The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-09-03
SMYRNA DEL. SATURDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER g. 1870

will love her too, Essie7"
There was slight shadow on Essie
Howard's brow that fell like ice across
Caril's heat, as she withdrew her
hand.
"Is your ward to reside with you?"
"Most certainly. Essie. I pledged my
word to her father on his dying bed"
"I do not approve of any such ar
rangement as that. Can not you send
her away?'
''Send her away? homeless orphanp
"She might go as governess or even
take the situation o. companion
CARL Oxford bit his lip until the blood
started.
"Essie, this is subject on which my
resolution can not be altered even by
your wish. Ethel Lyttleton is sacred
bequest to me-her happiness and inter
est are my life's study. Willie have
home, Ethel must share it; while my arm
can ward off life's storms, she shall new
er feel their bitterness. Essie, will you
not take her to your heart also2"
But Essie's beautiful lips were COM
pressed like carved coral.
"You must choose between me and
this Miss-Miss Lyttleton. I take no
devided allegiance
"Essiel''
| "Your decision alone can settle the
matter, Colonel orfordl''
| "Then it is made. Essie, love you
more dearly than my faltering tongue
can ever tell; but can not forget my
duty as christian-my honor as a gen
tleman. Essie, once more plead my
cause-this time on my knee. Will you
not relent7"
II have told you once that your choice
lay between me and your ward"
"Then, farewel!r'
He spoke the words in a strange, stiff
ed voice, as though the syllables choked
him-bowed over her hand, and went
out, rejected man.
"Well," mused Colonel CARL Oxford
as he carlessly threw cologne bottles,
dressing-cases, rare sngravings, and pa
tent leather boots in one conglomeratt
mass into his trunks, "that dream is
overt The waking was rather rough
but suppose it is just as WE'LL My
beautiful Essiel Oh, my dear, lost
lovep'
: For one moment he bowed his heat
on his two hands with all the stifled an
guish Of a strong mans grief, and ther
went on with his occupation. He smil
ed bitterly as he took up a velvet case
containing set tofred-sparkling garnets
that he had purchased in Paris for hi,
J ward.
"She will bo glad to have them, deal
littlo Ethel Perhaps some day, wher
the first bitterness of this grief is over
she may become like a dear and cher
ished daughter to mel At all events
l have not swerved from the promise
msde to Mark Lyttleton on his death
: bed"
The next evenings sunset was pur
pling all the horizon when CARL Orfort
, walked up the broad gravelled sweep o.
the lawn, and the perfumed honeysuc
! kle hung perfectly motionless on the
balmy air. Home again! but ohl will
whafa heavy heartl
The front door was wide open; how
, familiar appeared tho mosaic marble o.
I, the hall pavement, the antique statues
! leaning from the walls, even the quiv
ering shadows cast be the stained glass
/ easements beyond.
! Mrs. Tudor, the old housekeeper, came
forward curtseying, with stiff black
! silk dress and gold speclacles.
"Welcome home once more, colonel
, Miss Lyttleton has only been here a few
hours"
"only just arrived2"
"That's all, sir. She is in the garden
colonel"
81 may as we'll go and speak to her a
once, and have it over" that Oxford, az
he turned abruptly round. "For wha
was Ethel but child?"
AS he lost himself among the crimson
wildernessess of the delicious June ros
, es, slender figure, all in white, glided
out from the fragrant thickets-a figur,
with heavy blue-black curls and deel
sultaua eJes.
s'Essie Howardr'
"No, dearest gusrdianj Ethel Lyttle
ton. Yod were true to me-true as
knight of old-and have come to you
bearing my heart in my hand. Will yol
take it now, CARL? ?"
"Essie, am dreamihg?'
F., "Ethel, if you please, sirl No, yol
are not dreaming. But was very lone
ly, and my heart was filled with doubts
and fears, and wanted to sec what yor
were like; and SOL behaved like tn
heroines in novels, aud played an in
cognita part. L could not endure th
idea that you would sacrifice me to 9th
er hopes and loves, and plans. Deares
Carl, Essie Howard is quite willing tha
you should love poor Ethel Lyttletol
just littlep
And CARL Oxford, Standing Their
among the roses, with his durk-eye,
love clasped close to his strong, tru
heart, felt that earth had no more happi
ness to give him. AS for Ethel, she ha
quite conquered her childish antipath.
to "big, tall men, and was entirely will
ing to exchange her guardian for hus
band.