Ellsworth American., 1867-02-15
Niseella Meo It &.
Mildred'S Resolve.

CHAPTER |.
DO not speak to me again of marriage
Charles You know the only condition,
upon which could ever become Your wife
and yet You refuse to comply with them
My friends, as you are aware, are nv ad
vlsers; and know 700 we'll what misery
| might entail npon myself, We're | to dis
regard their counscls.'
A pause cnsued. in which the Young man
relaxed his clasp on the hand he had been
caressing, and moving further and yet fur
ther from the dropping figure, his eyes
sought the downcast face. Mildred Ashton
looked up: Charles IIacs was subdued by
that timid expression, and he replied in Il
voice. whose every tone was tl'at of devo-
ton: All. Mildred. you little know what
an influence you might exert over me al
my wife. | already love you. but more
intimate companionship will, if possibl,
Increase the affection now entertain, and
add to the power you already possess
Will not even the admission make you
yield to my most ardent wshcs!'
She did Not reply her fingers were play
ing nervously " with her embroidered hand
kerchlet, and the tears were settling in hcl
eyes.
why do You hesitate, Mildredr he con-
tinucd, graspiug her hand Answer me
Mildred, and let this burden of disquict be
removed. Tell me your final resolve
Let NE know whether We shall thus walk
year after year. united in heart, and yet
divided i'll HES dearest interests Shall Il
fear induce YOU to destroy my happiucss
when love and hope both prompt you to
establish it Answer me quickly, Mildred
tot am eager to bear the injustice toi
Which your countenance bids me to pre-
pare.
,lou have indeed anticipated my re
ply, said Mildred, with provoking coolilcsS.
IT You think me unjust for maintainin.
ii belief which know to he correct and
Tor firmly sta idins my own ground when
it would be wrong to yield. ltis strange.
sh" rnni'nned snr,3sfT that m9W dnri
that power with which | should be invest
cd after marriage. 50 You see. Ch Chaflcs,
that YOUR opinion iSincorrect. Now is the
time | sluIl not wait until am your
bride to accomplish the reformation which.
us your bctrothed, have vainly under,
taken
There was dignity and emphasis in her
Language which precludcd all necessity for
further pleading, and Charles saw it.
You do not love me. Mildred!' lie cx-
claimed with i'll suppressed anger; you
have never loved Inc. or you could not re-
sign me SO easily. You have no charity
for my faults, and exercise no forbcarancc
toward the weakness which cannot con-
qucr. No You do not love me, he added,
III a plaintive voice.
Charles she replied, raising her eyes
and gazing steadily into his face, You are
doing me grea. injustice How intensely |
love you, you who have received proofs of
it alone can tell. But shall be more gen
erous than you have been. admit that ey-
cry profession you have made has been re-
ceivcd without doubt as to its truth.
have asked You to Piled ,e Yourself never to
drink again, and my love and confidence
are so hounllcs. SO implicit, that | would
willingly stake my life and honor. You
have. limagine, Il mistaken belief that you
sacrifice your independence by adopting
the course have proposed, and for that
reason you refuse 70 secure to yourself the
possession Of my love. ] shall no longe"
urge, for already blush i'll rememl reance
OF the fact that promised you my heart
and hand upon certain conditions, and
that you failed to comply with Them
Yes said he | have failed to comply,
because could not pledge my word to do
strength. You do not love me, Mildred,
or you would he willing to marry me with
IL full knowledge OF my faults
~. I
YOU in what you are wrong, said Mildred.
You say that You do not believe love
YOU; and yet, should any other than your
sell accuse me OF inhdeity, how quickly
would you resent the accusation Never
did young girl yield her heart to the
keeping of another more willingly, more
entirely. than did mine to you. know
the difference between your social p oston
and mine; know that you are endowed
with the rarest gifts both of Nature and
Fortune, and that | am only Il goyrrness
i'll the house of your sister; know all that
interveues between us i'll a worldly point
of view, and at one time, it seemed
strange that You could condescend to Sc
lect one so lowly as myself for the object
of Your love. That love has been rccipr0-
,
Charles she added, her speech gaining
earnestness with every word. i'll do 1ot
love you, why should wish to become
your wife! That | may enjoy the wealth
of which l know you to be possessed!
That may occupy the exalted station
which as Your wife, should be expected
to fill! To no other facts than these can
your insnuations alludc. either do love
you dcvotedly, or else my object in enter
ing into this engagement was merely mer
cenary. II you think the former. recall
the words which you have uttered in mo-
ment of passion; if the latter, spurn me
without hesitati0n.'
Charles observed Misdred's extreme ag
itaton, and rising, he walked several times
across the .oom. Finally, he approach
cd the fireplace leaned his head upon the
marble mantleplece, aud gazed abstract
edy into the glowing fire. 1t might have
been the heat which sent tho red tlushes
across his face in such rapid succession ;
but what was it that paled the cheek so
as he lifted himself from
his bent position! Milareas head was
buried in the cushion of the sofa upon
which she was sitting one tiny hand was
Ia nd i,,u, 10