The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-05-24
HE KNEW HE WASRIGHT.
by ANTHONY TRoLLorE
CHAPTER LYIII.

Continued.

[COHtiHued.l .tg-
"What wicked old woman" said
Priscilla. Then there arose question
whether they should read Brooke's let.
ter. OF whether they should give Ii un-
read to Dorothy. Priscilla denounced
her aunt in the strongest language she
could use fol having broken the seal.
"'Clearly entitled, '-bect,use Dorothy
had been living with her@ exclaimed
Priscilla. "She can have NO proper con-
ception of honor or Of honesty. She
had no more right to Opeh Dorothy's
letter than she had to take her money"
Mrs. Stanbury was very aHxious to read
Brooke's letter, alleging THAT they would
then be able to judge whether it should
be handed over to Dorothy. But Pris-
elias sense of right would not admit Of
this. Dorothy must reSeive the letter
from her lover with no further stain
from unauthorized eyes than that to
which it had been| already subjected.
She was called III, therefore, from the
kitchen, and The whole packet was
given to her" "YOur aunt has read the
enclosure, Belly; but we have not open
ed it,"
Dorothy took the packet without a
woTd and sat herself down. She first
read her aunt's letter very slowly. 81
understand perfectly" she said, folding
il M. almost listlessly, while Brooke's
letter Law still unopened on her lap.
Then she took it up, and held it awhile
in both her hands, while her mother and
Priscilla watched her. Priscilla" she
said "do you read 1T first.
fof nl Of
kissing her. mo, my daring,-no,"
she said; "it is for you to read it." Then
Dorothy took the precious contents from
the envelope, and opened the fold of the
paper. When she had read n dozen
words, her eyes were so sutfused with
tears that she could hardly make herself
mistress of the contents of The letter;
but she knew that it contained renewed
assurances of her lovers love, and as
surance on his part that he would take no
refusal from her based on any other
ground than that of her own indifference
TO him. He had written to Miss Stanbury
to the same effect; but he had not
thought il necessary TO explain this to
Dorothy: nor did Miss StanbuTy in her
letter tell them that she had received
any communication FROM him. "Shall
read it now 7" said Priscilla as soon as
Dorothy again allowed the letter to fall
into her lap.
Both Priscilla and Mr.. Stanbury read
it, and for while they sat with the two
letters among them without much
speech about them. Mrs. Stanbury was
endeav0ring to make herself believe
that her sister-in laws opposition might
be overcome, and that then Dorothy
might be married. Priscilla was lu'
curing of herself whether it would be
well that Dorothy should defy her aunt
so much, at any rate, would be well
and marry the man, even to his de
privation of the old woman's fortune
Priscilla had her doubts about this, be
ing very strong in her ideas of self
denial. That her sister should put nj
with the bitterest disappointment rath
er than iniure the man she loved wa
right; but then il would also be so eX
tremely right to defy Aunt Stanbury t
her teeth Bnt Dorothy, in whose
character was mixed with her mother:
sOftness much of the old Stanbury
strength, had no doubt in her mind. II
was very sweet to be so loved. What
gratitude did she not owe to a man who
was so true to her! What was she
that she should stand in his way Z To
lay herself down that she might be
crushed in his path was no more than
she owed to him. Mrs, Staubury was
the first to speak.
81 suppose he is a very good young
man, she said.
Il am sure he is,-a noble, true-heart.
ed man." said Priscilla.
WI MI hn hDy
he pleases, as long as she is respectablein
said Mrs. Staubury.
"ln some peoples eyes poverty il
more disreputable than vice. said Pris
ella.
"Your aunt has been so fond of Dor,
othy," pleaded Mrs. Stanbury.
Just as she is of her servants" sai
Priscilla.
But Dorothy said nothing. Her hear
was too full to enable her to defend he
aunt; nor at the present moment wa
she strong enough to make her mothe
understand that no hope was to DC enter
tanned. In the course of the day sh
walked out with her sister on the roa,
towards Ridleigh, and there, standing
among the rocks and ferns, looking dow
uIon the river, with the buzz of tn
little mill within her ears, she explained
the feelings of her heart and her man.
thoughts, with flow of words stronger
as Priscilla, thought, than she had ever
used before.
1T is not what he would suffer now
Pris, or what he would feel, b ut what b,
would feel ter, twenty years hence, wheI
he would know that his children would
have been all provided for, had he no
lost his fortune by marrying me-"
HE must be the only judge whether
he prefers you to the Old womau's
money" said Priscilla.
NO, dear, not the only judge Aud il
isn't that, Pris,-nOt which he like
best now, bus which it is best for hin
that he shonld have. What could De
for him Z"
''Iou can love him."
"Y,s; can do that" And DOroth!
paused moment, to think how exceed
ingly we'll she could do that one thing
But what is tbati As you said til
other day, dog can do that. ! am no
clever. l can't play, or talk French
do things that meR like their wives I
do. And have lived here all my life
and what am l, that for me he shoul
lose great fortune'p