North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-03-28

The old lawyer turned his chair round,
and commenced writing at his desk ascooi-
ly as if he had been an ingenious machine
invented for no other purpose. l thought
on his proposition till | grew sick aud faint.
The recollection of the consummate charms
of her loved added horror to the aspect
of hate, such as she wore whom | was in
vited to make my own, and | could not
bring my heart and lip to say yes to such
a destiny. At last | rose and said:
81 will call tomorrow and give yeu my
decision"
"Very WE'LL" replied the old man, with
out turning his head or ceasing to write.
went home and attempted to prepare
nv mother for the ruin that had befallen
us, but in approaching the subject found
it was more thar she could endure, and
relinquished the effort in despair. To my
sister ventured to tell the truth /; and she
wept bitterly, not for herself, but for our
only parent, who she ssured me would
inevitably expire on hearing the news.
ais there nothing on earth that you can
do, Edward, to prevent this 7"
"Yes."
"And wont you Go it -
81 cannot bring my mind to it."
as it dishonest ?"
"N-o, / don't know that it is, but
very repugnant to my feelings"
Il am sure would do anything sfor
mamma
"Would you marry the man you alb
hor ?"
ITO save mammals life-yes."
"Well, then, / will not be outdone by
you in filial affection"
What do you mean Edward p
81 will tell you to morrow. In the
meantime cheer up | will save our moth
er and you, but at great sacrifce-Heaven
only knows how great"
My sister flung her arms around my
neck, kissed me affectionatcly, called me
by many endearing names, and felt as if
almost deserved them, ggerated as
they were. r
| communicated my decision to my law
yer the next d Y, telling him that since |
could not marry for love, / would marry
lOT
He uttered sort of grunt, and replied
"Few marriages begin in that way but
with too many loveis merged in antipathy
as soon as the honeymoon is well over
Your prospect of connubial happines is the
brighter, as it cannot change but for the
better. IF YOU knew the lady as well as
| do, you would entertain no misgivings on
the subject. @
On the second day after this interview /
received Mrs. Barrington's card, and a
written request from my lawyer that I
would call upon her without delay, as he
had settled the preliminares in the most
satisfactory manner. / did not fly on the
wings Of love to the stately y mansion of my
bride elect, as there had been little choice
in the matter, but walked thither like a
man who had volunteered to be hanged.
On nv arrival | was ushered into
handsome drawing room, in which was
kept waiting for about quarter of an hour
when at last the lady appeared. She did
not look handsomer than when met her
On the stairs leading to my lawyers office
On the contrary. the relation in which she
now stood with respect to myself, and the
fnery she had piled upon her person, rem
dered her, in my eyes, more hideous Ethan
ever.
| responded to her salutation, and re-
mained silent for few moments. She
appeared desirous of manifesting a certain
measure of maidenly coyness, and l was
not indisposed TO allow her all the leisure
she required for the performance Of the
part When she had enacted the role to
her satisfaction, and lost little patience,
she opened upon me with the voice of a
dying screcch-owl, that made me shudder
"Well, Mr.. Ingleton, the object of your
visit is, presume--"
"Yes, madam, it is as you say, to pro-
pose for your hand and heart they are
supposed to 60 together"
"My hand and heart ?" she exclaimed
laughing.
What laugh it was ruined hurdy-
gurdy, a maniac's scream, and the sere-
made OF starving Cat, combined,1w mu-
sic to it.
eyes, madam +; and does this appear so
absurd to you :"
"Extravagantly So"
"My lawyer has been authorized by me
to make proposition, which he has given
me to understand has been favorably re-
ceived. Has be deceived me ?"
"No, not at all but you have made a
slight mistake in the person..
"Are you not Mrs. harrington ?"
"That is my name but | presume you
refer to my niece"
'This is very ridiculous. Shall I have
the pleasure of seeing the right lady 7"
ain moment. She sent me to prepare
you for her coming"
81 do not see the necessity"
81 presume not. ] will explain, altho'
the subject is delicate one to handle. A
bett4r-hearted girl than my niece, Clara,
never lived, but she has some personal de-
fects which perhaps only the eyes OF affec-
ton can overlook, / mean to say, for in