The mountain Democrat., 1863-10-24

countess doWager, breaking IN upon the
conference, her face flushed and her head.
dress balf.OfE. Are you quarreling?'
Lord Hartledon was attempting to ex,
plain something about Miss Asht68,' 90
swered Lady Maude, drawing herself uI
to her full, stately height. He had bet
ter do it to you, instead. mamma
She retired to the further window as
she spoke, and stood there in the rays Of
the setting sun. They fell across hel
dark smooth hair, her flushed cheeks and
her exquisite features. She was dressed
in white, with jet ornaments, and LORD
Hartledon, even in the midst of his per
plexity, thought how very beautiful she
was, and what sad thing it was to lose
her.
The fact is, madam stammered he
never having wished himself savage for
life so much as at the present untoward
moment, that THAT have been beha
wing very foolishly to Maude. ! cannot
marry two; and l am bound to Anne
Ashton, and can't get off from it,
Won't get off from it, do you mean ?
said the countess dowager, who was cour
teous and smiling as she had rarely done
before. 'You engaged yourself to Maude,
you know, in January
Lord Hartledon cleared his throat and
looked uncommonly foolish.
'Well-yes-but-bu couldn't do it,
madam, legally; because Anne Ashton
was in the way
Not at all in the way said the coun.
tess dowager. when you engaged your.
self to the young woman, you were poor
! and obscure, and it was excusable. The
Earl Of Hartledon is not bound by the
promises made as Percival Elster. All the
young women in the kingdom who have
got parsons for fathers could not force
him to be so.'
am, in honor
My dear lord, you are in honor bound
to my daughter; you have for months
sought her affections, and you have gained
them. Marry her you must. A daugh.
ter of the house of Kirton cannot be taker
up and thrown off at WILL
If people speak the truth, her affrc
tionS were first given to my brother,
said the earl, his eye flashing. and half
believing he could break through his
trammelS.
The dowager knew they were. and was
little taken aback, but she had ready
wit and fluent tongue. She leaned he,
face close to his and whispered:
Then don't you know that she refused
him?'
Refused Lord Hartledon You tolt
Miss Ashton, the very day of his death
that she was engaged to him.
| spoke as hoped, and but as ho
ped | vow and protest it, Percival. -
Maude loves you. Look at her. Doe.
she look like one to be tritled with p ask
ed the dowager, Aourishing her arm to
wards Maude.
/ wish / knew what to do,' uttered
the unfortunate earl, all his indecision re
turning upon him.
Which is the most fitting to grace
your coronet, the Lady Maude, or a coun
try parsons daughter? II Maude were
not in the way, you would never, hope
think of marrying the other one. Dc
yourself justice, my lord, and be true tc
your rank, as becomes British peer
I'm sure, if this goee on, | shall shoot
myself, exclaimed the bewildered earl
Taken tn task at the rcctory, taken tC
task here-shooting wodR be bliss to it.
No doubt, returned the countess dow
ager. anybody but you would speedily
put the thing at rest
/ should like to know how?'
Morru - A.Co Al, 4 L
gone over your head. 1t will be the wi
Sest way. So long as you remain single
man, they are all cock-a hoop at the rec.
tory with their fine visions for Anne. -
Make Maude your wife, and then you will
be at peace
The proposition took away the earl'S
breath. 'They-they'd bring an action
against me for Grim. CON-
For what?' wrathlully exclaimed the
dowager.
Il don't think l mean that. What's
the other? Breach of promise
Breach of tiddleStick You are nc
better than boy in the way of common
sense, | can tell S'>~' bat, Percival! Was
such thing ever heard of yet, as q doc
tor of divinity bringing an action of that
nature? He'd lose his gown"
/ wish was sunk to the bottom of a
deep well, mentally aspirated the earl,
never to come up again
DO you mean to marry Maude?' asked
the dowagcr. Answer me, if you please.
4 wish | could | truly wish it but
You have nothing to do with butts =
The Earl of Hartledon is not bound by
what he did as Mr.. Elster-how many
more times would you like me to point
that out to you? Only simpleton would
suppose him to be so. Marry Maude to-
morrow, go abroad, and you will be as
free as air; and come back in month or
two when it has blown over.'
Weddings can't be got up in q day,
can they?' asked the vacillating earl,
caught by the promise, free as air. and
the vision of the naughty beauty standing
there being so soon his own.
'Yes, with special license. 1t can be
done in secrecy, and nobody be any the
wiser till you are away. Have the dust
swept out of the little chapel here, and
the moth.eaten cushion shaken. Maude
step this way
Lady Maude obeyed. She walked to-,
ward them, her head bent forward, her
eyes cast down, snd her color deepened.
A fair prize. very, very fair.
Now said the dowagcr, seising her
hand, and returning to her naturally
sharp tones, which she had previously
suppressed, will you take her and cher
ish her, Lord Ifartledon? Or will you
forget yourself, your order, your honor,
and be pointed at in the world, all the
rest Of your life, as shufiing villain, as
you shall beP'
What vas the earl to dc-with his ut.
ter deficiency of moral courage? Far
rather would he have submitted to be
shot, than have to confront the countess
dOwager and he bent forward a nd kissed