Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-10
NUMBER 2l6.

On, III mas so cruelty unnerVeu me; am
trembling now. 1t has made me 50 much
worse; and, although hthatnaughty. thought-
less girl knows how sadly a tempest always
upsets me, she did not come near me for
halt an hour; yes 1t was. Minnie, quitehalf
an hour after it commenced Oh, Mr.. Dash-
wood, pray do not speak SO loudt My pooy
poor head'ln at.1 Dni 70 ss1heB0lhlsiI
"Well, dear, we'll not disturb you lDHk,P
observed the Squire, pacifically. THE boys
and are going to walk as far as Sir Johns
to decide a little dispute. VIII you coniF,
Leigh? 1t doesn't rain now, and the moon
is upnl 1ll i 58ls mhi 1Jgiz Bod ye3i
Although he accompanied the party as
far as the. park gates, Frank could, not be
persuaded to 60 any farther, but strolled
quietly back TO the Grange. AS he APP
preached acasement, where ray of the
newly-risen neon glinted across q ,pepsive
profile and a Pirlish figure, Mrs DASH
woods complaining tones, raised unusually
high, made him hesltate whether to adj
vance or reeede. .tf'l ,;99uqi94.,o 8 $40
'Such ingratitude thoughtlesspess, sell
fshnessi" Were these inyectives leyelled at
Mimic? "You forget everything l re-
quiIei" she murmured, "and neglect those
poor children, and think of nothing andnQ
one but yourself you cold-hearted childp
"Oh, mamma !" burst from the lips OF
cuse me so uu6ustlyp Ihave but asked an
hour or two for my own Improvement. IL
you knew how ashamed am of my def
cienciesl Only this morning Mr.. Leigh
questioned me, and was ready to cry with
Vexation. How could L explain to him that
Ihave no opportunities afforded me even for
reading? i passionately love books and
music, and yet every day sees me more ig-
norant and more unhappy ~ nHf '4o9Q
"As IT," whispered Mrs, Dashwood, "as II
it is my own fault that am ill, and obliged
to leave the care of everything to you'll =
Besides, what can it matter what Mr.
Leigh thinks ?" t.am jna cord
Suddenly remembering the old adage about
listeners Frank thought it would be wis
dom to retreat, and he sauntered back to
the park gates, where he stood Watching
for the 'squires return, and enjoying a ci-
gar, until female figure, closely cloaked
and veiled, came quickly down the avenne,
and he politely moved to let her pass--
"Minnie! Miss Dashwood ~ said he. 7d1O
She threw back her veil, and looked con-
fused, but with silent recognition, passed
on, and Frank followed.
"WiIl you think me intrusive IL ask
how faryou are goingr' said he. iI adl
40 the village" was the hesitating re-
ply, al, ,,1
'AlOne! Salu rrank, anu dI Lnls nOuH
of the evening"? l.'".L
There was grave surprise, If not reproof
in his tones, and she paused. a4fae q"
IL know that you are thinking me unla-
| dylike, and more careless of the worlds
opinion than ought to be-" faltered Min
ME. "But mamma is very unwell tonight,
and she cannot fancy anything but par
ticular sort of biscuit which am going to
procure for her." tgv .iUJ a.
''The servants !" suggested Frank. ..tt
81 could not ask either of the maids to
take so long a walk, for they have been
very hard at work, and are all tired re-
piled Minnie; land the men--you know,
Mr.. Leigh, that ours is but an ill-managed
household-and the men-servants are so
I uncouth, and unwilling to submit to my
authority, that can not endure to ask any
favor at their hands. ~ ..arsiarW 9isar3
| Nevertheless, one of them shall do this
errand for you tonight" said Frank, de-
cidedly, and, drawing her arm through his
own, he led her back towards the house. Z
The notifications of the day had now
reached their eliminating point, and, des-
pite her fears of looking babyish In the
| eyes of Leigh, Minnie Dashwood's sobs
would have their way, and hastily extriea-
ting herself from the young man't gentle
grasp, she commenced hurried retreat
| But somehow-of course we will not at
tempt any heightened description of q
scene of which the actors themselves re-
tain but confused collection-somehow,
Minnie found herself, on the return of her
father, at the expiration OF another hour,
| still in the beech avenue, her hands in
Frank Leigh's, her head resting on his
shoulder, her ears drinking in the sweetest
and teuderest words ever whispered in
them, and Mrs. Dashwood's biscuits wholly
| forgotten. U- q .g.iug Ho. r1Oi4ed III
AS general rule, Frank was not the ear
| liest of risers, but the morning after the
memorable interview found him first in
the breakfast-room, where he was soon
joined by Minnie. .,~..
but l do not comprehend the meaning
of these pale cheeks and swollen eyes," he
said, after fond greeting. "You have
been weeping, my dearest. L thought that.
there was to be no more tears. Are you all
ready repenting your promise to be mine ?"
II am afraid she sighed, "that have
been selfish and inconsiderate. Last night
thought but of myself; and how proud
and happy it made me to hear you say that
with all my faults and deficiencies you
loved me. But, when alone,I remembered
poor mamma. Oh, Frank, how could I
leave her Pill, helpless, unable now to en-
dure the anxieties which press upon her.
What would she do If forgot the duties I
owe TO the wife of my father, and lett her
to contend against them unaided? It has
been hard struggle" and now Minnie
wept bitterly; "but, Ithink-yes, feel sure
that / can say, leave me Frank; deaKi dear
Frank, leave metz conquer my regrets by
the remembrance that am doing right, and
when you are married to some happier and
WOrthier-"f 1H ilHJ GIED $50 i0
Here Minnie broke down altogether, and
the squire sauntering into the room with
the pOst-bag in his hand, caught but a
glimpse of her bowed face as she fitted
away.Ouc f79tocEi-o2 ifTul'' s1i 10 92fu2
Minnie's self-saerifice was not, however,
permitted. BY dint of perseverance and
good management, aided not a little by the
'squire's awakened sense that his daughter
had been hardly dealt with, Frank Leigh
effected an unheard-of revolution IN, the
household affairs of Hatehley Grange. A
maiden cousin of Mrs. DashwOOdis becalt1ei
her personal attendant, and the bearer of
her troubles aud ailments. Harry wasseut
to school, and q goyerness assumed the
management Of his sister; while Minhie, TO
the astonishment Of the neighbofhood, 1WaS
inducted into the honors and dignities per-
tanning to the bride of Frank Leigh; and
she supports them admirably, TO the delight
of her husband, who persists Ia asserting
that he has remained firm TO bis detefmi6I
alton, and that. In wedding Minnie Dashss
wood, he has married the true-hearted, un-l
selfish woman, who is his beau ideal of a
heroine. II A'rn