The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-05-21
HE KNEW HE WASRIGHT.
BY ANTHONY TRoLLoPE.
CHAPTER LVII.
Continued

As she had resolved, sne WROTE ner
letter that night before she went to bed.
She wrote it with floods of tears, and
bitterness of heart which almost con.
0uered her. She, too, had heard OF love,
aud had been taught to feel that the
success or failure of a woman's life de-
pended upon that,-whether she did, or
whether she did not, by such gifts as God
might have given TO her, attraet to her
self some man strong enough, and good
enough, and loving enough, to make
straight for her her paths, to bear for her
her burdens, to be the father of her
children, the staff on which she might
lean, and the wall against which she
might grow, feeling the sunshine, and
sheltered from the wind. She had ever
estimated her own valve so lowly as TO
have told herself often that such sue
Cess could never come in her way. From
her earliest years she had regarded her
self Us outside the pale within which
such lows are to be found. She had so
strictly taught herself to look forward
to a blank existence, that she han learn
ed TO do so without active misery. But
not the less did she know where happi-
ness lay; and when the good thing came
almost within her reach, when 1T seem
ed that God had given her gifts which
might have sufficed, when man had
sought her hand whose nature was such
that she could have leaned on him
with "A true worship, could have grown
against him as against a wall with per
feet confidence, could have lain with
her head upon his bosom, aud have felt
that of all spots that in the world was
the most fitting for her,-when this was
all but grasped, and must yet be aban-
doned, there came upon her spirit an
agony so bitter that she had not before
known how great might be the depth of
human disappointment. But the letter
was at last written, aud when finished,
was as follows
"THE CLOSE, EXETER, March |, 1856.
"DEAR BROOKE"
There had been many doubts about
this; but as last they were conquered,
and the name was written.
~ have shown your letter to my aunt,
IS am surc you will think was best.
should have answered it before, only
that thought that she was not quite
well enough to talk about it. She says
as Twas sure she would, that what you
propose is quite out of the question.
am aware that am bound to obey her
and as think that you also ought Il
do SO, | shall think no rhote of what yoJ
have said TO me and have written. 1t Il
quite impossible now, even If 1T nigh
have been possible under other circum
stances. ] shall always remember you
great kindness to me. Perhaps | ough
to say that am very grateful for tn
compliment You have paid me. ! shall
think of You always,-till die.
believe me to be
"Your very sincere friend,
DOROTHY STANDURY."
The next day Miss Stanbury agar
came ont of her room, and on the thir'
day she was manifeStly becoming
stronger. Dorothy had as yet moi
spoken of her letter, but was prepar
cd to do so Is soon as she thought that
fitting opportunity had come. She haC
word or two TO say for herself; but sh,
must not again subject herself to being
told that she was taking her will of hel
aunt because her aunt was too i'll to de
fend herself But on the third day Mis-
Stanbury herself asked the question
Have you written anything to BrOoke!
she asked.
81 have answered his letter, Aunt
Stanbury"
"And what have you said to him 7"
81 have told him that you disapprove
of it,and that nothing more must be sal
about it,
"Yes;-AOf course You make me out t
be an ogre"
az don't know what you mean b
that, aunt. am sure that told hill
the truth"
MAY see the letter ~
at has gone"
'But you have kept copy" said Mh
Stanbury.
ayes; have got a copy" replied Dor
othy; "but would rather not show /
/ told him Just what tell you
Dorothy it is not at all becoming tina
you should have q correspondence wit
any young man of such nature tina
you should be ashamed to show 1t
your aunt"
81 am not ashamed of anything" sal
Dorothy, sturdily.
81 don't know what young women i
these days have come to-" continue
Miss Stanbury. There is no repect, n
subsection, no obedience, and, too otter
no mOdesty."
Does that mean NE, Aunt Stanburyi
asked Dorothy.
To tell You tae truth, Dorothy,
don't think yoa ought to have been re
ceivlug love,lerters from Brooke Burccs
when was lying i'll in bed. didn't es
Pectlt OF you. tell you fairly that
didn't expect il of you"
Then Dorothy spoke out her min,
"As you think that, Aunt Stanbury.
had better 60 away. And if YOU plss.
will,-when you are we'll enough /
spare me-"
"Pray don't think Of me at ALL sa
her aunt.
"And as for love letterS,-Mr, Burge
has written TO me once. don't thir
that there can be anything immodest
opening a letter when it comes by Il
post. Aud as soon Us had it l dete
mined to show il to VOu As for VIII,