Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-12-13

the fact; cut somehow that evening l. fell
as if some great pressure had been taker
| off me, and my own true nature, cyl
though it might be, would out.
went out again into the garden, tt
avoid continuing the conversation, and tc
calm myself 81
The next day watched anxiously for 6
letter,-for, truth to tell, I was particular
| ly anxious that my wedding should take
place at the time named, and if Lady
| Rutherford died | knew this could not be
But to my surprise Eustace did not write
for couple Of days, and then only hur
ried note to say his mother continued ILL
| but that he thought there were still fain,
hopes of her ultimate recovery; he did
| not even mention his return.
l was disappointed; but at the same
time knew Lord Rutherford's cold nature
and therefore comforted myself with the
thought that he probably had not the gift
of warm love-letter writing. / was natu
rally of a lively disposition, and putting
the epistle in my desk, Icertainly troubled
myself but little about 1t, turning my at.
tention 10 such amusement as Eustace's
absence now gave me leisure to join in.
Instead Of combining myself to the rec.
tory garden, went visiting amongst the
neighboring families, and,-alas for nv
weakness and idleness !-again fell into the
company of Guy Deveril. Since my en-.
gagement to Lord Rutherford had done
my best to avoid Captain Deveril, feeling
that 1t was better for my own happiness
and also more pleasant to Eustace,
who, though he would not stoop to
outward demonstration of jealousy,
was one who l knew would brook
no rival. Now that / had nothing to
do, however, no one to be with me con-
stantly, the temptation was too great for
me to resist, and, insensibly, from meeting
Guy In company, and talking generally
with him, | passed on to strolling with
him apart from others, and finally to tete a.
tete rambles and moonlight saunterings,
much in the same free way which I had
been wont to indulge in before my be-
trOthal.
Guy was more on level with myself
than tbs stern, intellectual Lord Ruther-
ford, and the effort made to comprehend
and appreciate Eustace was not necessary
when | was with the gay captain.
he loved pleasure, romance, poetry,
music-all that could give sunshine to life,
but which gives no help to weather its
storms-and was of the same light ma.
ture. His company charmed me, his fiat
terry charmed me, and that gallant atten-
ton In little matters, which Lord Ruther-
ford would never have thought of paying,
charmed me. But though 1 INDUCED my
vanity and love of gayety, my conscience
was still on the alert, and as yet I was
faithful in my thoughts to Eustace, and if
he had but returned then, as hoped and
expected, ali might yet have been well.
All, how different indeed might my fate
have been!
Days, weeks passed--a couple of months
went by, and Lord Rutherford only wrote
that his mother fingered still, but In such a
state that from day to day they expected
her to breathe her last. Our union he
never mentioned; only once or twice did
he speak of his return; and though his
letters came regularly enough, and always
breathed affection, 1 began to receive them
as matter Of course, and to grow slowly
less interested in their contents.
was little displeased with Eustace at
thus deserving me for his dying mother,
and the attentions of Guy Deyeril were
therefore all the more welcome; and
know not whether by design or not, Just
at that time Guy pressed them more as
could be he was always beside me.
Alice shook her head, and my father
looked grave; but used to laugh and say
was dull without Eustace, and should die
If had no one to help me while away the
time, or else put on an offended air, and
with flashing eyes asked them If they mis-
trusted me. My foolish pride made me
obstinate--I would not be reprimanded
and ruled by simple Allies, who spent her
life In cutting out clothes for the poor and
visiting the sick-and in very brayado I
increased rather than diminished my In.
timacy with the gay captain. or
Meanwhile my imprudence was attain
ing its eliminating point.
In a neighboring town there was a
grand fancy fair about to be held in aid of
some charity, and cousin Of Guy Deveril,
who was one of the lady patronesses, asked
me to join her in keeping stall. The in
vitation was sent to me through Guy, and
he was very urgent that / should acceptit,
as the Office of driving me to and from
Little Denton would fall to him, and in
deed we should be able to pass the day to-
geGh0r In a scene of excitement and gSyety
such as we both loved. ~
My conscience was not quito easy, but
agreed, and set about preparing a dress
which should do justice TO the occasion
and my own beauty; and after not few
hours hard labor laid costume out be.
fore Alice's wondering eyes which even she
declared would make me the belle Of the
fete. Is
You will think me very foolish, Mabel
but do you know | dreamt of that dress +?
l longed to wear 1t as eagerly as any vii.
lage schoolgirl longs to put on her new
bonnet. You may conceive, then, my dis
appointment when, on the eve Of the fair,
received letter from Eustace which at
first sight seemed to make the pleasure i'm
possible. It was long letter, filed with
accounts of his mothers health, and his
own intense anxiety to get over the next
few days, during which crisis was ex-
pected to take place In the disease; but In
short postscript he said, II have heard
that you have been asked to patronize the
charity fair at Little Denton. Of course,
under our present circumstances, you can
not be expected to appear at such place.
That was all. He seemed to consider IL
a matter of course that whilst his mother
lay dying should never dream of appear.
ing in any public place of amusement. To
make such q request as favor granted to
himself would have appeared like an in
suit to my good feeling and good taste.
But instead of arguing in this way,
exclaimed, "How selfish lovers are
Eustace expects me to feel as much for his
mother, whom never saw In my life, Just
because she is his mother, as he does
Absurd" And then, crumpling up the
letter, dashed down stairs to stop Guy
Deveril, who happened at that moment to
be passing the garden gate and casting
longing looks up at my window, to tell
him that after all I mast give up the an.