Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-07-01

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| with the mistress whom l served, and, in.
deed, I did my best, by unwearied diliginoe
4 and care, to merit her favor. Shew often
visited by people in high life. One day Sir
James Melton, an Englishman Of great
property came 10 the establishment along
with . party Of ladies'. He returned again.
| He spoke with my mistress, and learnt that
| I was Of good family; in short, learnt my
whole history. The result was, that he sat
down BY my side ono day and asked me
| plainly If l would marry him.
"Marry you'll" cried I, ia surprise.
''Sir James Melton was man Of sixty,
tall, pale and feeble.looking. In answer to
my exclamation Of astonishment, he said
Yes, I ask If you will be my wife? am
rich, but have no comfort-no happiness.
My relatives seem to yearn to sec me in my
grave. have ailments which require . de
gree Of kindly care that is not to be bought
from servants. I have heard your story,
and believe you to be one who will support
prosperity as well as you have adversely.
make my proposal sincerely, and hope that
you will agree to it." i.4 . ...,., D
"At that time, Frederick" /" continued the
lady, II loved you; I bad seen you but
once, but that once was too memorable for
me ever to forget It, and something always
insinuatcd to me that we were destined to
pass through life together. At the bottom
Of my soul, believed this. Yet every one
around me pressed me to accept the offer
made me, and the thought struck me that l
might one day make you wealthy. AT
length my main objection to Sir James Mel
toms proposal lay in disinclination to make
myself the instrument vengeance in Sir
Jau,es's hands against relatives whom he
might dislike without good grounds. The
objection, when stated, only increased his
anxiety for my consent and finally, under
the impression that it would be, after all,
carrying romance the length Of folly to re-
ject the advantageous settlement offered to
me, conseted to Sir James's proposal.
'This part Of the story, Frederick, is re.
ally like fairy tale. /, poor orphan, pen.
niless, became the wife Of one Of the richest
baronets Of England. Dressed in silks and
sparkling with jewels. l could now pass in
ms carriage through the very streets where,
few months before, l had stood in the rain
| and darkncss--a mendicant?"
Happy Sir Jamcs!" cried NJ. de Ia
Tour, at this part Of the story; "he could
prove his love by enriching you."
"lle was happy" resumed the lady
'Our marriages so strangely assorted, proved
much more conducive, it is probable, to his
own comfort than if he had welded one with
whom all the parade Of settlements, Of pin
money, would have been necessary.
Never, believe, did he for an instant
repent Of our union. I, on my part, con.
ccivcd myself bound to do my best for the
solace Of his declining years and he, on his
part, thought it incumbent on him to pro-
vide for my future welfare. He died, leav-
ing me large part Of his substanee-as
much indeed, as I could prevail upon my.
self to accept. l was now widow, and
from the hour to which / became so, l
vowed never again to give my hand to man,
excepting to him who had succored me in
my hour Of distress, and whose remembrance
had ever been preserved in the recess Of my
heart. But how to discover that man 4? All,
unconscious migrate to make no endeavor
to come in the way Of one who sought to
love and enrich you! ] knew not your
name. Iu vain looked for you at balls, as
sc,mblies and theatres. You went not there,
All, how longcd to meet you!"
As the lady spoke she took from..her neck
a riband, to which was attached piece Of a
hundred sous. 1T is the same-the very
same which you gave me" said she, presen-
:ing it to Frederick; ''by pledging it / got a
little bread from neighbor, and I earned
enough afterward in time to permit mo to
recover it. / vowed never to part from it.
"Ah, how happy was Frederick when I
saw you ia the street The excuse which I