Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-12-03

maker, ana would regard Edward s feel
ings to me Just the reverse to what they
were-it happened that'he andfI would
have 1ove-sccne together; and with ter
ror,I looked forward to acting . scene
which a yearsbefore I had believed TO per-
form in reality. is. 4 bsar,slai s.dibs4s
Ut needed preparation and
on the morning I stood alone in the libra
ry striving to acquire it. I was aroused By
some one entering the room,e and turned,
believing it my cousin Hubsrt;r but my
smile died out like snowflake in river
as my eyes rested upon Edward Stangate,
with whom till this moment ], had success
| fully avoided anything approaching to a
tete- a-tete. xyifAT1assssSd aSaoIo)
Z arose quickly, with, I fear, my confa-
sion rather apparent, for, ,boving slightly,
he fastened to speak, Al ssds:4g. ,,;s,5s
pray do not let me disturb you, Miss
Morcombe-or rather let me apologize for
having done SO, and l will instantly rid
you of my presence -.
There is no needlof apology Mr.. Stan
gate, 1 answered, indifercntly; and you
need not leave the library on my account,
as | am just about to quit it, b7sooa II.
/ turned to carry out my words, and as
he silently drew step aside to let me
pass, 1 remarked a look Of acute pain con-
tract his features. A moment after he
spoke again, abruptly almost, it appear.
ed, against his will. ...~..-.-.
Miss Morcombe, pardon me, but may
dare I avail myself Of this occasion to
ask in what I have offended you?
Offended me, Mr.. Stangate p replied,
with a look Of surprise. In what could
you offend We have not, think, ex-
changed dozen words since your arrival
| That is it, he answered. eagerly And,
Miss Morcombe, confess would ask, if
I may, why am tabooed from charm
which others enjoy-I, who might be ex-
cused if I expected other treatment-I,'
be added. sadly, who year ago ,,
Mr. Stangate, I interrupted, haughtily
my cheek flushing, you are the last per-
son who should make reference to that
time! [ must request you not again, as a
gentleman. to do so, while we are compeN-
ed to remain under the same roof 'a.. =
Ny heart was beating violently, though
I looked him firmly in the face, and
turned quickly to quit the room; but, as
by a sudden impulse, he sprang forward.
and doubtfully placed his hand upon my
arm to stay me.
Miss Morcombe, he exclaimed, , in ear
nest utterance, there is some mystery
here which to me is madness, and I sin
cerely beseech you, out of very pity, to
solve it to mer -. ''.., -.
g Mystery ! I solve it, Mr.: stangate?' I
answered, coldly, You must excuse me,
for, seeing no mystery, you ask what is
beyond my power. 's''@'~z@s-~ s..-s4s,ss,.-ya.
He pressed his hands despairingly to-
gether, then said: sa~.-..-
oh, Miss Moreombe. is your heart
entirely devoid Of pity? Do you feel no
remorse ? Then he added, quickly: No,
! do not go; you must hear NO. We met
for the first time year ago, when had
the audacity to love YOU ,.s ,''1 s.'
I am aware you assumed that feeling,
Mr.. Stangate, | rejoined, coldly.
He looked at me in surprise, then con-
! tinued: +. 'a@ ~ a..'7'@97e is+' .s$ss.
Assumed, Miss Morcombe? If mans
love was ever sincere mine was; and was
insane enough to fancy it returned
Trembling at his words, | made step
towards the door but he gently restrain
ed me. .s =. ~ a
! May, you must grant me this hearing,
Miss Morcombe. l say I loved you, but
feared with my then worldly position |
dared not aspire to your hand yet | lin
gered till, madly thinking l read pity, if
not love, in your eyes, | determined to
learn my fate. Before did so, however,
| CHANGED to hear from one--a stranger to
my affection that your heart, was already
bestowed upon another-Mr Charles SAT-
ford, then on his return from Europe. My
room alone witnessed the agony | suffer-
ed at that intelligence. Had you known
| it, you must have pitied me. ] fancy you
do now. Then, when calmer. / resolved
to take the wisest course left open to me
that was to fly. did SO abruptly
pleading serious business. Yes, fed,
forgiving you from my soul. Miss Nor
combe, for the cruel encouragement that
you had given me--to my ruin"
! AS be had spoken, had listened first
coldly, then with emotion finally sank
into chair, with my head turned aside
What dark clouds were his words lifting
from my heart-my life / felt deprived
of the power of speech till he said:
"You may imagine, Miss Morcombe
my surprise when I met you again, still
unmarried" s
J. s'Who told you that was-I was en-.
gagged? Z" Igasped.