The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-03-10

can see the rest or the sketches later IN
the evening"
''He was introduced that evening to my
father. Tie man who was looked upon as
a lion in the great world, made himself as
happy in our domestic circle as he had
done at the brilliant table of my sister,
Lady Yillars.
"'Is he not delightful said I, unguard-
edly, to Edith Gresham, as we went up
stairs together did you ever meet any
one so entertainingP
'Instead of giving me direct answer,
my friend exclaimed, evasiyelys DO you.
mean to say you never met, or heard OIL
Colonel Gerard before p
"'No,' | said, astonished, did you p
"'I have heard much more about him
than care to remember'-(she laughed
Satirically.) why, Hester, he is regular
lady-killer one of the most notorious firts
in the world =
"I do not think it, said I, sharply.
"'No; nor do any other of his admirers
till they find it OUT said Edith. Il could
have told you all about him ages ago p
"And what could you have told, EdithP
| asked, still in an annoyed voice.
"'Much, which am glad now never
did tell she retorted, since | see it would
not have been welcome information. But
remember, Hester, if you ever do hear
anything about him, either to startle or
enrage you-for you are fiery when you
like, Hester-then, remember, 1 have
warned youP a.
al had nots yet so completely cast off
the thraldom of bosom friendship, but
that these hints and innuendoes made me
exceedingly uncomfortable. They affect
ed my manner towards him, in spite of my
self and went to my room that night
miserable, for had seen he was both sur
prisod and perplexed at certain con-
straint about me, Of which | was sensible
myself, and yet afraid, in the presence of
my friend, to cast off,
"Days and days passed thus, and some-
times | was happy, sometimes wretched.
Such, Helen, is the usual course of a love
affair. And every day my friend was at
my side, demonstrating, though secretly.
In his company she was polite, pleasing,
simple and unaffected. Her equable tenn
per sometimes drove me half wild.
"'You seem pleased enough with his so.
ciety yourself,' said to her oAe day
9 when she had annoyed me more than usua
, by her animadvorsions.
' "'Because / am watching him for your
t sake she replied, without hesitation. 'ThC
:; keen eye of deep affection sees far below
the surface, and | cannot be silent spec
! tator when J. see that he is about to rOt
| me of my friend. Oh, Hester! if you
. would make me but one promise =
f "'Not to be cool to him ?--not to give
: him up said hastily.
t "'One cannot we'll give UP a man whC
! has never offered himself,' she replied
'and, as to being cool to him, do MOI
think that Colonel Gerard has the leas
! cause to complain of that
Y 81 felt my cheeks burn at the imputa
r ton, but she continued, without noticing
me. 'The first day you came home, Hes
t ter, told you you were hiding something
. from me. / have found it out for myself
Q and all hope is, that you will have lit
' tie too much pride than to let him reat
e your heart as clearly as / have read il
: MYSELF
h 81 leave you to Judge of the effect o
. these words. Is there girl in the uni
, verse who could bear to be accused O.
{ showing preference for man who haC
f not expressed the same feeling for herself
in words, whatever he may have done by
/, manner, attentions or actions The ac-
!, cusation threw me back, as it were, upor
myself, and the first time | met Colone
t Gerard after this, | prided myself on the
| perfect Indifference Of my manner TOWARD
!, him. Edith was present, and congratulat
: ed me on my conduct, whilst my heart was
swelling within me with seff-reproacb and
: anguish.
' ''The night after, we Colonel Gerard
/ and met at ball. Edith was not there
| declined dancing, seeing him in the room
and feeling sure | should be the first part
ner he would seek. Three dances passed
n and he never came near me. | could see
D on my mothers face anxiety and uneasi
ness, and again l was miserable.
t "'Let us go home,' l said, and she 81
lently acquiesced; but on the staircase al
h ascending crowd stopped our progress.
$ "'Going so soon ? said familiar voice
: in my ear. 'Going without giving me one
e dance p
= "sYou never asked me- said, and
felt my eyes dim with tears.
a "I had not the courage, till the fear o
| your departure made me bold,' was hi
n answer.
"Did this speech look as if I had to,
openly shown my preference for him Re
l assured and happy, | returned to the room
n ON his arm, and the dance having begun
e we sat down in a long conservatory open
ing out of the ballroom. | expected tha
d his first words would be reproaches for n.
g conduct, and my guilty conscience KEEP
me silent, leaving him to speak first; bu
}, his remark was not what expected.
"a