The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-05
..And how old were you when you left

''And how old were you when you left
collegs2"
twenty-five"
''Then YOU will be twenty-six your next
birth day, and 1 shall be twenty-three; /
am glad you are my senior; if you were
younger, most likely you would waste your
time by falling in love with me; now you'll
be more sensible" -h
She was free as child from confusion as
she said this, but felt the color mount to
my brow. For a few seconds / thought
that | would WOO her without more delay.
could not love her better than did If
knew her for a year, or for century
Why should I hesitate to ayow that love
However, prudence prevailed, and did
hesitate. When spoke it was to say:
cage is no safeguard, Miss Herriot."
s'No isn't it2 Well, at any rate, am
glad you are not younger, because boys
love is so tedious. / will give you the
sweetest rose in my collection. Oh what
do you think of my old holne?"
s1 think it altogether cbarming."
$50 do I-so have many men who have
wanted to-"
She paused, and asked:
''What?"
81 can't tell you; here's white rose TO
put with that crimson one Roses red
and roses white, ON summer day'-do you
know that song2"
81 do not. @ tfl zss55iZ iZ
''Then I'll sing it to you. I have il to o
guitar accompaniment; no, wont sing 1t
to you to-day, before the others; but If
you'll come tomorrow you shall hear it. "
Need it be told how eagerly promised TO
come? Need it be told how went, not
only tomorrow, but many to-morrows, and
how she grew kinder and kinder, and how
my sister thought my suit was prospering,
and how feared my fate too much to put
it to the test? My Door parishi 1t Jared
badly of my hands in those days, am
afraid; for when was out of her presence
I was absorbed in thinking of her.
Three months passed in this way, and
my sister was beginning to twis me with
my cowardice in deferrng speech which
should bring the affair to final issue.
But felt myself that the present Was so
wish it altered. Melanie and
lodged love which have such peculiar fss-
cination for both men and women. could
be satisfied with nothing more definite for
time, told myself and my sister; and
my sister shook her head, and said we
''might as well be openly engaged, and
have done with it. !" 49, 4sz
was with her daily, almost hourly, for
she spent great deal of her time at Lady
Hallant's house, and Lady Valiant was the
most considerate of sisters and hostesses.
We read together, We rode tegether, we
sang and talked together, necessarily.
If by any rare. chance, when she
was at home, missed call
ing at Herriot Court, she would repRoach
me with my neglect of her in the most
plaintIye way. Our intimacy, and what
was likely to ensue from it, were spoken
of pretty freely in the neighborhood, and
more than once was openly congratulated
Still there was something to prevent my
saving the actual words which should do
away with all doubt. How it was cannot
tell; bat whenever brought myself to the
point of utteranee, she lured me away
from it
One day was sitting listening to her
sweet voice and watching her sweet face,
and we were alone. Suddenly she put her
guitar down, and bent forward, with both
her pretty hands on my shoulder, as she
had clasped them there many time be-
fore. How her touch thrilled mel And
how well she knew it
''Walter," she said, with rather q sad
cadence IN her tones, ''ours has been a
happy fellowship, hasn't itP"
caressed her hand for moment in 81
lence. Then determined to be bold, and
ask for it; and SO, holding it very tightly,
and kissing it once or twice. 1 began:
''Has been happy, and will be even hap
pier, dearest. You know"
fThat 1 mustn't be treated by you in this
unceremonious way, Walter. We must be
have better than this tomorrow. shall
have visitor"
"Who is he2" asked, jealously.
can old schoolgirl friend of mine, Kate
Treherne, is coming to stay with me"
"Before she comes let me ask
"No, 1 won't have you ask anything Go,
now. I will not have you here another
minute to-day have thousands of things
to do. I couldn't attend to your prettiest
speeches" She said all this hueriedly.-
Then she added, IN q lower voice, "Aftel
tomorrow you shall say what you like
. to me-" e
I kissed her hand, and promised obed
fence, and went away then, and was in {
fools paradise for the remainder OF tha
day. The next morning went up, abou
eleven, to Herricot Court, and remarked
an unaceountable and unusual stir in the
| place. When was shown into the draw
; ing-room my darling came forward to m,
I with bright, blushing face, and looked
! round at young lady who was sitting b.
the table examining some rich dresses, a
+ she said:
''This is my particular friend, Mr.. Armit
age. Walter, this is Miss Treherne. "
81 Miss Treherne scanned me curiously q
she acknowledged the introduction, and
3 felt almost inclined to resent the expires
. sion of mingled smile and sneer that ther
: wGs upon her face. She was large, hand
s some, aquiline-nosed brunette, with bi
( dark ewes, and very low brow. Langui
and rather insolent in her manner,
] thought, as she turned to Melanie an
sid; 49,, -, .,,,o :.
Low. Do decide. Is it to be thi
} trltins =, is moiref"
satin OF IL "a that question by-and-by,
81 will setaA> sveepiup the things III
Miss Herriot said. ~ -ooI,, M Nth fbe,ll
and running out of L. oassad va" -s Loo
She cave me one look as sh> p"so - ,,~osaDt a
RalI of penitence and pity TIM : - ''>--'
SO A. evil sssailed me; LONG;
'tHave you I'D, when We had pee
1
J together two or three NJ Id. quickly.
"About three months, ss- Vouni
"Then hope you're only slightly
! ed, /" she said, quietly. perhaps, confiao.
tial as she has been with you, she has
never told you that she is going to be mar
! ried2" EtrEEs TEf fst
"Marriedr 1 cried, starting mp.
! 'Yes-to my brother. It's an engage
ment of some standing. But by the termi
of her grandfAther's will she couldn't marrl
until she was twenty-three, without forfeit
ing the property. Ibelieve she has indem
nifed herself by flirting; but Are yo1
! not well"
1 could not help it. could not hell
groaning aloud as bent my head forwart
3 and shut out the light of day. There wa
i silence in the room for a few moments
t Then Miss Treherne spoke again: Fl. 4
ssI see how it was with yoH, Mr.. Armi
tage. Take my advice, and go without see
! ing her any more. No good could com
t of few parting words. My brother
in the house even now. 1 speak for you
q sake more than for his. They love eac
d other passionately, and when they are NAL
ried, and he is always with her, she wi
If keep from flirting, trust and believe
It Bear it like man"
u 1 took her advice-that is to say, wer
I away without seeing my false, fair love an
"a C1,a 1oI o~8l,- g.. sl;a n