The Van Buren press., 1869-05-04

complain OF as iover.like, even i'll had
DO ssessed any right to complain at all
am not prepared to state that on this sec
ond visit I might not liave. almost invol
UNFAIRLY, BETRAYED myself; but there had
never been the slightest approach to whal
believe is called 'dcclaration.' Oul
friendly intercourse had reached the stage
four calling one another BY our Chris
tian names Her brother called me Frank
habitualy. as called him Fred, (Which
we should probably never have done II
our intimacy had not dated from our col
lege days. and she naturally fell, rs IN
deed all the family did, into the same
habit. Euqally natural u seemed for ne
to call her Mary Ny stay at This tine
was short We were ar 'inbroken circle
at home at Christmas. aGd ! ieft, VITA
my secret undivulged = lew dats before
Christmas day But ought TO have told
yon that had seen the Percivals fire.
, qnpntly between these visits, They were
living then near the city, mother and
daughter Mrs Pcrcival had been wild
ow for some Years, and | had talked 10
Mary a little about my admiration of the
other Mary Mary Percival was inter.
csted in the subject and seemed often in
clined to return to it. twas not a topic
of conversation that by any means Oh
jected to, but didn't half enjoy it under
the circumstances. There was something
unlike herself about Mary, certain con
straint not to be concealed. 1t was not
very noticeable; but !, who knew her so
well, noticed it, or rather felt it, and was
uncomfortable accordingly At the same
time was perfectly sure that my friend
was sincere both in the interest she cx-
lpressed and III her manner toward me-
"There was no atfectation in Mary
Perciyal-iar from it. Looking back
from later day upon events aud feel
ings at that time was more wise TO know
the. truth. Then, ] was only selfish
man who was not a coxcomb. Let me
see, where was [? l told YOU went
home before Christmas; and one day,
early in the new year, was alone in my
chamber when an idea which had been a
long time simmering, boiled and bubbled
into a determination 1t was to write,to
write, Sir. to Mary lIorner, and learn the
worst or the best. An, can fest upon
1t now. j wrote. The thermometer
stood at twenty wrote have a bad
habit of spelling several sheets ofpaper
when ! write an important letter, can
show YOU fac similc OF this, discarded
because Of the capital Ms being OF two
varieties There il is, read it,
My DEAREST MARY IL cannot call
YOU by any other title and speak truly.
Forgive me il the truth is distasteful to
YOU. Folsiye too this method of max
ing it known. In all our happy associa
ton | have not dared--yes, that is the
word--to tell you this "A faint heart
you will say. but the bright particular
These are calm words, dear, when my
love is warm these are cold words when
my heart is beating wildly, would read
my sentence. If it is to be Punishment,
but oh ! | would ten times rather hear it,
. if it has one word OF hope. Let me have
but that word. and | will be with you.
Ii any case, feel that YOU viii deal ten.
delly as well as truthfully with me-
'"Yours devotedly, FRANK"
"In that same hour" he continued,
Il decided to tell Mary perciyal Of what
| had done. There is a'pretty accurate
copy of my letter to her r''7Ni t.'.
l ran thus: UHa r
:" know, dear Mary h0t do not
look in vain for sympat,E rDln you !
need it greatly to day. slou vii. believe
} this when | toll you what naye aone
have written to ask some one t. give me
her heart. Can YOU guess who it isf |
am not hopeful, hut am not despairiug
cannot say more than that in all my
fortunes | am confident of your sisterlJ
regard.
"Yonrs aifectionately FRASK.'
When | had read this without remark,
Blundell went on with his narrative. 70 A.
IL had finished these letters and fold
ed them when there was a rap at my door,
followed Immediately by the sntrance. OF
my opposite ncighbor. Well, ! never
was his exclamation, are YOU out OF
coal 2 | looked round upon the back
CRATE for answer, having first put up the
letters into envelopes and fastened them
| came to see if you were inclined for Il
| skate, my NlsAtoi saia' VIZ" VIC '''
on the Park yesterday, it was pretty
good They say it is capital to-day, but
come and have some lunch with me he.
> fore we 60 You are miserable here,
! accepted the invitation and wishing tc
get rid ofhim said. You go aud order it
, When he WAS gone, directed the enNel
opcs containing my letters, and followed
| him, taking them with me to post on m,
way to the Park. There were great
many skaters, and the ice was for the
, most part strong. But here and there as
is always the ease except after pro,ract
: ed frost, were weak places. On to ono
of these | skated at a rapid pace and
went down. without warning crack, into
. the bitterly cold water. The ice was
above me when rose, but could heaI
, voices near me before sank again.
, came up once more, but 1t was to feel q
heavy blow, to be in an explosion oftlre'
wotks. and then to loose all conscious
ness The clumsily given aid was near
being as fatal to me us the ice prison
would have been. How | was carried
Z aome to my fathers house, and suffered
for many days from the combined ctfcc,
. of the plunge and the blow, l could tell
, you only as it was told to me. Twas
, long unconscious, and for some time after