The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-30

for giving my heart unsought, and after
a while, pride came to my aid, and l
sang and danced and flirted to bring
him to my side, but he only avoided
me the more, and when one evening
Walt again pressed his suit with more
ardor than he had shown before,
placed my trembling hand in hts, and
told him | would be his wife; then
Joined the group of dancers and / was
the merriest among them; so light.
hearted did | appear that l even de-
ceived myself into the belief that I W as
happy.
In n few days our engagement was
known and talked of by every one, and
many wondered that two such quiet
people, (for had never been gay and
girlish until lately should fancy each
other.
| Just two weeks from the day set apart
for our marriage, Walt had a letter from
| some business firm out West, and the
call was such an imperative one that he
went very reluctantly il must be owned
"lIe would be back ina week" he said Las
he kissed me good bye, and then he
placed my hand in that of his brother,
and told Gerard to take good care of
"his wife that was soon to be,n and
with another kiss hastily snatched, he
was gone.
Three days after he left, Gerard came
into the music room and took a seat by
my side, talking on Indifferent themes
at first, gradually coming to the subject
of my marriage. He sat distracted a
few moments, then suddenly facing me,
he almost hissed the question into my
ears,-"Do you love my brother, as a
woman should love the man she mar
RESP" If he had struck me blow it
could not have hurt me more; to be
asked the question by the man / loved
above all earthly things, was like blow
from an unseen hand.
felt the blood leave my face, and
clenched my hands till the nails cut in
to the flesh. 1t was over in one gasp;
| recovered my senses and my pride
came to my aid. He had now my heart
and wanted to test his power still fur
ther; he must have seen how passionate
ly had loved him, but 1 would give
him no cause to believe l still did so. |
returned his gaze with eyes unfinch-
ing, then clasped my hands theatrically
together and nswered-"Love him?
1t is tame expression, would die
without his love.n Was / dreaming.
or did his lips CLEAN Whitley from un-
der the black moustache? must have
been dreaming for he arose in mo-
mcnt and asked me in Il quiet natural
tone of voice, to play for him, and
placed on the music rack that sill ly rat.
tling piece, "MyMaryAnn." ."Notaquiver
in his clear rich voice, but he was gay
and irresistably funny, and l laughed
bitterly as imagined perhaps he had
loved me. Loved ME? the gay, bril-
liant, handsome Adonis, love the plain
Ivy Wayne so unlike his handsome
self? what wictched folly had come
over me.
| was looking for Waits return hour
ly, for in four days l would be his wife,
and looked forward to that event as
my only safety. After ! was Waits
wife it would be sinful to love Gerard,
and found myself actually longing for
the return of my betrothed. Return he
did, only to put off our wedding till the
following April. Business would call
him away to the West again immedi-
ately and he would not take me with
him, till the tedious business was off
his mind. I fancied l heard Gerard
mutter ''scoundrel," under his heavy
moustache, while Walt was explaining
hurriedly to Inc why he must leave me,
but again it was fancy on my part, for
he was humming an opera air.
The postponed marriage occasioned
great surprise in Elton, and much gos-
sip, especially after Gerard took his de-
parture for his home in the sunny
South but | needed not the busy tongues
but went quietly on my way, almost
happy.
| was lying one evening on the sal in
damask JuuteuHin ourcharming sitting
room, when the door was opened softly
and n voice whose rich cadence sent
thrills OF rapture through my heart,
said, "Ivy, are you here ? Speak to me,
ii !. Gerard"
What need of telling me that, when
even the sound of his footsteps was fa-
miliar to me. l sprang up and turned
the gas on brightly. l shall never for
get the look on his handsome face, as
he advanced towards me with out
stretched hands. "Ivy read that, but
for heavens sake be calm, L thought |
could tell you but cannot. Poor child,
it was cruel, cruel !-the heartess
scoundrel
"Say good bye to me first, for 1
cannot stay to see your misery, and
know it's out of my power to chastise
the villain, because he is my brother,
the dastardly wretch!"
He clenched his shapely white hand
in his anger, then snatched me to his
breast, kissed me passionately on lips
and hair, and was gone, with only a
crumpled letter in my hand, to assure
me the past few moments We're not the
continuation of my dream.
opened the letter in bewildered
manner and readthe following-"Upon
you devolves the necessity of telling
Ivy all. did think loved her, until
l met beautiful bewitching Belle. Oh
that unlucky, or rather that lucky, WIS.,
it West made me realize that it was on
ly a passing fancy l entertained for
sweet girllsh Ivy. What pity, Gerard,
you had not fancied her, you might have
stepped in and consoled the dear girl
but for goodness sake try to make it all
right; say "Tm sorry" and 81 wasn't
good enough" and all that sort ofthing
and narhona Sba,n srixa thn t,o,