The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-07-31

this for? Why, because he wanted me Il
go and live with them. NV aunts healtl
had been failing of late, and he was awar,
that knew the worst might soon come
so he wanted me to be sure of home
[ burst into tears.
"My dear, good child" he cried warm
| iy, eff were not going away, woult
not have grieved you so. You have,
know, true woman's heart. Your dea
aunt may live for many years, only if sh,
does not, Jessie and Il"
"Pray DON'T" Uninterrupted. 81 coult
mot bear it. The more he praised me, ,th,
kinder he was, the more l wept and fel
miserable. At length, at my request, h,
left me. l grew calmer after awhile, anl
went in.
"Do play Chopin's march for us, ny
dear" said my aunt. Poor dear aunt sht
wanted me to fascinate him to the last
She little knew that Jessie, whom sht
disliked SO, had been before hand with mt
there.
I played it again. 1t was the knell Of
all my hopes. A gray twilight filled tht
room and they could not see the tears
which flowed down my cheeks. I playeG
we'll, they said ,and I believe l did. Some
thing from myself was in the music thai
evening, and that something was very
sorrcwful. Mr.. Thompson came and sal
by me when I had done. The servant
brought in lights and letter for my aunt
While she was reading it, he said softly:
"Will you think over it?"
"Pray DON'T" I entreated.
"But you do not know how much l
like you," he insisted, "and then you will
do my little needless Jessie good-the
poor childish darling. Besides I have
set my heart on something"
This crowned all. Iguessed his mean
ing; he had younger brother for whom
he meant me. He had all but said so
this evening in the garden. "It would
do John, who was rather light, all the
good in the world" l could not bear it.
| rose and went up to aunt.
"What news, aunty?" I asked.
"News, indeed" she replied amazed.
"There's Jessie going to marry my cous-
in, Mr.. Norris, old enough to be her
father. [ wonder what he will do with
the little firt?"
There was a pause.
Mr.. Thompson came forward. did
not dare to look at him,
"What Jessie is that2" he asked. aSure-
ly not Mr.. Raymond's cousin2n
"Yes; the same. Do you know her?"
81 have seen her at Mrs. Gray's."
He spoke very calmly. | suppose he
did not believe it. pitied him; from my
heart I pitied him."
"Perhaps it is not true, aunt" I said.
s'Not truel why she writes it to me her
self-there's her letter"
l looked at him now. He was as pale
as death, but very firm. Neither troubled
look nor quivering lip gave token of the
cruel storm within. Something now call
ed my aunt out of the room.
"Augusta, may I look at it9'' he asked
glancing toward the letter which my aunt
had handed to me.
I could not refuse him. gave him
the letter. He read it through with the
same composure, then looking for hil
umbrella, which he would always keep il
corner of the sitting room, he said very
calmly:
II think I shall go and take walk"
And he went out, and we saw him M
more till the next morning, when be lef
US.
My aunt was disappointed to find tina
Mr.. Thompson had not proposed to m,
after all, and I was hurt to tho heart
core by the GOODNESS of his adieu. M,
value has gone down with nay cousin
faithlessness; mine had been at best bu
reflected light. I was liked because
Jessie was loved.
She became Mrs. Norris soon after this
I She was married from my aunt's house
out of regard to Mr.. Norris, who was re
lated to her, and who disliked Mrs. Gray
"That busybody," she called her-and
am afraid she was a busybody. She teas
ed me numerically about Mr.. Thompson
She was sure, she said, he had made Low
| to me; and she looked at me with crue
significance as she spoke. But | betray
ed neither his secret nor mine;and thoug
she vexed me when she quizzed him t
Mr.. Norris, specially about his umbrella
did keep silent
ssI am sure he will be married with hi
umbrella under his arm," she said tn
evening before her own wedding. "Don'
you think so?n I did not answer her.
went out into the garden, and wondere
how she had charmed him. Alasl
might have wondered how, without seein
it, he had charmed me.
| Jessie's marriage was a blow to m
launt. She had always thought that
should go of first She was also cruell
disappointed by Mr.. Thompson's indi
ference, and perhaps she guessed th
meaning of my altered looks. | beliey
/ got pale and thin just then. And
was always playing Chopin's march.
4 "My dear" said my aunt to me OF
Ieyening, "is not that very mournful?
| 81 like it aunt" I replied, but resolve
| to play it no more.
"Mr. Thompson liked il" she said vii
a sigh. II wonder he did not propose
you" she said abruptly,
i was silent.
"I wish I had never asked him here
she resumed; II cannot help thinking
aDon't-pray DON'T" | interrupted.
She did not insist. but she made nae {
and sit by her. She caressed me, 81
coaxed me, and little by little she DIRE
my secret from me.
II uMr 49,, J,rl;,o - sha said whan