The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-09-03

IL received one yesterday" said Duly
laughing, "written upon q most imp0r
tant subiect-at least to the writer; bat
Shall not answer it, for very good rca
son."
"And what is that, pray:" asked thu
Cuban.
aPerhaps I will tell you tomorrow
when you bring that sea-view you spoke
of showing me-" returned she, with the
confidential air that was intended to dis
tract Stephen but on giving him side.
glance she shivered at the change in his
countenance. So cold, so dark and stern
was his expression, that her heart sunk
within her, and as she turned her head to
more fully see him he leaned forward, and
fixing on her look of contempt, said,
slowly.
"You speak of pictures-do you remem-
Der the one we were looking at last week,
and the words underneath it, Love desc
Grated diesy"
Then he turned from her and addressed
gay remark to young lady near him.
Oily saw him no more till the following
week; but she heard In the meantime
that, much to the regret of his parents, he
| had decided not to remain at home, but
again to 20 West When she did see him
1t was but for moment, and with others
around them; the clasp of his hand was
loose and Careless, the look he gave her as
he babe her good-by one Of quiet lndif-
ference
Stephen Went, and DIZZY, spite Of her
best efforts, dropped. Some persons sttfib-
uted this to the departure OF the Cuban,
who made his Adieux at this time. He
favored Dilly with d complimentary
speech and a very tender presstis C. her
hand; he would have Missed it in French
fashion, but she, fast losing her coquettish
ways, restrained him by look
The months passed on, and Dilly grew
quiet and thoughtful Much she pondered
on the expression of Stephens counte-
nance, the only cause she could find was
her flirting with the Cuban. One night
she sat musing, just before going to bed
On the table by which she sat lay a little
book in which Stephen, when he first re-
turned, had written her name at her re-
quest. he wrote peculiar hand, one that
would at once attract attention. While
thus sitting Jenny came la to consult her
on the color of dress she had purchased
that day. Standing by the table her eyes
fell on the writing in the book.
LANDS sakesr she exclaimed, "that
is for all the world the same writing that
was on your letter, Miss Dilly, that slid
down the crack"
Dilly turned pale. care you sure,
Jennyf" she asked, quietly, but with a
great effort
"Yes," replied Jenny, taking up the
book. II was looking at the way the A
and T were made as 1 brought the letter
along, and these are made just the same"
perhaps they are" said Dilly, and
then, turning to the dress, drew Jcnny's
attention to it. But when the girl left the
room she started up, and with hands
pressed tightly on her breast walked rapid
ly up and down. She saw it all now
Stephen had sent her that letter, the letter
she had written to all her correspondents
about without finding the writer; and now
she understood why he looked at her as
he did that night. He thought she had
read the letter and was making Jest of
it. Oh, how her heart thrObbed and panied
as she thought of it all!
Aunt Pen was sleeping the sleep of the
just, when she was reused by the voice of
weeping. Sitting up, she saw billy in the
pale moonlight standing by her bed.
"Oh, Aunt Pen! dear Aunt Pen you
do love me, don't your"
Aunt Pen instantly embraced her sob
bling darling, and drawing her beside her
endeavored to find out the cause of her
tears. She was alarmed, as billy was not
given to such outbursts.
i" know you love me very much, dear
Aunt Pen, and you will do something for
me that wish so very much won't you,
dear Aunt Pen?"
And then followed such flow of tears
that poor Miss Penelope promised.
"What is it, my darling?" She asked.
Have the dining room mantle-piece
pulled down" sobbed Oily.
Aunt Pen shook with terror. She took
it for granted that her niece was losing her
senses; but hoping the arrangement was
temporary she repeated her promise in a
quivering voice, and asked billy to share
her hnd-an offer that WAS accepted. Miss
Penelope was fully resolved to keep dill
gent watch all night; but before she had
the least idea of doing such a thing
dropped sound asleep, and when she woke
in the morning found that she alone occu-
pied the bed. Before she had time to rise
Oily entered the room, calm and serene
though certain anxiety lurked in her
eyes. Aunt Pen wisely thought she would
not allude to the subject of the mantle
piece, trusting that Oily had been dream
ing; but she was at once reminded of her
promise, and saw she was to be strictly
held to it. In vain did she question billy
as to her reason. At last Miss Pen said:
"Dilly, my dear, it is out of the ques-
ton to pull down the wall in that manner
without saying why. What do you sup
pose that Susan and everybody else would
billy surveyed her aunt thoughtfully.
" That is very true" she replied, and left
the room.
While Miss Penelope was still congratu-
lating herself upon her success, Oily re-
turned.
at is all right now, Aunt Pen," she said
al have slipped your great-grandather'
silver watch down the crack, and that is
reason enough"
For once in her life Aunt Pen was in
dignant.
"Amclial" she cried, show dare you
do such thing as thatY"
Dilly threw her arms around her aunt's
neck and pressed her soft check to hers
" Dear Aunt Pen," she murmured, in ca
ressing tones, you know you said you
must have reason, and you promised me
the mantle-piece should be taken down;
you wouldn't wish to break your promise
to your own little Oily who loves you
SOY"
Miss Penelope endeavored to be firm
and remain indignant, for the insult to the
treasured heirloom was not to be pa
tiently submitted to; but it was of no
use, and she finally yielded as she always
did.
Miss Amelia coolly informed Susan that
she had dropped the watch down the
crack and although Susan listened with
appraised hands and eyes, she declared she
was not the least astonishcd; Miss billy
would do mischief, she supposed, to the
end of her days
billy had taken the precaution to drop
in few old advertisements; so when the |
piece was taken down, and while |
Miss Penelope and Susan were anxiously /
examining the watch, she secured the |
precious letter among the advertisements, |
and no one noticed it. When alone in her |
room she carefully fastened the door, and |
then sat breathlessly gazing at the impor
tant document for several moments before
iaring to open it. But when she did, and
read in it how deeply Stephen loved her,
how she was the only woman in the world
10 him, her heart stood still for very rap
lure she was conscious of but one thought,
md that filed her to the exclusion of all
loved her!
After time she read the letter more at
entively, for at first the words swan in
golden light, very beautiful but very be-
xildering; and then she found that he re-
Iuested her, if her answer was unfavOrable,