The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-09
HE KNEW he WAS RIGHT,
BY ANTHONY TROLLoPE.
CHAPTER XXXIy.
[CoatiRaed.l

Priscilla received this letter on the
Wednesday morning, and felt herself
bound to answer il on that same after
noon. Had she postponed her reply for
a day, it would sill have been in Do
rothy's hands before Mr. Gibson could |
have come to her on the dreaded Friday |
morning. But still that would hardly
give her time enough to consider the
matter with any degree of deliberation
after she should have been armed with
what wisdom Priscilla might be able to
send her. The post left NuncOmbe Put |
new at three: and therefore the letter
had to be written before their early DIM
ner.
So Priscilla went into the garden and
sat herself down under an old cedar,
that she might discuss the matter with
herself i'm all its bearings. She felt that
no woman could be called upon to write
n letter that should be of more import
anre. The whole welfare in life OF the
person who was dearest To her would
probably depend upon it. The weight
upon her was so great that she thought
for while she would take counsel with
her mother; but she felt sure that her
mother would recommend the marriage,
and that, if she afterwards should find
herself bound to oppose it, then her
mother would be a miserable woman.
There could be no use to her IN taking
counsel with her mother, because her
mothers mind was known to her brfOre
hand. The responsibility was thrown
upon her, and she alone mus bear II.
She tried hard TO persuade herself 10
write at once and tell her sister to mar
~ the man. She knew her sisters heart
so well as To be sure that Dorothy
would learn to love the man who was
her husband. lt was almost impossible !
that Dorothy should not love those with /.
whom she lived. And then her sister
was sOwell adapted 10 be Il wife and a
mother. Her temper was so sw~ ct, she |
was so pure, so unSelt>h, 50 devoted, !
and so healthy withal! She was so hap /
py when she was acting for others; and |
SO excellent in action when she had
another one to think for her. She was
so Trusting and Trustworthy that any
husband would adore her, Then Pris-
ella walked slowly into the house, got
her prayer book, aud, returning 10 her
seat under the tree, read the marriage
service. IL was one O'clock when she
went up stairs 20 write her letter, and
il had not vet struck eleven when she
first sea ed herself beneath the tree
Her letter, when written, was rs fol-
lows
"NUNCOMBE PCTNEY, Aug. 10, 1865.
DEAREST DOROTHY
al got your letter this morning, and |
think it Is better 10 answer il at once,
as the time is very short. | have been
thinking about it with all my mind,
aud | feel almost awc.strlcken lest l
should advise you wrongly. After all,
| believe that your own dear sweet
truth aud honesty wOnid guide you.
You may be sure of this. thar, which
ever way il is, shall think that you
have done right. Dearest sister, l sup
pose there eau be no doubt that for most
women a married life is happier than /
a single one. 1t is always thought So,
rs we may see ny the anxiety of others .
10 get married; and when an opinion .
hecOWes general, l think that the world .
is most often right. And then, my own
one, feel sure tbaG you are adapted (
both for the cares aud tor the joys of /.
married lite. You would do YOUR duty .
rs a married woman happily, and would |
be a comfort to Your husband: not .
thorn in bis side, as are So many wo.
men.
"But my pet. do not ict that reason
ing of Aunt StanbuTl : ahOUt the thirty /.
Young girls who woald give their eyes
for Mr Gibson have any weight with
YOU. lou should not take him because
thirty other young girls would be glad
To have him. And do not think too
much of that reSpsctabiity of which /
you speak. | would never advise my
Dolly 10 mary any maa uniess she
could be respectable IN her new position;
but that alone should - for nothing. I
Nor should our poverty. We shall Got
Starve. tnd even II we did. that w0uld |
hc bat "A poor excuse.
II can find no escape irUm thlS:-thIt /
You should love him before You say that
yoU will take him. But honest, loyal
love need not, | take it, be of that 70.
mantle kind which people write about
~ bowels aud poetry. You need not
think him to be perfect, or the best or
grahoest OF men. Yuur heart will tell
you whether he Is deer to you. Aud re-
member Dolly, that shall remember
'n"u ioNe i'Sei must begin at some pre- {
cise ''h,e: inough You had not learned
10 rove Dim Wnen yea wrote OF Tuesday,
You may have begun to do 50 Y hen yHn
get this on Thursday. ''1
'Jf you iisd tina; you love him. tho, {
say that you will b, his wife. II ynrr !
heart TcvOltS fTSm such drclarariSn 80
being false, ii you cannot bring vour,
self to feel that you prefer him to Others
as the partner of your life, ther tell 4
him. with thanks for his courtesy, that it
cannot be as he would have 1t!
Yours always and ever most affec-
tionately,
"PRISCIIIAr