Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-18
WILMINGTON DEL THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 49, 1869

she did not touch them. She sat quite still
with her hands before her, looking at them
as If she could hardly believe it. Chareton
was laughing behind his newspaper.
Are they for me ?" she said, very softly.
OF course they are for you, Laurette. u
" did not think that any one would give
me anything" she said, very gently, and
then she slowly opened the parcels. There
was watch and chain from her uncle; her
aunt had sent her an embroidered handker-
chief, and had given her copy of the
"Christian Year"
"Dear Aunt Jean, she said, 1T is her
own work. How good of her!" and then
she thanked me and her uncle; but there
was still another little package lying upon
her plate. She took off the wrapping, and
disclosed little silver Chinese box, very
pretty and curiously engraved. 1t was full
of bonbons.
How pretty!" she said, smiling with
pleasure. "Who can have given me this ?'
had guessed, Of course, and could not
help glancing at Charleton.
81 am glad you like it" he said, careless
ly, as he got up from the table, and strobe
out of the room. Then Laurette got up
also, and walked away to the window. /
thought she was glad to hide the rush Of
color to her face.
Perhaps it was ofiicious of me, but had
| grown SO fond of her that could not bear
to see her running into danger. She had no
mother, no other friend TO speak word to
her, and was angry with Charleton. Per
haps was unreasonable his manner was
pleasant and kindly, perhaps even little
patronizing, and of course he could not
help being genial and good-looking but
then Laurette might not understand it all as
well as did. II was not his fault that he
was thrown so much in her way but I did
feel angry, and / wished he had kept his
little box to himself.
| In the evening, when Mr.. Deane had gone
to his study, ,and Laurette and were sitting
alone, 1 thought l would give her little
warning. She was bending over the fire,
with her lips just parted by smile and her
| eyes fixed upon the blaze, and l wondered
what castles she was building.
| don't quite know how did it. ! know
| | blundered, and got confused, and did not
say what ment to say, but all the same she
| knew what meant.
'I'ts only that you have no mother, you
know, Laurette, and very likely, l dare say,
am quite wrong; but you must forgive me-. :"
She had heard until then in passive silence,
with her head bent down so that l could not
see her face, but now she looked up and
pushed back her hair from her forhead as if
trying to Danish some new and bewidering
dream.
81 am not angry, Miss Ford" she said in
her usual grave and childlike tones, 'be-
cause, of course you could not know; and
If tell you, you must not tell my uncle; |
like it. Miss Ford, am engaged to my
cousin, Edward Finley
was so much astonished that for the
moment could not speak, then l made my
answer in abrupt embarrassment.
"You don't, you can't mean it. You arc
much too young And now everything is
changed, you are in such different position,
am sure he will not like it himself"
:" / do not know what right you have to
say he would not like it," and now Laurette
looked up and spoke a little indignantly.
:" 1t is quite certain, and he. would never
give me up"
1 could say no more, and subsidized into
silence. Edward Finley had been to the
house two or three times to see his cousin
and bring her little messages from his
mother; but the possibility of an attach
ment between them had never entered my
mind. He was gentlenanlike young man,
rather pleasing than otherwise, but not re
markaLle In any way. He oonversed very
properly; he seemed to be fairly intelligent
altogether he was unobjectionable; hut the
idea OF Laurette, who had somehow become
little heroine in my eyes, becoming his
wife was altogether dlstastefu to me-
OF course could not betray her secret tc
her uncle; but / did feel that the Finley.
were not behaving well by him. Why die
not Edward come forward, and announc,
his intentions like man? He might natu
rally be afraid of offending MIR. Deane, ant
being rejected, and being rejected, or per
haps losing Laurettes fortune. Perhaps bt
was waiting until her hold upon her uncle
should be more firmly established. / neve
for moment wronged Laurette. She wa
quite happy in the simple-minded hope thu
she should one day bring riches to the hous
which had sheltered her desolate childhood
and knew she thought of no wrong. Blu
the Finleys had more knowledge of th
world, and did blame them for their shar
, in the business.
That Laurette would be true to her cousin
i | bad no doubt She was not likely to b.
, shaken when once she had given her word
i so set my mind at rest about her an,
: Charleton; indeed, just at this time l wa
much more occupied with Mr.. Deane thai
with them. He had always, as have befor
! said been subject to variations of temper
) but lately they had grown upon him to a
+ extent which made me very uneasy. O
course we all have our ups and Towns, an,
" it is natural to fell our cares pressing u
$ from time to time, especially as we get on il
/! life: but then Mr.. Deane was rich and pros
porous, and he had, as it were, no persona
q anxieties. nor was he man to disturb him
/ self about other peoples. could only cor
I clude that it was health or natural temperi
5 ment; but l was sorry for him when say
!, how his nervous irritability grew upon hin
/ Laurette noticed it also, and in her pretty
Y quiet way did much to ally it. She ha
4 grown fcnd of the old man, and he watche
g for her comings and goings as if it were
!. pleasure for him to look upon her.
8 The days were lengthenipg, Edward FIJI
n ley had been twice to the house, March W,
= drawing to close, the crocuses were brgh
v ening the gardens, and Charleton was MOI
e with us than ever. He generally came j
1t the evenings, though he dined elsewhere
? and every now and then fancied that b
e too had cares. He was less gay, more silel
= and abs,racted, except that he seemed ol
servant of Laurette when she CHANGED to
d in the room.
G, One lovely spring day he came hurried
r, into the drawing-room where l was sittir
d alone, writing some notes.
4 '.Where is little Miss Deane?" he sai
4, 81 am going into the country on business
" she will like the drive; we shall be back
is a few hours. can take her with me-"
Iy "Indeed you cannot" l said and b
le ieve spoke rather Grossly. am one
IN those people who are apt to get angry whit
I'd they are startled, and his abrupt cntran,
a. had discomposed me, and made me drop n
n ink over my paper. ''How can you pr
IS. pose such a thing? l should not think
I'd allowing her to go. She is not such chi
k as you seem to consider her."
a "What nonsense !" he said, coloring al
ey looking annoyed. "But if that is all, woi
er you come too? am sure you will like
he 1t will do you both good Come, Miss For
know you will be glad to get out of Lo
th don."
n- His manner was winning and cordial, Al
lie if there was cunning in it, did not knc
nv it; so l allowed myself to be Modified, al
an we three set off together in the pony CT
er riage.
The birds were singing overhead, {
ne hedges were studded with primroses a
d. violets, the soft west wind blew gently
kc my face as lay back in the carraige, and
ch suppose, if had ever been young, it wor
me have carried me back to the days of l
er youth. We middle aged women have d
to own spring-like pleasure. The spring viii
speaks to the young of the future carries
= Al. ~ -