Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-04-25
. roMAr6E IN poAppINe HOUSE.
lconslsasd Ir6n Fts. Puge.l

hard to persuade me to linger over the
wine, was not to be enticed; for, as ,,
had told you to expect me this evening,
and taking it for granted that you would
ali miss my society, hastened away as !
soon as possible; though had known J
that my friends were going to be so kind
ly anxious on my account, / certainly
Would not have subjected them to it,"
We All congratulated him warmly on
his providential escape; and Lavinia,
thinking this favorable moment ior
forcing a declaration from her dilatory 4
swain, detained the hand he heid out 10
her. and then went off into violent hys-
terics. Mrs. Primrose expressed frantic
alarm, declaring that no one knew what
her dear sensitive child had Suffered IN
the last few hours, and she mplored the
Captain to speak to, and soothe her, and
mot let her lie there and die."
He looked uncomfortable, and was be-
ginning to say something expressive oi
thanks for so much interest In his behalf,
when his glance fell upon a aprostrate fig-
ure in a dark corner of the room: We
had all forgotten Hilda Maitland, and
there she lay, pale and deathlike.
With Miss Primrose, [, too, thought
now is the time to test his real feelings:
40 whispered,-
"The shock of seeing you safe, after
the agonizing news, has been 100 much
for her, poor grill"
"Is this really on my account?" he re-
piled, with a sudden CLEAN of happiness
fighting up his manly features.
[ nodded assent.
Then. needless of the wondering eyes
fixed upon him, he folded her in his arms
and laid her dropping head upon ms
breast. This scene, which was not lost
upon Lavnia, made her redouble her
.hrieks; and her mother, seeing that the
game was up, became positively abusive.
"Bring her up to my room, whis-
percd to Captain Vernon, pointing TO the
still unconscious Hilda, "for 1T viii not
do for her to hear this abominable Ian
"You are very kind, Mrs. Merton, he
replied, .huskily, and lifting his precious
burden tenderly as an infant, he carried
her nm i'm his strong arms and laid her
upon my bed Mrs. Wilson followed, and
begged him to go back and just say few
words to Lavinia but he sternly efused,
declaring that Miss Primrose never had
been, and never would be, anything to
him. So our good'hostess was obliged to
90 away i'm despair, saying, III poor
dear Mr.. Wilson only knew All the
troubles and annoyances she had to en-
dure, he would MT rest in his cold grave:
i, In my turn, began to yictimize the
poor man, and Immediately we were
alone said,-
WCaptain Vernon, take n warm in
terest In this poor girl and for her sake
I wish to know how all this Is to end?'
"By her becoming my wife, he inter,
runted quickly; "at least" he added
with suddenness, :" IL she be free,-a iact
which must doubt"
/ reassured him on this point by tell.
ing him that the story the "Primroses
told that day was all fabrication, in
tended to mislead him, but | firmly be-
lieved the injured girl cared only forhim.
At this moment she opened her large
blue eyes, and as her glance leil upoil
Vernon they lost their terrified express
sion, and closed again rs ifsatlsfied, while
she murmured, with sigh OF reiei
"Safe! safe!n
This was u stronger proof than any
surmises of mine and the delighted love-
clasped her to him and dexclaimed,-,
WHilda! My own darling! You low
mo in spite Of your coldnesss, anu now
that / know it, nothing shall come be
tween us. You are mine!"
Perhaps 1t was against the strict rule
OF propriety,-but | was not accustomed
to English society," my readers mus
not Judge my morals harshly when
confess ut this point ! became deeply In
terested in what was passing without
and / allowed the lovers to whisper thei
mutual tale of doubts and fears, hope ant
against the window at the other end q
TIE room, L sought to distinguish tn
duslxy figures who were threading thei
woy through the dim, dismal-lookin
streets on that dreary November nigh
At length l discovered that lovers M
the most selfish creatures in the worl'
and |. might have kept my station u
night for aught they cared 40 | confron
ed them. and requested the Captain
make his adieus. But before l could y
rid of the tiresomc fellow, he would mai
me all sorts of pretty speeches.. whic
sIlly little Hilda echoed. At last !
went, and insisted upon the excit'
girl sharing my bed with me instead
returning to her own attic.
AT an early hour the next mornir
Mrs. and Miss Primrose decamped, sa,
ing they could not possibly rema
another day In house where such pr
eeedinps were allowed. Mrs. Wilson W
consoied for their loss by the Captain
assurance that, as he was the cause, 81
should not suffer; and suspect she was, .
the contrary avery co.slaeraole game
Christmas day came In clear and frost
and very pleasantly we spent 1t, havi
unanimously agreed to refuse all invi'
tions, After dinner, under the prot'
tion OF piece of mistletoe, the Captt
yentured to kiss the ladies all roui
beginning with Mrs. Colonel stacey wv
received the salute most graclously, co
ing from military lips, and ending, !
but not least, with his fair betrothed
A little late, under the exhllarating ini
encs OF whisky punch, Messrs. Jol
and Brown intimated that they sho
likewise avail themselves of the privii
of the season; but ~ the proposal
not encouraged, Jones was satisfied W
having this delicate attention to
Charming Bella, and Brown commeh
and ended with the buxom hostess,
:, was much gratifed, and would dout
have been more 40 had Miss White
peared at all jealous.
On New Years day / dressed d
Hilda In her bridal robes, aud very be
tiful she looked. She had made oh
tions, declaring that she was too
and humble TO wed with one well-h
viss and rich; but he reminded her that
was lady, and that was all that
M friends cared about and that she poss
ed his deepest affection and gave
hers In return, and that was all he ci
.l.out The only point he would v