The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-02-03

charms, even.
The result of the interview was that she
was at once accepted at Foley Hall, not
as menial, but as companion to my
lady, who was widow and an invalid.
Grace was refined, able and scholarly, and
her natural vivacity soon returned to her,
no one could be more companionable to
one who was disposed to be taciturn and
gloomy.
Six months passed away, and during
that time Paul Ventnor visited Foley Hall
more frequently than there was absolute
necessity for, and was not long uncon-
scious Of the motive that took him thith-
or, Day by day Grace grew more lovely
in his eyes, and more dear to his heart.
She attended his ministry with rare con-
stancy, and his sermons were dull and
sOulless to himself when she was not in
her pew with her great brown eyes fixed
upon his face. He was desperately in
love with her, but he made no declaration.
The living at Bladesburg was only worth
FIVE hundred pounds per annum, and he
could not think of marrying upon that.
AT the end of six months q servant in
livery arrived at Foley Hall.
81 have letter for Lady TempletOn,"
he said.
"For whom7" responded my lady, with
stare.
"For the EarPs daughter, for the lady
of Templeton Place."
The madam took the letter, with the
great red seal, in a daled sort of way,
then rang the bell for Grace.
GA letter for you," she said.
Grace's face grew red and white by turns
as her eyes fell upon the direction of the
letter, She glanced at the servant, who
bowed with servile reverence.
"This is from my father, the Earl, she
said. "Does he know that | am here, Mr..
Williams :"
ale does not, my lady. Your brother
Edgar has kept his secret WE'LL"
She then opened the letter, and read as
follows
TEMPLEToN PLACE, Nov. "a, l849.
My Dear Grace Il have relented.
You are an angel, while I am a choleric
old fool. You were right in your estimate
of Olaiborn. He was mere adventurer,
and is row in Jail on half-dozen counts. |
was never so infatuated before You shall
marry whomsoever it may please you to-
marry. beg your forgiveness, and beg
you return. Edgar consented to forward
this, as l am ignorant of your wherea.
bouts.
Your doting, irascible father
MARCUS TEMPLEToN.
P. S.-C!axton, the rector, is dead.
A bright light sufused the face of Grace.
She took the blank leaf from the letter,
and taking out her lead pencil, wrote as
follows:
My Dear Father Il hold no bitter
ness. The death of Rev. Mr.. Claxton
leaves the rectorship of Shadestown va
cant. / will return on condition that you
give me the living at Shadestown to who
ever may name. Your daughter,
GRACE.
Folding up the note she handed it to
the servant, and said
"Mr. Williams, give that to your mas
ter. l will expect you back with an an
swer tomorrow noon."
The man bowed, retired, and appeared
the next day with the following reply:
"Agreed. Please name the rector. Be
back tomorrow. M. T."
Grace found it necessary to make my
lady Foley Hall her confident. Her sto-
ry was simple one and may in part have
been OWNED by words she let drop before
the curate on the steps of the lodge and
by the tenor of her fathers letter.
The letter was stern, self-opinionated,
irascible old gentleman. A dissolute
young fellow, named Claiborn, who pre-
tended to be noble descent, and i'm
mensly wealthy, had ingratiated himself
into the Earl's friendship. To such an
extent had he accomplished this, that
when he proposed for the hand of Grace,
the old gentleman was delighted, and in
sisted that she should comply. But she
had read the character of her suitor and
presistently refused. One violent inter-
view followed another, until Grace left
Templetons Place, willing to endure any
privation rather than marry against her
will, or submit to a repetition Of the vio-
lent scenes. In the end the Earl was
forced to confess that he had been wofully
deceived, and truly unkind.
- n
Grace was standing alone with Paul
Ventnor in the great library at Foley Hall.
He knew that she was going away on the
morrow, but he did not know that she be-
longed to the noble8se. His heart, was
sad, and he kept his teeth hard shut, as if
thereby to be more able to keep back an
avowal Of his passion. Grace had learned
to love him dearly, and suspected his mo-
tive for remaining silent.
81 must bid you good bye, as you will
not be here tomorrow" she said softly,
holding out her white hand to him. "Oh,
/ shall miss your sermons very much"
"And myself also | had hoped" he
said, sadly, humbly.
"And yourself, also,n repeated Grace,
in her truthful way, and with heightened
color. aYour congregation do not appre-
ciafe you Mr. Vantnor Your salary is