The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-14


dunn in a pretty o;--Olive street, ST.
r.ouis." which RIGHTLY. epiectnred was the
.sidence of her c, usin Jennie, " hose husband
L was; a very fortunate discovery Iur NE. In
Iced thus far had not found the way OF the
transgressor hard, in external circumstances. at
least, and with her / forgot everything but her
grace and beauty, and my hrm resolution to
be no more to her than her cousin should be;
but out ofthat charmed presence made me lis
erable. r. rs'agf7g7 3r5E y ,..t..q.. a-s -!
I am afraid Unjust sometimes have betrayed
he conflicts of feeling / Fad had. by my man
ner but when was, reserved and ceremoni-
..us with her she always resented lt,iand beg
ged me 60 obewitchiBgly NOT 70 treat her SO, and
20 call her by her sweet name Florence" that
had sIrea,ned much ;s had longed to do,
could not have refused her. But the COLI
seriousness that I was not what she thought me.
but an impostor. of whom. after our connection
had ceased, and she had discovered the decep
ZION practised upon her. she could think or re
member nothing that would not cause unmar
red self-reproach and mort ifcation. all innocent
md trust ;ng as she was. this reflection, more
than any other l confess. and the knowledge
f the estimation in which ;he would forever
4. | | me. after my Imposition was discovered
r,onlzed me and | would have given all pos
-essed to own it to her and leave her sight al
nee, though the thought of never seeing b I
more was dreadful But that could not be-. .
AT last we reached st. Louis. 10 ls'y sat
last ?" When the sight Of those spires and
gables warned me that my brief dream Of hap
piness was over, and that the remorseful refec-
tions had been staving off so long were now
to commence in earnest, the thought of the
coming punishment from Florence was dread
full to me- and the time seemed to fly on light.
ming wings as it d ew near.
Size was all gayety and was astonished at my
sadness and absence of mind when so near rome
md Jennie, and when we entered the carriage
that was to convey us tc our destination, had
half mind to take cowardly fi=ht rather
than encounter the scorn and disappointment
of those blue eyes. But / mustered courage
and followed her in, giving the address found
in the portmonne, which fortunately was the
right one, to the driver.
"Almost home!" said She turning her bright
face towards me-we were rattllng up the
street and my time was short-''how can you
be so quiet 9''
Because, Miss Florence" L answered, "the
time has come in which must confess to you
that L have no more right in the Louse to
which we are now fastening, than to the name
by which you address me, and that my only
claim to either is that of an imposter and de-
ceiver. ne
She turned her Lively face, wondering and
Thank heaven I did not read fear and aver
sion in it.
"No right! no claim r. she repeated, "what
| can you mean p
I confessed the whole truth, as nearly as I
have set it down here denying nothing and
concealing nothing, not even the useless secret
| of nv love for her. When the brief recital
was ended, we both remained silent. but she
had hidden her face. and could see her trem-
bic violently with shame and repulsion. The
sight of her distress was agony to me, and L
tried to say fw words of apology.
"You cannot blame or hate me, Miss Dun
! dard, more than blame or hate myself" j
said, for tie distress I have unwillingly
caused you. Heaven knows that if accepted
| the charge of much innocence and beauty
too lightly, I have heavily atoned since. in
having occasioned this suffering to you, and
nv own punishment is more than can bear. .
The coach stopped as I spoke; she turned
toward me eagerly, her face bearing traces OF
tears, and said in low voice. "Do not misun-
ders.and me if I silent"
| The coachman threw open the door, and
stood waiting. I was obliged to descend and
assist her out. I hardly dared to touch that
little hand. though it was for the last tme bu
I wit he'd er grace eeu' Fl ,ure with sad Gil tress
She was already recognized, for the door was
thrown open, and pretty woman, followed by
u
whom supposed tn be my namesake, rushed
down the steps. There were loud exclama
tiors of astonishment and pleasure, a cordia
welcome, and some rapid questions to which
Florence returned low and quiet answers, ant
quickly extricating herself from the confusion
presented me as "Mr lie Roy, your husband
namesake, and the gentleman who kindly tool
charge of me-" -
/ glanced at her face to see if she was mock
ing me. but it was pale and grave. Mrs. LIE
roy opened her eyes widely, but was too vel
bred to express surprise and after introducin!
me to her husband in the same terms invited
me into the house. hardly conscious If wha
I did, or of anything except that was still il
the presence of Florence, from which l coul
not endure to Danish myself / followed then
into handsome parlor, where sal an old lady
whom nv conscience told me was the rheuma
tic aunt had so cruelty beliod. Florenc
herself presented me to this lady, who was
fixture, and unable to rise from her chair, ant
before I could stammer out an apology and re
tire, related, in her own way, chow differen
from mine) the IN stake by which she ha
, been placed in my care and the history of ou
, journey. in which it appeared, our host, Nh
LEROY. had been fellow passenger. Whel
she had ended. they all crowded about me
warmly expressing their thanks for my "kind
ness and consideration" to my utter bewilder
: ment and surprise, and cordially inviting M
, to remain with them and make the acquaint
ance of nv namesake and family.
detached myself from all this unexpecte
, kindness as soon as could, for 1 fancied
read aversion in the flushing and plling face
, and dropping eyes of Florence, and with on
, last look at her, left the room. A moment al
| ter. I felt the touch of light hand on myarn
and turning, saw. with mute surprise, that sh
had followed me into the vestibule
: "Mr lie Roy" she said hurriedly, "I cannc
let YOU 90 aw,y misunderstanding me as Sc
YOU do. If was silent while you so humbl
apologized for the noble, generous and honor;
, bic conduct, I was not angered, believe me, br
because was too much astonished, afterward
) too much moved and grateful to speak. I ow
/ YOU more than can say. and should be misel
able, iudeed. if false shame, which you Sc
has not prevented my telling you this, shout
=