The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-06

/ men and women. L could De SatlS-
fed with nothing more definite for q
time, l told myself and my sister: and
my sister shook her head, and said we
I'VE mightas well be openly engaged,
! and have done with it.
| was with her daily, almost hourly,
for she spent q great deal of her time
at Lady Vallant's house, and Lady
Valiant was the most considerate of
sisters and hostesses. We read to-
gether, we rode, together, we sang
and talked together, incessantly. If
by any rare chance, when she was at
home, | missed calling at Herriot
Court, she would reproach me with
my neglect of her in the most plain
tive way. Our intimacy, aud what
was likely to ensue from it, were
spoken of pretty freely In the neigh
| borhood, and more than once | was
openly congratulated. Still there was
always q something to prevent my
saying the actual words which should
do away with all doubt. How it was
l cannot tell; but when | brought
myself to the point of utterance, she
lured me away from it.
One day was sitting listening to
sweet face, and we were alone. Sud .
denly 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 me!
And how we'll she knew it
walter" she said, with rather a
sad cadence in her tones, ours has
been happy fellowship, hasn't it,"
I caressed her hand for a moment
in silence. Then / determined to be
bold and ask for it; and so, holding it
very tightly, and kissing it once or
twice, l began:
Has been happy, aud will even be
happier dearest. You know"
That | mustn't be treated by you
in this unceremonious way, Walter.
We must behave better than this to-
morrow. shall have a visitor"
Who is he? I asked, jealousy.
An old school girl friend of mine,
Kate Treherne, is coming to stay with
me-"
Before she comes, let me ask"
No, | won't have you ask any
thing. Go, now. will not have you
here another minute to-day. | have
thousands of things to do. | couldn't
attend to yonr prettiest speeches"
She said all this hurriedly. Then she
added, In lower voice, After to-
morrow you'll say what you like to
me-"
l kissed her hand and promised
obedience, and went away then, and
was In a FOOLS paradise for the re-
/ g hnk n
ing i W ent up, about eleven, to Her
riot Court, and remarked an unac-
countable and unusual stir in the
place. When / was shown into the
drawing,room my darling came for
ward to me with bright, blushing
face, and, looked round at a young
lady who was sitting by the table ex-
aiming some rich dresses, as she
said:
This is my particular friend, Mr..
Armitage. Walter, this is Miss Ire
herne."
Miss Treherne scanned me Curl
ously as she acknowledged the intro
duction, and / felt almost inclined to
resent the expression of mingled
smile and sneer that there was upon
her face. She was a large, handsome.
aquiline-nosed brunette, with big
dark eyes, and very low brow. Lam
guild and rather insolent in her man
ner, l thought, as she turned to Me-
LAME, and said:
Come, Melanie; you have no time
for trihIng now. DO decide. Is it to
be this satin or this moire?"
81 will settle that question by and
BY" Miss HeTriot said, sweeping the
things up, and running ont of the
room with them. She gave me one
look as she passed. look so full of
penitence and pity that presentiment
of evil assaulted me.
Have you known Miss Herriot
long?" Miss Treherne asked, whe n
we had been together two or three
minutes.
About three months.' l said,
quickly.
"Then hope you're only slightly
wounded" she said, quietly. Per-
haps, confidential as she has been
with you, she has never told you that
she is going to be married ?"
Married." | cried, starting up.
"Yes-to my brother. It's an en-
| gsgement of some standing. But by
| the terms of her grandfather's will
| she couldn't marry until she was
twenty three, without FORGETTING the
property. l believe she has indemni.
fed herself by flirting, but-Are you
not well?
could not help it. l could not
help grooming aloud as | bent my head
forward and shut out the light of day
There was silence in the room for q
few moments. Then Miss Treherne
spoke again:
/ see how it was with you, Mr.
Armitage. Take my advice, and go
without seeing her any more. Nc
good could come of a few parting
words. My brother is in the house
even now. I speak for your sake
more than his. They love each other
passionately, and when they are mar.
ried, and he is always with her, she
will keep from flirting, l trust and
believe. Bear it like a man."
/ took her advice-that is to say, |
went away without seeing my false,
fair love any more. She married
shortly after this, and | bore the It'd.
ings " like a man." but like a very
battered and heart-stricken one. And
so ended the episode that connected
| me with the famous firt