The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-03-23
NUMBER 80.

no opportunity of saying single word,
that all the world might pot hear and
at last we prepared to go home.
"'Will you dine with US to-dayP
said my mother; and be replied that
he was unluekiiy engaged.
edith was right thought to my.
self, sor he would have come. He has
other attractions as well as myself
and my parting bow was both cool and
ceremonions.
"The next morning came the climax
q letter to my mother, and one, en-
closed in it, addressed to me. With .
pleased. proud smile, my mother press.
ed her lips on my forehead, and LETT
the room, that might read it by my.
self. 1t was his proposal, aud clasp.
ed my hands over my eyes. Oh my
promise !! my promise! In what po-
siiion had my blind infatnation placed
me! And this letter required an Inn
mediate answer, for high diplomats
situation had been offered Colonel
Gerard; and. whilst overwhelming ma
with apologies for the abrupt declare
ton, he gave, as his excuse, that his
acceptance of it depended on my YER
dict, since homer and dignities would
be worthless to him, as he was pleased
to say, un.ess shared with me.
'lielen, can you believe that, in
spite of this letter, in spite of this real
ization of all my fondest hopes, in spite
of the anxious face of my mother, / ac-
tually wonld not give the immediate
answer he required, but asked for time
to consider his proposal Time when
my heart had so long been his! Time!
when l actually held in my grasp the
heart which Edith Gresham, my bosom
friend, had declared wonld never be
offered to me! But, in spite Of the
triumph, felt would rather run tho
risk of losing him than break my pro-
mise; so persisted in asking for time.
mo one can tell what night pass
ed, after that long day in which, hav-
ing sent for Edith, sat expecting her,
but in vain, and only learnt, quite late
in the evening, that she had been ont
all day with friends who lived at Roe
hampton, and possibly might not re-
turn till the following day. .s 1ifa
sin vain my mother, with her calm
dignity. demonstrated with me. said
| must have time to think. How did
know but that Edith might be able to
tell me something abont him which
would embitter the whole of my future
life Z She had limited as much sol
trembled, dreaded taking the step with
ont telling her aud with severe face
my mother took the pen in hand which
communicated to Colonel Gerard my
decision. She wOrded it gently and
tenderly, and said that the moment I
could make up my mind she would
write to him again, but the whole Of
that day she was unlike her usual self.
She never upbraided, or attempted TO
hurry my reply, but saw regret and
disapprobation on every feature of her
face.
"The day after this I heard that
Edith Gresham was laid up with scar
let fever at Roehampton, and it would
be weeks and weeks, either by word or
letter, before we could hold converse
with each other. And now what was
l to dol"
Accept him of course I" cried young
Helen Spencer, impulsively.
"No." said Miss Mortimer, in voice
which sounded full Of tears, ga false
sense of honor overpoweied every feel
ing within me, and, despite the exhor-
tations of my mother, and the anger Of
my sister, refused Colonel Gerard, be.
cause was driven to a decision.n
There was long pause, after which
Miss Mortimer continued. 4s
! ga week. after this an anonymous
letter, written in strange hand, reach.
Led ME. 1t contained these words: 81
am deputed to tell you that you hav,
} done right-that You have ensured
your own happiness, though you ma,
, fird it hard at present to think co.,
And this was supposed to be an unc
tion for my wounded soul.n
!, sBut when she recoveredLwhen 20,
saw her again n said Helen.
!, II never saw her again, dear child,
. replied Miss Mortimer. "She wen
abroad Immediately after her illness.
Sand Colonel Gerard ~ said Helen
She asked the question in whisper
apparently fearful what the answe
7 would be. Little did she expect o
4 dream that one sentence would finis
; the story-"Edith Gresham marrie
7 him herself!"
SpicED BEEF-Chop fine the toug
ends of two very large beefsteaks, an