The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-18

means put together would not retard-
could not avert-my ruin"
Ruin, Louis p she cried and then she
looked with surprise at his face-pale. in
deed, yet with no look or sense Of shame
upon it.
"And am heartless enough to tell you
this, Lucie, and to ask you to hear Mr.
Twissell's only plan Of rescue for me-"
Pardon me, Mr.. Addison" said the
gentleman in black, stiffiy. i" You will re.
member that put it in suggestion simp.
ly." %
=" beg your pardon; suggestion, then
and, to help me decide upon its acceptance
or rejection. You will sit down, my dear p
"No, Louis; let me be by your side,
please. If you will give me hold of your
hand-thank You, am ready now."
7" need not remind yeu Lucie. under
what circumstances we came to pass our
pleasant life here. You have known all
along that it would end in given time.
and each year brought that end nearer"
yes, Louis"
"When it was said to me by one who
was then our friend, Il propose nv nepb-
ew for the Church, and this vacant living
Of Glevering; if you like to fill it until he
can hold it, do! He knew. with me. that
once placed here, no power could stir me.
unless pleased, and that might be faith
less to him with no fear of any nearer pun
ishment than God'sw
"Yes, Louis !"
"That time has come; and not. of
course, without some little sorrow, we had
prepared to leave the place and work we
had grown to love, and live elsewhere upon
my fellowship, and what other work l
might find to do. Regretfully, but not un-
happily, Lucie-"
"Not unhappily, Louis, she echoed, to
show that she was listening to and under
stood him.
"Lucie," he said in another tone, for
years | have kept this care of mine from
you, Ialways hoped that it might not fall
and crush me, as it threatens now; but.
for little while past l have been prepar-
ed for the worst, and Mr.. Twssell does not
take me by surprise when lie tells me that
further hope is vain"
"God help us, Louis !"
q / have but one chance left me-" he
said, hoarsely; "that suggestion / told you
of. 1t is, Lucie, that L should refuse to
give up this living that / hold but for
another, and make it worth that others
while to buy the keeping. of my given
word"
The lawyers face flushed painfully
"Consider if you please, Miss Addison, !"
he said, chow often the discharge of a
plain duty is harder than the indulgence
of personal feeling. 1t seemed to me my
duty to make the suggestion, but foresaw
how repugnant it must be to your brother
and yourself; and 1 think, but for the
special circumstances of the case, should
have failed in this duty and never made it."
"And they are ?" she asked.
"That-your pardon, Mr. Addison,
must speak-that your brothers creditor
and the patron of the living are one and
the same, and that his treatment, in press
ing his claim, is more cruel, ungenerous,
and unjust than any case within my ex-
perience, and that is saying much. / am
not overstating these circumstances, sir"
"No," said Louis, quietly. "Now Lu-
Gle, for your decision p
She gave keen, anxious look at her
brother. She was but a woman, you know,
and ruin is so painful, and pain SO hard to
bear; and | think, had she seen symptoms
of wavering in his face, her resolution
might have yielded. But she saw none.
Louis" she said, ''why do you ask me
for my mind when yours is already fixed ?,
81 am quite ready to take my share
Dear Louis, doing wrong we must be un-
happy, come what may; acting right we
may be-whO can say we shall 2"
"You hear her, Mr. Twissell? 1t is our
only answer"
'I accept it unwillingly, Mr.. Addison"
he said, "but eonclusively" cat
eff anything could be DONE" said
Louis, hoarsely, anything urged to save
my sister pain"
"That cannot be, Louis" she inter
posed. 81 shall know none save half
yours"
The lawyer rose to go. "I have done
my duty. | should be glad if you allow
me to shake your hand, sir. Miss Addi-
SUI, IL you Cdu lcG Hle po your Irlenu,
after your experience of me as your bro
theirs lawyer, | may be useful to you, and
it will be quite favor, / do assure you, if
you will let me try. Thank you; good
night; l can find my way alone"
He was cropping his way along the dark
passage, when he stumbled upon Jacob
Purchas and Butcher. The clerk would
fain have learnt his errand and its issue,
but the gentleman in black was too much
for Jacob this time. He evaded his in
quiries, and gave him the cold shoulder,
airily.
81 am most proud, 1 am sure, to
have made your acquaintance, Mr.. -.
/ have not been favored with your name.
1t is of no consequence now. And your
discriminating friend, Butcher, chi A
singularly happy name, no doubt Will
you call him off again 7 Thank you.-
There is something embarrassing in his
close attentions. Good-by This way, |
think? If lived in this neighborhood,
my good friend, that murderous brute
should have a meal of something that
should check his appetite for strangers
calves, take it,"
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