The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-07

iofe, lnouSn sne was short, tat and fuolcunu,
with an occasional grammatical uncertainty
in her fluent speech. "Kind hearts"-Harry
said, and could not tell exactly what the
rest of it was, only that it was abundant au-
thority for liking Mrs. Absalom. But neHher
poet nor losician furnished her Win pre-
cedent for liking Miss Dorcas Denver, ana
poor Harry got tire of research ana never
got so lar as the moralists.. Miss Dorcas was
tail, thin and rectangular, and Miss Dorcas
always glared stonily upon every pretty girl
That nephew Guy should marry Miss Fin
derne to please his family, was, in her view,
quite proper; but that Miss Findelne hap
penea 10 De very pretty girl with a tender
~ " s'sSie, was, in Miss Dorcas's mind, a
great misfortune, She broodel over it in
soiiluae' and couldn't be feconciled to it any
~" sue came into society, and looked Vih-
1 :a'' anu turned all Harry's pleasures ac'd
-eo'iy' Uncle Joe was the only one OF all
10y friends whom Hairy iancied at all
SAe 'ahcled him because he was good
'ooAiiig and gentemanly. OF course she
ulu not admit that as the reason; but we
uiscern 1t to be such. No; Harry sadi was
because Mr.. Joe looked after Guy, and Kept
MN out OF mischief when he had not ener-
~ enough TO keep out himself and would
nave iaiien in from sheer helplessness. 10
Whlch Mrs. Finderne said "Hary" and
'hat young lady replied: "Well, it's SO,
mammal"
what Mr.. Finderne's feelings might be. no
man knew, much less presumed to guess. He
shed the benign influence OF his gracious
and dignifed presence upon all necessary
festivities, went away and gloomed an hour
OF TWO IN private afterward, made some aTith-
metieal calculations with his big gold pencil
ana bit OF paper, and came forth seeming
refreshed. A. Finderne, ESQ.,, was So
cal sphinx, whereof no one guessed the rid
die. Harry might have mravelied it if she
dared. But she had put that skeleton be-
hind her long ago, and thrown away the key
to its closet, determined never to pick it up
again, come what might.
But several things had come. Guys rela-
tives had come in crowds; divers annoying
perplexities concerning his disposition and
her own had come, and would not 60 away.
And now still graver, much more unwel-
come dilemma arose, was it right to marry
Guy Denver for his money? Each time she
put the question fairly before her, she could
not help answering no. But that ever-present
anxiety with regard to her future position
went far towards sitting the response. The
merest trifes swayed her balancing mind to
and fro. She drifted, drifted, the tiniest wave
turning her hither and thither, gay, frail
pleasure-boat drifting rudderless about quiet,
spacious harbor, tideless, yet vexed by endless
eddes and ripples. Harry meant to do right,
but she had tossed outside so long that she
felt she must stay inside the harbor-bar any
way. Could she relinquish the certainty of
future ease for the sake of any abstract con-
sheraton whatever? Or was it quite sure to
be such untroubled ease as she had at first
imagined?
Pricks OF conscience and vexations of vanity
gradually impelled her to form a desperate
resolution. Time and the hour were not long
wanting to its execution. 1t was custom
"'eA NNy w uOul VI tWO vi every
third or fourth day in the Findernes' draw
ing ito get used to it," For Guy had
become almost hopeless of release, and was
getting quite resigned.
A. Finderne, Esq, had walked leisurely
down street, to enlighten a select circle of
fellow-bein3s with his views on the subject of
stocks. MIS-. Finderpe was consulting with
her housekeeper whether cook, or cooks
maid, should be dismissed in consequence of
recent domestic instruction.
No better opportunity could possibly offer;
but Harry hesitated and hesitated. Twice
she opened her lips to speak; looked up at her
serene companion, and did not know how to
begin. Before she recovered from her second
discontinue mamma came back, and the OPP
portunity was apparently over for that day.
But the unexpected obstacle reused Harry's
pluck. When Guy babe them good morning,
and disappeared into the hall, she followed
him.
"Mr. Denver" said she, / want to speak
with you"
"Ahw said Guy, bowling elegantly, and
standing, hat in hand to receive her commu-
nication.
"What the mischief is she going to say
noao?" thought he.
None of his lazy graces made any impress
sion on Harry. She turned extremely pale,
but drew herself up bravely, though her voice
was little unsteady.
Mr.. Denver" said she, 81 did you great
wrong when I promised to marry you, for 1
did not love you at all. l only promised be-
cause you were good match"
Her astounded auditor opened his ewes to
their full extent, and then, rather ashamed
OF having betrayed so much emotion, even at
this moral and social earthquake, resumed his
interrupted progress to the door. But hardly
had he arrived there, when some sudden and
inexplicable emotion arrested him, and turned
him round
Harry stood where he left her, her eyes
cast down, and a faint color coming into her
cheek. He put his hat down deliberately up
on the hall table, and walked up to her.
Harry" said he, "you said you didn't love
me. Don't you think you ever could?"
And Harry Finderne turned red as she had
pale before, and put out her little hand about
half an inch minute, until he contriyed TO
seize it.
But further than this deponent saith not,
save and excepting that, when Hary's papa
opened the door, just thirty two minutes al
terward, she had not yet returned to her
mamma; and that, as he deposited his we'll
brushed tile upon its accustomed peg, he said
solemnly:
Never stand in the hall in that way, Har-
ry. The servants will be certain to notice
it,
Poor Guy blushed quite as much as the os-
tensible object of the reproof. Alas was it
not contrary to all his pre-conceiyed ideas,
too; and was not this the agitating COM
mencement Of strange and unfamiliar,
though delightful, experience?
But he resigned himself.