Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-25
l would gladly have given her comfort if
might, but how could / repeat Charleton's

~ hod OcCu u hoio olihESlO W coy nv W
him. She had promised, and nothing should
make her break her wor,l she should be
true to Edward Finley, and she did not yet
perceive that, however she might act, it had
now become an impossibility TO her. If it
had not been for my interview with Charlie
ton, should not have hesitated to tell her
SO, hut was proud for her, and after what
be had said could not do it.
Goodnight, Laurette," said and then,
as it were almost in spite of myself, l made
one more opening for her to speak out to
me. "What has kept you up SO late?"
My head aches SO, she said, coldly draw
ing herself a little away from me; ''it does
not matter"
"Poor little thing, she is much too proud. 7"
thought, with a mixture of pity and vex-
alton, but could say no more.
Mr.. Deane did not appear at breakfast the
next morning; and he did not come home
all day.
In the evening it was in the papers, and
every one knew that the firm of Deane s. Co.
had failed.
AS we sat together in the drawing-roonl
after our tcte- o-tete dinner, l told L4urette
what had happened. She did not cry or
make any comments, but she sat still, lean
ing her head upon her hands and gazing into
tie fire.
s.Poor Uncle Jasper ?" she said after q
time. ssPoor Uncle Jasper, what will he
do2"
We sat there silent for an hour or more,
awaiting his return. feared to meet him !;
his pride must have made the suffering hard
to bear.
The night was very still, but the rain was
falling steadily and the wet pavement gleam-
ed in the lamplight. There was a ring. /
1 4,
face; but it was only Charleton. He came
in, giving her one compassionate glance as
he sat down in his accustomed place, but
she did not look up.
"Are you sure that he is coming home
tonight ?" I said, as the clock struck eleven
and as spoke the front,door was opened
by latch-key from without. was trem-
bling so that could not have stood up, but
Laureite rose at once aud ran out into the
hall. Mr.. Deanc was passing out into his
study, but she went up to him and took his
hands.
{" How cold and wet you are, dear Uncle
Jasper" she said 'come to the fire." and
then she drew him into the drawing. groom
and made him sit down. l eau see her now,
rubbing his hands in hers, as she knelt
before him on the rug. Charleton fetched
some wine from the dining-room. Though
ulT. lJtduS 5ilu ut uiuGu, VIC tHcW Wtll
enough that he had eaten nothing that day.
lie lifted the glass to his lips, and then Ills
hand shook, and he put 1t down again with
catter.
g have ruined you," he said, hoarsely,
turning from Laurette.
He had been quite calm and collected all
day, Charleton told us afterwards, but now
he was unnerved, and not even Laurette had
power to comfort him. AS he took his can
die and walked across the room, l could not
help seeing now much he was aged and
altered.
~.
OF course, people were very sorry for Mr..
Deane, and for week or SO nothing else
was talked OF in our Square.
He, poor man, was silent and abstracted
when at home, so it was from Charleton that
heard of his plans. The slender means
which remained to him were sufficient to
enable him to live quietly in the country
he was leaving business, and give up hi.
house in Beliield Square. IDever under
stood the business part Of il, nor how it was
that anything remained to him but be-
lieve some arrangement was made with the
creditors, and the other partners ot the firm
subsequently recovered and carried ON the
business under another name AS for MIR
Deane, even if he had been able to continue
in the firm, doubt whether he would moi
have been incapacilaied for hard work by
the shock he had received. 'He has lit
tie property in Surrey" Charleton told me
she will be happier there.
Then the question arose, What would be-
come of Laurette?
She herself did not seem to have doubt.
Her uncle wished for her, and sht
would live with them until Edward claimed
her. "Poor Edward, it will be a great loss
to him; but then one can always wait. yot
know y; so she said, and could not bear tt
shake her happy trust.
We were oil sitting at breakfast one morn
ing, when the postmans knock was heard
at the door. had come to dread post-timt
of late. The knock brought cloud owe
Mr. Deanes face; be pushed away his plat'
and held out his hand for the letters Ther'
were several -like-looking envelopes
| for him, three letters for Charleton, one 10
me, and one for Laurette.
saw that she took it little eagerly, bu
| l did not watch her l was occupied will
my own letter from an old friend in India
| As turned the first closely written sheet
did look up. She was sitting opposite Il
me; Mr.. Deane had walked away to thu
| fireplace, but Charleton was still at tin
table. AS looked could not repress al
exclamation.
She was even paler than usual, her eye
| were full. of burning tears, and her hant
was cenched upon tile letter she held.
knew her well enough to abstain from sym
pathy or questions; indeed, there was mt
need for them; l had guessed only too surel,
what had come to pass
AS she met my look she rose and walked
to the window. Charleton swept up hi
letters and hastily left the room; MIR. Dean
followed, and l remained, sitting over m,
halt-emptied cup of tea, uncertain whethe
to speak or no. could see that she wa
struggling with tears as she sat down, ,hidin!
her face against the curtain, but one lov
cry came from her which cut me to tn,
heart.
"My poor child, try to bear it," l said
going up to her. She answered by putting
the letter into my hands.
AS / read my indignation was almost su
perseded by surprise. How Edward Finley
had contrived to do it in so gentemanlike
manner, never shall be able to understand
He was so completely convinced OF the pro
priety of his own conduct, that in spite O
myself, my angry feelings calmed down, ant
| | grew to regard 1t as more natural ii no
excusable. He seemed to take it for granted
that, under the circumstances, she woult
wish to be released from her engagement
OF course they could not marry for years
and he would not bind her to such trial.
l remembered Laurette's words, d" One ca
always wait, you KNOW" and the happy
trusting smile with which she had said il
and grieved for the awakening which ha'
come to her. Yet seeing and understandin
its bitterness as did, could not yet believ
that she had loved him. No; but she ha
trusted him implicitly, entirely; her on
thought and hope had been TO bring happl
ness TO his home, and it hurt her sorely t
find she had been deceived.
She had been so proud of him (; often an
often she had recounted his good deeds, b
care for his mother, his kindness to herself
and now it all seemed false and hollow, an
! and she could believe in it no longer.
course, she was wrong and unjust; he VIZ
still good son and an aifectionate cousin
but she had trusted herself to him and he ha
not kept faith with her.-How could 81
still believe in him
Poor little Laurette! / thought about hi
sadly that day. She had rejected Charlotte
even whilst she thought he loved her; 81
had not allowed herself to think of him b
cause she held herself pledged; now she wi
i left, as it were, alone, and could give HI
no comfort, knowing, as did, that she hi
J never had his love.
: She said she was tired, and went early