Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-12-10
u. We have no near relatives: and the


source OF SEINE anxiety to me; and to see
you happily married, dear, would lift
great weight from my mind When your
father lay dying, he took me by the hand,
and said. when am gone, Phil. Won
must look after my little girl. | leave her
in your hands. Bring her up religiously,
and when she is old enough find her good |
man for a husband; and may Heaven deal |
by you as you deal by herr loved you
at first because you were wee little or
phan and my brothers child, but soon you
grew as dear to me as though you were my
own; and have striven to carry out poor
Arthur's wishes to the best of my ability
Dear uncle' said Frederick with tear
full eyes. Papa himself could not have |
done more for me than you have DONE
For the last half-doZen years. resumed |
Sir Philip Il have been hoping that Of
your own accord, and without word from
me, you would pick out some worthy gen
tleman on whom to bestow your hand and
heart-and of such suitors you have had |
more than one or two to whom could have |
given you with every confidence But
time goes on, and still Endymion comes
not, and to all others Diana is cold as an
icicle.'
He took her hand fondly, and stroked it |
gently between his. -Four months ago,
he went on, my friend, Henri Duplessis, !
came to me. and asked my permission to
address you on a subject very near TO his
heart. The permission he asked for gave
him readily, knowing no man to whom |
would sooner intrust the happiness OF my
darling than to him. lie spoke to You,
and his suit was rejected; and in that res
poet he only met the fate Of others who had !
veutured before him. For his sake. de
parted fron the course | had laid down for |
myself long ago not to interfere by word
or lsok in such matters. l limited to you
how happy it lay in your power to make
both him and me. could you see your way
clearly to do so. My words distressed you,
and told you to consider them as unsaid.
But again. to-day, venture to plead once
more the cause of my friend. Do not mis-
take me, however am not here at his re
quest-As knows nothing Of this. He bow
ed unmurmuringly to your decision, and
from that day to this the subject has never
been mentioned between us but, unless
misjudge him greatly, he is not man !
whose feelings readily change. All, Fred !
dy, If you could but learn to look favour
ably on him. He is a gentleman by birth a
and neutrality-suspicious., handsome, and
accomplished; and although he is net
rich man, that fact would not, am sure,
influence your inclinations in the slightest y
degree. That he is brave both you and ,
have had ample proof, else he would not v
have risked his life to save mine as reck
essly az he did that day in the Pyrenees. Il
When man reaches my age, he seldom
makes new friendships; but my heart seem r
ed to warm to Henri Duplessis from the
moment my eyes opened on his pleasant {
face, bent anxiOusly over me. in that little
auberge ameng the hills had it not been :,
for his bold spirit and strong arm, they N
would never have opened again on earth.
All. Freddy. Freddy, if you could but learn C
to like him y
He was still sti oking her hand tenderlr =,
between his withered palms. There was a
far away look in Frsderica's eyes as she G
sat, almost as immovable as a statue, gaz O
ing out into the violet sky; but there was u
bitter warfare going en- in her heart.
Would it make you so very happy, IN
Gle, if were to try TO like Mr.. Duplessis
q littlsl' OF
A bright eager light came into the old
mans eyes, and his hands began all at on on
once to tremble as he spoke. 'Weald it
make me happyl' he said. 1t would take F. F.
away altogether my greatest earthly ankle "
ty; it would cheer and gladden., far more hi
than can tell you, the few remaining 4,
DAYS that are left lie in this world, and sd
crown my life with happiness which feel ds
would be far greater than my deserts. All. =
darling, tell me that you will do this, aud :
an old mans blessing will follow you G.
through lifs!'
i will strive to do as you wish, uncle.
said Frederick. al
He drew her face close to his. and Kissed al
her fondly, and then turned away his head, of
for his eyes were dim. and he wanted time y,
to recover himself. "
We will go home now, uncle. if you III
please said Frederick There was some III
thing in the tone of her voice which grated Sc
on his ears, and he peered anxiously into
her face as he offered her his arm and his III
heart sank a little, she looked SO passion w
less and cold, with that stony far away look :.
in her eyes. as though she had caught
glimpse of the Gorgeous head in Passing, III
and already the blight were falling upon to
her. bl
Were not as certain as "a poor human cl
being can be Of anything urged he hasti fo
ly, that this step will ultimately conduee to a,
your happiness, would not persuade you
to take it. Some day. dear, in the wears "
to come. you will look back and say Ny al
old uncle did what he thought best for my "
happiness. and his Judgement was not such at
u bad one after all.'-Henri will make you Ia;
true and loving husband--of that am N,
sure
Pardon me. uncle said Frederick, but =.
you are putting far more absolute con u
struction on my words than | intended at
them to convey b
He laughed a pleased little laugh. Well ~
well perhaps So he said. Only give al
Duplessis an opportunity of pleading his ri
suit in person, aud will willingly leave - :,
the rest to time II
They were close to the house by this time, u
and a. they turned corner of the shrub d
berry, whom should they see approaching
slowly on horseback from the opposite di- il
rection but Monsieur Henri Duplessis him a
self
BY Joye exclaimed Sir Philip. Why,
here comes our hero in person l suppose $
you won't care. Freddy. il En-, why, t.
what where the duce has. the girl got TOT y
Frederick. on seeing who was coming. had !
slipped back out OF sight, and traversing q
quickly a narrow side path through the =
evergreens, in a few minutes. by private
Goor into Lady Spencelaugh's flower gar
den. from whence she quickly made her
way unseen to her own room t
Having Invested herself of her hat and t
ridinghabit, she flung herself YEARLY on /.
the bed Both heart and head ached T,
srrangsly and she felt just then that it
wsuld be well to die. and SO end all this