Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-07-18

fere; besides | could not bear to see
them together It was very wrong and
very useless, but it was SO. Mrs, Gray often
came to see me- / can not say she comfort
ed me much. She gave nae word of wea-
risome advice, and told nae much that L
would rather not have heard. What was it
to me now, that accounts kept him 50 often
and so late with Jessie2 They were both
free, and If he chose to forgive her and
marry her, and if she chose to marry once
more for money! say it again-and what
was it to me2
And yet suppose it was something after
all; for when Mrs. Gray left me one after
noon in February, felt the loneliest being
ON this wide earth She had harped again
upon that hateful string-that Mr.. Thomp
son seemed quite smitten with Mrs. Norris.
''And what do you think, my dear" she
added ''he thought you were gone. He
seemed quite surprised when SAID had
seen you on Sunday. "What, is she not
gone" he asked, "gone to London?' "No,
indeed What should she go to London for?''
He did not answer that, but from something
said, saw he thought you were engaged to
be married 81 wish she were, poor dearl'
| replied 'Sit is hard case to be SO young
and so lonely"
/ do not know how long Mrs. Gray had
been gone when Carlo gave short bark;
the gate bell rang saw tall dark form
pass across the window, and my little maid
opened the door saying
Mr.. Thompson, ma am.
| rose. He came in, with his umbrella as
usual, and Carlo went up to him and wagged
a friendly welcome. / could not say one
word | was dreadfully agitated, | felt
quite sure he had come to tell nae that he
meant to marry Jessie, and to ask me to go
and stay with them, or something of that
kind Nothingelse could have brought him.
Or, perhaps, as Jessie had, no doubt, told
him that was gone, he had, on learning the
truth, felt ashamed of his GOODNESS, and had
come to make some sort of an excuse. be
had none; but he asked how / was, took a
chair, looked rather hard at me, and with
out waiting for an answer, L feared he was
not very well.
"Ohl / am not Ill, you know, replied,
little carefully. Il trust you are well, Dir.
Thompson.
He said he was very we'll and looked at
the fire. For awhile we were both silent. l
spoke first. My remark was scarcely a gra-
cious one.
Il heard you were so much engaged that
/ scarcely expected to see you, L said,
| was vexed with myself as soon as / had
said it. He might think | was annoyed at
his long absence, and, surely, / was not. But
answered that he had indeed, been much en-
gagged, but that everything was over now.
Mrs Norris, he added, hadlGft this morning.
''She left in no very contented mood,
believe" he resumed. ''The balance in her
favor was low-lower than / had expected.
Mrs Norris has something like hundred a
year This and few jewels constitute the
net profit she derives from her marriage.
; Unluckily, these speculations can not be re-
peated often you see. The capital of youth
and beauty has but time-a brief one; it is
apt to wear out and the first venture ought
to be the best. Mrs. Norris, not having
found it so, is disappointed. | suppose it is
natural, but you know l can not pity her
very much.
l supposed not, but all that cold hard talk
panied me.
~ have fancy" he resumed, "that thi:
kind lady expected some other ending to our
accounts This is not very fattering TO my
vanity, unless, indeed, as showing my mar;
ketable value; is it now?n
would not answer that question his
tone, his answer, vexed me. Suddenly he
raised his eyes to mine.
did such a rumor reach you?" he asked
dould not deny it. My face was in a
fame. believe | stammered something,
but do not know what.
Even you nave IL, ne Sstltl, lOOklHg
secretly pleased ''the world is very kind.
And you believed 1T, too l had hoped you
knew me better,
He seemed quite hurt; but [ offered no
Justification Then he rather formally asked
to be allowed to mention the business that
, brought him. So it was business | scorned
myself far my folly which was not dead yet,
and | babe him speak,
Was | asleep or dreaming? Mr. Thomp-
son spoke OF my aunt, her love for me, my
forlorn position, and expressed the strongest
wish to take care of me.
''Bt he added with some hesitation, Il
can do so but in one fashion-as your hus-
band. Will YOU overlook all these peculiar
! tiles in my temper, which used to annoy you,
fear, and take what there is of true and
good in me? Can you, will you do this"
He looked at me in doubt. All ! this was
one of my bitterest moments He cared sc
little for me, that he had never seen, never
suspected how much | loved him. And he
expected me to take him so. ] clasped my
hands and twisted them nervously; L coulo
not speak at once.
And you, Mr.. Thompson, said at last.
"And you"
well, what about me? Doyou mean car
| too do this 2
''Yes; can you do it?'i
''Why, surely-else had never proposed
it all. -
He had half smiled at the doubt my ques
ton implied and he looked at me as he
smiled. Both look and smile exasperated
me. .,
''Mr. Thompson, 1 said excitedly, 81
have not deserved this Carlo, come here. y
Ny poor, shaggy Carlo came forward, wag
ging his tail. He laid his head on my knee
and looked up wistfully and fondly as only
dogs can look when they vainly seek to read
the meaning of human face.
ssHe was an outcast,' | said, looking al
Mr.. Thompson; she was starving he came
to this door; l fed him, and he would moi
leave it. took pity on him-I gave him {
mat to lie on and crust to eat. He love;