Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-04-29

commenced progressed into intimacy.
We rode together frequently, accom-
panied by my father and William Delo
raine. / am quite sure that dear fathe
never dreamed Of anything like love be
tween William and me he still though
me a mere child; he was too much occu
pied by his own affairs to observe NJ.
gradual advance towards womanhood.
But l was gradually becoming attach
ed to William Deloraine. He was JUS
the sort of man TO please an imsginatiy
young lady like myself. Moreover, h
constantly betrayed his love for myself
and constantly recalled the manifestation
| Gf must say SOY by sudden and dis
tant coldness of manner, which pique,
and teased me.
But I am not telling love tale, anr
therefore will not linger over these tant-
aliziug but bewitching days. On one o
them the ire d declaration came
William Dsloraine, in approved poetic
| phrase, assured me that he adored me
l referred him, Of course, to my father
To my surprise, he hesiiated told ms
that an unhappy mystery clouded hi;
/ life "a fatal secret which he could moi
as yet reveal even to me; and he implor.
ed me to conceal our attachment from
my father, Now, though / was very sill.
ly and romantic, and William gained an
additional hold on my fancy by having a
mystery attached to him, was too hon
orable a girl to enter into an engagement
without my kindest fathers sanction, and
said so at once. He was bitterly dis
appointed, for he hoped that I would
have consented to an elopement, or pri-
vate marriage; and I grew angry at the
supposition.
We had quarrel, but made ii up at
forwards Of course and l promised to
keep the secret of his avowal from my
father, though would promise nothing
more. lie declared also that he should
keep bis secret from his family bul
guessed that he told Kate, as she looked
yexed aud disappointed when next saw
her. Nevertheless our rides went on as
usual.
One day when we were all out ;ogeth-
er, Kate and papa behind, William and
l in advance, my lover suddenly drew
up his horse, sprang to the ground, stoop-
ed, and then, holding up a pnoke! L5ooo1 book,
cried, Look here, Miss Morton = did
look in considerable amazement, as | had
distinctly seen him draw the pocket book
from his bosom, put it on the gropnd, and
then take it up again. Ny father, riding
up, asked what was the matter. William
exhibited the pocket book saying he had
just picked it up. Ny father advised
him to open it and see if the name Of the
owner was inside. He complied, and
they examined it together. There was
no name. The book contained roll of
bank notes and William, observing that
they must advertise it, put it in his pock-
eft.
You will wonder that all this time l
continued silent. But remember how
young l was, and how shy. Besides, |
had not the slightest idea what it could all
mean; that there was a mystery-a Sc
cret-which Deloraine wished to veil nn-
der this apparent trouvaiHe, l believed,
and since he had not intended TO take me
into his confidence, fancied it would be
dishonorable to betray him. For his
part be had not noticed my silence, bu! re-
mounting. began to chat gaily on differ
ent subjects, and was even more than
usually fascinating and attractive.
A few days afterwards an advertise
ment appeared in the local papers sta
ting that gentleman had found a pocket
book on H--Hill, containing bank
notes. and that they would be restored TO
the owner on application, provided he
could describe the contents of the book,
and tell the numbers of the notes. This
advertisement appeared daily during the
of our stay at the seaside.
My father remarked that Deloraine's
honesty put him to great deal of ex-
pense, and that it was singular no one
claimed the pocket-book; then we took
no further notice Of ;be matter, though
secretly wondered what it could mean.
Once more before we left our seaside
home, Deloraine urged me to become his
wife ecretly. He was sure, he said
that my father would forgive me when
once we were married; and l also should
bave been sure Of that; indeed, l be-
lieve he would not have refused at all,
even though Deloraine was (as he avow-
ed) poor; for l was a Welsh heiress, as
you know. However, my lover was
as sfran,aIt t;p,;d as rros rcJant .,