National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-21
DEFEATED.
ny YAIRfAx FERGUSON.
paul engaged ?

dul cuSdkcu
'Yes. He went with Miss Har.
land to the opera last evening, and
this morning he told me that he
was engaged
And then, looking over to where
Floy Percy sat in the pleasant win
dow, engaged upon a biz of delicate
embroidery, she exclaimed:
'Why, Floy. how pale you have
grOwnr And Mrs. Forbes went
over to the side of the beautiful
young girl. 'Come, let me prescribe
for yOu,' she said. what say you
to a journey to Carleton, to see sister
Fllar
Would you like to go, Floy p
And Mrs. Percy looked tenderly at
her daughter.
The young girls lips quivered ,and
there was a look of mute entreaty
in her gentle blue eyes.
Yes mamma she said.
Then you shall go. You can
take the evening>express and reach
Elias before it is very late.'
'By.by, then, Floy! hope you
will have pleasant Journey And
Mrs. Forbes arose to 60.
Laying aside her work, FlOy flitt-
ed out of the room and up to her
chamber; and then, burying her
face in the cushion of an easy chair,
she sobbed piteously to herself.
% Paulv she mOaned. And l
have loved you so! l cannot he.
lieve that you are false How can
l bear thisp
AS Mrs. Forbes descended the steps
of the Percy mansion, she said the
one word. 'Home, to the cOachman;
and then. entering the waiting car,
riage, she gave vent to her thoughts:
Foolish girl ? she muttered, half
aloud, and clenching her jeweled
hands as she spoke. But l have
disposed of her. No girl shall usurp
my place as mistress of Paul Eeller.
: slie's mansion, so long as can pre-
| vent it. No! no! Too much do
! value my position to lose it thus
, And Paul's note-let me read it
= once more. What answer can ]
make to itp
=. Drawing from her pocket folded
. note, she opened it and read:
g MISS PERCY-DEAR FLOY: il
, was with many regrets that | was
detained from keeping my appoint
ment with you last evening; but
when you know that the evening
e was spent at the side of dying
: fliend, l think that you will forgive
8 me, If so, give me the pleasure o
your company to the opera thi!
{ evening. AS ever your PAUL.
r This note, which would have ex-
, planned all, never was seen by Floy
Percy for, womanlike, Paui's crafty
old aunt, Mrs. Forbes, had quickly
seen the love that had sprung up iu
u their young hearts, and in her own
: base mind she had resolved to es
d TRANCE the two.
With low laugh, she returned
- the illfated note to her pocket. She
n had already told one deliberate fal
= school; and when the carriage drew
| up before Paul Ellerslie's elegan
Y home, she was ready to tell another
0 Yes, nephew saw Miss Percy,
Mrs. Forbes replied to Pan's in
qniry. 'She read the note, and
y giving it back to me, she said: Civ,
j. it to Mr.. Ellerslie, and say that
y u cannot comply with his request. al
| leave for Carlton this evening"
Gripping the little note in his hand
: he turned and strobe away.
Cruel, beartless girl he muttered
!, How could have been SO blind'
= And yet his love for Floy Perc,
i was deeply rooted in his heart; an,
$ try as he might, he could not crusl
II it out. AZ! day long, he wandere,
Il silently and aimlessly over his grea
. house, his heart cOnvulsed viii
il passion and all the while, his plot
ting amt was sOlilOquizing gleefull!
10 over the success of her plans.
The red Septe,Dber-sun was slow
ly sinking behind the distant hills
- when Paul Ellcrslie ordered hi
~ great black horse brought out, and
i mounting, he rode at gallon dow
> the road.
), The spirited steed snuffed th
. pure evening air with wide .disten,l
ed nostrils, and archcd his proud
Q, glossy neck as he felt the yieldinI
u turf rush past beneath his feet AM
u his dazed rider, half unconscious q
IF his wild speed, sat in his saddle
il repeating over and over IN his min'
n the words
y 'Falsc! false! All Floy, I littl
n dreamed of this =
Gradually the shades Of eveninI
fell around, and soon the twiligh
!. had deepened INTO darkness; AM
~ still the horse flew on upon his maj
~ ~ race, his rider enwrapt IN his owl
II sad thoughts, paying no heed to hi
:. thoughts. But soon his spec,
- slackened; aud, white with foam
!" -, aud fatigucd by his long continues
- efforts, the steed came down to
!" slow walk. Suddenly, with n wild
!" !" unearthly shrek, u broad glar
,r streamcd upon the road around tn
!. hOrsemaiI, and u rumbling, rushinI
- !. sound filed the mir. A moment q
~ ~ indccision, a dreadful shock, and
10 nothing more.
T. AZ the train rushed past, th
:. signal for brakes came short alI'
:, quick; aud In another moment, TN