The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-12-06

| at IS strange how 1 feel towards her.
| or her beauty there is no question, and
her accomplishments are of the highest.
She is wonderfully attractive, too, and
sometimes l am on the .point of falling
madly in love with her. But then comes
j the thought guard yourself. but do not
i lose sight of her. And a feeling or hate
comes over me, and seem to be capa.
bic of doing her almost any cruelty. She
would make grand wife, and do credit
to any mans home. She is terribly
! proud, but perhaps no more so than my
SELF Her smiles seem to lure me On,
and amysterious voice seems to whisper
i meto followLbut for what purpose p
Good heavens! I find myself almost
! loving her and cnrsing her at the same
] instant. W '7s s'si' i9- Hlsg sff .aH
j And then he would take a brisk walk
to drive the subject from him, and the
next day renew his attentions with more
assiduity than ever. ~
i Maude herself began to receive him
with a dignified cordiality, although her
manner never overstepped certain
! bounds. Hers was nature whose re-
lspect and friendship must first be won,
! and then-as for love, it was a matter for
the most profound consideration. There
was no danger of her losing her heart
hastily. She was too experienced and
guardful for that. ~
One day her mother, who was the
source from whom Maude had drawn all
her lovcliness and pride, summoned her
to her presence. Maude wondered what
was coming, for the manner of the sum-
mons was unusual, and her mother was
| grave, yet seemed to be filled with sup
/ pressed excitement. aaf,
"Sit down. Maude."
Maude obeyed Mrs. Forrest, after a
pause, during which she seemed to be
agltated by strong emotions, said: "a
.My daughter, you know that our
family has always been distinguished for
pride, and a rigid care in guarding its
dignity and honor"
"I know it." said Maude. Y
"Do you think you are behind the rest
of us in that quality?"
"Could you sacrifice something to
ayenge an insult ~ a s.o
..Indeed / could. But why do you
ask such question? Have we been in
suited p
! "Never mind now l see you are with
Sydney Bruce great deal.''
"Well," replied Maude, coloring, ''do
you not approve of that 7"
81 cannot tell yet" said her mother,
looking at her searchingly. .'You do
not love him ?"
"Love him! Scarcely, as yet, I
hope" l sAt esl8
"You never must"
"Do explain your strange words,
| mother. What is the matter? Is not
lSydney Bruce what he should be2
II know nothing against him.
| "Then why do you talk sol What
would you have me do?
"Guard your heart, Maude,' said Mrs
Forrest, impressively, bending forward,
sand, when the proper time comes, hum
ble himp slFf ssssaa 81
"Good heavens, mother! how stran ge-
lly you act and talk," /" said Maude. "Mr.
Bruce is gentleman. Why should l
humble him and how am | to do it :?
He is as proud as we are"
"Llsten, Maude. Your mother was
humbled, brought down into the very
dust once, by Sydney Bruce's father
He was young, and | was young, and |
Eyes, there is no use in denying it'll
loved him. And l fondly believed he
loved me-. For months we went togeth-
er and revelled in the sweetest OF all
dreams of youth, that of a pure and per-
feet love- 1t came to be understood that
we were to be married, and every one
congratulated US ON our engagement.
We. were both of good family and our
tastes were congenial Everything was
going on smoothly, and the future seem
ed one bright vision of happiness, when
one day came a singing, bitter, accusing
letter, tannting nae with being false, and
bidding me cruel, unregretful farewell.
From that day afterwards / never saw
Morris Bruce. The false villainl His
charges were made up in his own wicked
mind, and his heart never felt the first
shadow Of love towards me. Not one
regretful word in the letter, not one mo-
ment given for refutation of what he
pretended to have heard, not one senti-
ment that could have been uttered by
one who loved another. He left me to
face the world and explain as best |
could his absence. 0, how BUNDLED !
wasl The curiosity of ..acqnaintances
and gosslps must be satisfied, and / was
the butt of all their speculation and ridi-
Hcule. You do not know what revul-
sion in my heart was produced. My love.
changed to hate everything tender with
in me was hardened and scared over, and
4 became vindctive and revengeful. II
&c had not been for my pride, | wonld
have pined away and died, I think, but
as it was, put on a bold face, recovered
my accustomed gayety, and stood before
the world at least, light hearted and free
as 1 was before Ihad ever seen Morris
Bruce In the course Of q few years !
married Lothrop Forrest, your father
It was not for love, for I was no longer
capable of such feeling. But he was
rich, and my asn5ition was to marry well,
and thus maintain my pride and battle
my enemies. When you were four years
old, your father died, He left a hand
some competence, and you know the
style we have lived in. You, are. hand
some and accomplished, and can attract
any one you cioose towards you. Yon
can win the admiration Of the prondest
man that walks, and if you try YOU can
win his loves s.t.s isl,tf
"And now it is for you, if you will, to
satisfy the restless craving that has for SO
many years been gnawing at my heart.--
lit is for you to ayenge the insult and
wrong that was imposed on your Mother.
Can you repress all tender feelings, crush
down your love, and break Sydney
Bruce 'sheart?" ~
Mrs. FORESTS face was flushed, her
nvps plnwpd with an intansa axcitnmnnt