Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-02-19

stabbed him, like adagger, "What if she
i is already in love with another"
Cold drops stood upon his forehead
/ there was a feeling of suffocation in his
throat. With violent effort he guiped
down half wine glassful of Burgundy,
and then relieved his momentary anguish
with 4 SIGH. 1Tf9FN IL
Mention has already been made of Ed
mund Blake, Esq, Barrister at-Law. The
most marvellous thing about Mr.. Blake
4 was his means of locomotion He would
be in Paris one week, in Edinburgh
another, then he would be seen in Man
chester or Liverpool, and after, that in
I London or Rainsgate. AS he never car
ried anything but an old carpet-bag with
him, it was 0rumored among his friends
that he generally, took French leave OF
Z inc host of the hotel he might chance to
honor with his company On one occa-
sion, he happened TO be at Brighton, lodg-
ing in the house of a respectable widow
lady, in straitened circumstances, who had
denied herself everything in order to be-
stowsa brilliant education upon her only
! child, in the hope of obtaining for her a
comfortable home as goyerness or COM
panion. -
Mary White had just left school at the
time Mr.. Blake engaged her mothers back
and front parlors She was joyous,
bright little thing, with a profusion of
| golden hair, which she was fond of letting
down over her shoulders. Her voice was
| the very essence OF harmony; b ar man.
ners bewitchingly simpler her eyes
beamed with seemingly artless, coniding
affection; her rippling smiles were alto
| gether irresistible. Edmund Blake made no
attempt to resist them. For upwards of a
fortnight he raved about her, and to her.
There was nothing he would notdo for her.
| she should have her carriage and pair, a
house near Hyde Park, stall at the Opera
he thought of promising a box, but
changed his mind. But Mary remarked
that his collars and cuffs were particularly
ragged, that he had only one pair of boots,
and they were patched at the side; and,
above ALL that he neither made, any
presents to herself, nor paid his weekly
bills to her mother. For all that, she was
a good deal impressed by his manly pres.
ence, his rich voice, his smooth talk his
pleasant anecdotes, and his varied infor-
nation; when one morning it was discov-
cred that the fine gentleman had departed,
taking with him his carpet bag, but omit
ticg to pay his account.
Now that Mary's education was COM
pleted, Mrs. White resolved to dispose of
her furniture, and seek for herself situa-
ton as housekeeper, and for her child that
ofa companion, or governess. Mary, how
ever, had other plans in view for her own
advancement Full of romance, ard blest
with an excellent opinion of her own
charms, personal and intellectual, she felt
confident of her power to secure an eligible
match, provided only she could obtain an
opportunity of showing herself off to adj
vantage. - 3 - = ~
| The first thing to be done was to get
clear of her mother. She waited, there
FORE until their furniture was converted
/ into hard cash, and then she practised her
first deception. She told her unsuspecting
parent that, en- the Recommendation of one
of her late schoolfellows, she was going as
reader and pianist to Lady Purnull. Her
mother accordingly supplied her with an
abundant and even handsome outfit, and
insisted upon her taking thirty pounds in
cash, to meet any unforeseen expenses as
companion to such fashionable lady.
With terrible resolution she tore herself
from her mothers arms, and TAX
ing her place in the train was
whisked Of to London. Her poor
mother never heard from her
from that hour. RelinGuishing the fruit
less search in despair, the unhappy
woman accepted the humble post of
housekeeper to a single gentleman resid-
| ing in Bayswater, by whom she was
always treated with Difference and respect.
On this day of surprises, however, Mary
White had been met face to face at a cor
ner of "the Grove" by her temporary
admirer, Ednund Blake. With his most
fascinating bow, therefore, he sidled up
to her, and began to address her in tone
of impertinent familiarity. The little
lady stopped, calmly looked him up and
down, and swept on with all the dignity
of tragedy queen. Mr.. Blake flushed
up to the roots of his hair, and dspringlng
| into hanson, desired the cabby in d
very loud voice to drive him to Berkeley
Square. Mary overheard the direction,
which she perfectly understood, and
tripped along, laughing to herself right
merrily. Mr.. Blake was good deal dis
concerted by this encounter. She was
looking pretty, he said to himself, but
what was she doing in London, and how
came she to be dressed so we'll? His con-
science was somehow not quite comfort
1piO, anu III spAo0 W sAaO Son0AhVVuS uS WAno
he SIGHED. I.tsff 'sag.Y,I,5g .I,fI4i
80 u ga gsslt ]aaR -----l ~ - IHt99 p 80
The marriage ceremony had been duly
performed. Mr.. Jones had previously in
4 formed his friends that the affair would
be strictly private, as the lady he was
4 about to wed was an orphan, and an en-
tire stranger in London. His friends
however, were not the less somewhat sur
4 prised, on arriving at the church, to find
4 that the officiating clergyman was in the
act of reading the benediction, and to
observe that the only other person
was a respectable looking matron
whom DIR. Bryan recognized as Mrs. Wat
kins, the landlady of boarding house
patronized by old Wilkinson. This cir.
cunstance drew his attention more par
ticularly to the bride, and though it was
difficult at that moment TO distinguish hel
features, he felt convinced in his own
mind. that his former patient, Miss Con
stance Tayleur had at last lined her twigs
to some purpose. 1t was not, however
until after the young couple hadsretired
into the vestry, and signed their names in
the parish book, that he was able topush
past Mrs. Watkins, ostensibly to offer his
congratulations; but In reality to satisfy
his doubts. "My dear Clara, allow me to
introduce my very particular friend, DR.
John Bryan The lady started at the
name, but recovering herself with ,des-
perate effort, she looked at him SO piteous
ly, that he could only mutter something
about wishing her every happiness, and
moved aside to make room for his com,