"
May pretended to pout; and the pout was
quite becoming to her full arched lips.
Didn't you yourself tell me your age, and
that only the day before yesterday? Your
memory seems very short, Miss Benton"
"Well, didn't expect you were going to
throw it up to me that was an old maid to
pay me for my confidence in YOU"
"Ohl May-did say that? And if did
you can break my glass house by f1inging
my question"
~ never could get any one to have me-"
said May shortly "Are you satisfed2"
mo. You need not tell me that q person
so attractive as you are has never yet had
ardent lovers. know better, May-so tell
me truly why you are not Mrs. Somebody,
now2"
Ndy Suuu6ulJ SODtI6u uOWu duu shlu ueI-
vously-"Its because no man whose love
could return ever loved me-"
And she resumed her work. .
How her face had altered There had come
over it stern, hard expression, as if she were
saying, inly-
1t matters not--I can. wrestle down these
yearnings for something worthy, and noble,
and true, and strong, against which to lean;
for. something winning, and tender, and
1Nwv hiah To lnun fhnr 10 No haa rf
on earth whose best love is the love want, l
can do without i'll can walk to the end of
life, as have walked thus far. --
Rossiter regarded her in long silence. He
had known her for many years, and had often
wondered at her great Indifference to the at
tentions Of gentleman. He had even on more
than one occasion, taken her to task for hei
manner toward them.
"You wont allow them to become &C.
quainted with you at ALL" he said. "Whe1
you are introduced to man that's, the las
of it. All the young men admire, but they
are afraid Of you. You chill them to death
heard one man say that he thought you &
beautiful and interesting creature; but ther
he would as soon undertake to warm init
love an iceberg as yourself-even if he haC
courage enough to make the attempt"
A skeptical smile had been the only answe
to such questions. ... ....
How could May believe that she was capa
BILE of inspiring affections in others whe
those who knew her best were SO light,
touched by it. ... .....
Rossiter had been for three or four year
absent, and had newly returned when tn
above conversation took place. He was
comfortable old bachelor, happy in disposi
ton, happy in possessing an independen
fortune, and happy in his sisters home
not to say happy in the companionship o
May, whom he honestly believed to be abou
the best and most lovely girl in the world
He had once dearly loved and suddenly los
fair charming bride; and never since haC
he allowed himself to think of loving. AnC
besides he did not know as he wished Il
marry. He was well satisfied with his "stat
and condition"-when he was at home. T,
be sure he did feel uneasy and dissatisfied al
the while he was abroad. He did miss his sis
ter so--and May-ohi how glad he was TO Sc
them when he returned-and how strange
Thought it was that May didn't rush at him i
the hall and hug and kiss him just as hi
sister did; but he took full satisfaction of th
contrary creature when she did came to we
come him. g .r1..
sand 80 May isn't married yet" he sale
"well it. 5 rather too bad; but am glad of it,
May came very near signing, but she di
not-at least not audibly. How many still
born sights there are in the world. 1t
wen it is no crime to smother them at the
birth. .
Well, Rossiter sat studying that still ster
face before him, and he thought new thought
new as TO their present. relations.
"May," he said, at length, "May was eve
there man that you could have loved ha
he asked it2" 10 .....s ..'
Like a crimson dye up rose the hot bloc
of that bowed head, and the hard look wi
put on the instant-but she only said, n,
lifting her head or eyes
"That you have no right 10 ask"
"I have no need to ask dear May2 ForgiN
me, If mistake; but / feel as if | had bee
favored by revelation of--of-that l ha,
been blind and stupid fellow as ever live
May, if man whom you regarded as you
the plain old fellow before you, were to as
you for your love, what would you say7"
"Yes," said May, dropping her head till h,
face was hid among the worsted.
NWill you have me2" cried Rossiter sprinl
ing up and upsetting his chair.
yes, said q voice from the worste
Rossiter was on his knees, and most fe
vently embracing chair, worsted, and wOma
Marry mei will you marry me2' sal
be, n