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

me. For the very life of me could not
be cordial to him / seemed to feel spirit
at my elbow, whispering, Remember your
promise,' and answered all his questions
and remarks with monosyllables.
"Then he began about the day he was to
have called upon us with the Peruvian
emeralds. He heard | was quite knocked
up by the ball where he last had the plea
sure of seeing me, aud had intended COM
ing the day after, but had been summoned
out of town by the sudden illness of re-
lation. 81 only came back last night he
added, and then looked at me as if to say,
'and here | ann but avoided that glance,
81 think now | must have been mad
All that afternoon we wandered through
the rooms of the National Gallery, and
met friends at almost every turn. Though
he never left my side, he had no Opportu-
nifty of saying a single word, that all the
world might not hear; and at last we
prepared to 60 home.
"'Will you dine with us to-dayl' said
my mother; and he replied that he was un-
luckily engaged.
"'Edith was right thought to myself,
'or he would have come. He has other
attractions as we'll as myself, and my part
ing bow was both cool and ceremonious.
"The next morning came the climax-a
letter 20 my mother, and one, enclosed in
it, addressed to me. With apleased, proud
smile my mother pressed her lips on my
forehead, and left the room, that | might
read it BY myself. 1t was his proposal, and
| clasped my hands over my eyes. Oh my
promise ! my promise In what posi-
tion had my blind infatuation placed me !!
and this letter required an immediate an
swer, for high diplomatic situation had
been offered Colonel Gerard; and whilst
overwhelming me with apologies for the alb
rupt declaration, he gave, as his excuse,
that his acceptance of it depended on my
verdict, since honoraDd diguities would be
worthless to him, as he was pleased to say
unless shared with me.
"Helen can you believe that in spite Of
this letter, in spite of this realization Of all
my fondest hopes, in spite of the anxious
face of my mother, actually would not
give the immediate answer he required, bu
asked for time to consider his proposal
Time when my heart had so long beer
his Time when actually held in my
grasp the heart which Edith Gresham, IN,
bosom friend, had declared would nevel
be offered to me But in spite of the tri
umph, | felt / would rather run the risl
of losing him than break my promise; so
; persisted in asking for time.
"No one can tell what night I passed
after that long day in which, having sem
for Edith, [ sat expecting her, but in vain
and only learnt, quite late in the evening
that she had been out all day with friend
, who lived at Roehampton, and possibly
might not return till the following day.
ain vain my mother, with her calm dig
nifty, demonstrated with me. Isaid l mus
have time to think. How did | know bu
that Edith might be able to tell me some
thing about him which would embitter tht
whole of my future life : She had hinteC
as much; so | trembled, dreaded taking tht
step without telling her; and with severe
face my mother took the pen in hand which
communicated to Colonel Gerard my dici
sion. She worded it gently and tenderly
and said that the moment could max
up my mind she would write to him again
but the whole of that day she was unlik
her usual self She never upbraided, o
: attempted to hurry my reply, but say
; regret and disapprobatiOn on every feat
ure of her face.
:, "The day after this heard that Edit
Gresham was laid up with scarlet fever a
. R1ehampton, and it would be weeks anc
i weeks before, either by word or letter, w
4 could hold converse with each other. Ant
|, now what was to do?"
Q "Accept him of course " cried younj
e Helen Spencer, impulsively.
/, "No," said Miss Mortimer, in voic
: which sounded full of tears, 'a false sens
I of honor overpowered every feeling within
me, and, despite the exbortations of M
7 mother, and the anger of my sister, | re
0 fused Colonel Gerard, because l was driv
D en- to decision"
There was long pause, after which Mis-
i Mortimer Continued.
e GA week after this an anonymous letter
S written in strange hand, reached me- Il
: contained these words; 4 am deputed t
: tell you that you have done right tina
e you have ensured your own happiness
though you may find it hard at present t
think so.' And this was supposed to be a
/. JUNCTION for my wounded soul"
0 "But when she recovered when yo
saw her again :" said Helen.
"I never saw her again, dear child,
, replied Miss Mayhem. "She went abroa
9 Immediately after her Illness"
: Sand Colonel Gerard % said Helen.
4 She asked the question in a whisper, al
!, parently fearful what the reply would b,
A Little did she expect or dream that or
S sentence more would finish the story
"Edith Gresham married him herself"
4 "You've destroyed my peace of min
a Betsy" said Gesponding lover tosa tr,