The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-22

tirely new and original metnou OF put
ting the momentous query-"popping !
the question" is q vulgarism that I. for
one, could never tolerate-had occurred
to me. 10 ri11i|i
"Hang Fitzhugh jTrefoilp' exclam
ed gleefully,. half aloud, though there
was no ear to hear my ejaculation. "In
win the dark-eyed treasure yet, in spite
of him ~ - t,tit,, r,e,, ,..lss. .tae. |
Iopened my writing case, and care
| fully took cut little carte de Uisite |
wrapped in tisue paper, and tenderly
laid away with pink silk perfume sach
el that Minnie had made for nae once.
| It was Cecilia's picture; she had allow
ed me to stestit away from her, with
scereely remonstranee, week before.
| Then was the time fought to have pro-
posed; but, like a timorolis, doubling
moon calf as 1. was, l. had let the golden.
tide of opportunity slip unimproved
away from me.
1 drew Bessie Armi ages vacant, doll
| like face from its envelope, and compar-
ed thetwo with thrill of triumph in my
heart.
"Colorless water, beside crimson,
sparkling champagnet pale violet in
the shadow of royal rose pearls
eclipsed by the fiery flash of diamond! p
1 exclaimed, nHenry Wallis taste may
be very correct and classical, bat give
me my radiant brunettei These bleach
ed-out beauties don't correspond with
my ideal of perfection"
1t was lovely spring evening as /
o 1tered the wide graveled path that led
up the broad porch of the old fashioned
Vernon mansion. Squire Vernon sat
there smoking his meerscham.
won't you sit down and have
smoker" he demanded, hospitality
It's a real luxury to be able to take a
Whit out of doors, after being shut up
in the house all the winter. Or maybe
you'd prefer going in TO see Cecil "'lr
| Sensible old gentleman he had not
forgotten his own young days. init
mated. not without considerable awk-1
wardness, that the special object Of my
visit had been "see Cecil"
"Well, she is in the parlcr, all by her
sell" said the squire good humoredly,
motioning me in. "WaIlS in-walk in"
Cecilia Vernon was sitting in the par
lor alone, as her father had 4said, the
bright center off cheerful circle OF lamp
light. A bit of crochet work was lying
on her lap, and an open volume of po
ems-poems had sent her-was on the
table.
Cecilia Vernon was always fair to look
upon, in my sight; tonight, however,
she seemed more than ordinarily beau
tiful.
I sat down, and hogan hesitatingly
upon the never falling topic ofthe wealth
or. A proposal had seemed the easiest
thing in the world as walk along the
dewy edges of the peaceful starlighted
road, contemplating it from afar on;
but now that was face to face with it,.
Alps upon Alps of difficulty and per-
plexity seemed to surround its accom-
plishment. 1 wou Id have given all that
was worth to postpone the evil day
but twenty-four hours-all but my self
respect, and that was imperilled now.
| Cecilia tried her best to keep the ball
of conversation in motion; she eintroduc-
ed new subjects, asking leading ques-
tions, and feigped deep interest in the
most abstruse of topics. But even Ce-
ella could not talk on forever, and pres
] emily, with a sigh of despair, she subsi-
ded into silence. Ht'3-
Now was the eventful moment Of my
destiny. r,.,r III. .....f, ..,sl. s..Y.
"Cecilie ~ said softly. t i+...l|
She raised the liquid brown eyes to
mine.
"I want to confide in you tonight
have your permission to speak ?"
| "Centrely, Mr.. Markham"
SCI am very much in love, Cecilia; in
fact, my heart has long ago gone out of
my ewn possession into that Of"
i 1 stopped, with the fatal husky feeling
in my throat. Cecilia was blushing di.
yinely. I drew my chair close to hers,
with tho sensation of man, who hasjust
ruled the string of cold ehower bath.
"Who is the lady ?" ialtered Cecilia
as if she didn't know perfectly well al
ready. . .
"Shall I show you her picture, ce-
ella p" r.E... .. 20 -,ar,r..
Miss Vernon inclined her head almost
to to the level of my shoulder, to look at
the little carte de ViSite drew from my
4 pocet. skillfully stole one arm round
her waist. ud Il
} "See, dearest -
"Bnt, to my horror and dismay, she
snatched her hand from my clasp,
sprang up, and started away, like some
fair avenging goddess ,..'
"How dare you insult me thus, Mr..
Markham ~ lai ls raG g al|
/ "Cecilial how-what--L" '.'-' -'H
"Don't presume to call me Cecilia,
sir p sobbed the indignant girl, burst
ing into tears, and sweeping from the
room. ....;f,,...i ,,, ,,....,,,.e ANA, &, ..s
sat like one palsied. What had !
doneP Why was The gracious mood of
tmy enchantress thus suddenly trans
formed to, gall and bitterness? Surely
y she would presently return and apolc-
II giKe for her capricious exita But she
did not return; and after waiting long
in vain, I sneaked out ofa side door,
and crept dejectedly home, my heart
burning with wonder and resentment.
had no mind to meet the assembled
} family group; so admitted myself with
J the latcn kew, and stole noiselessly up
stairs, where my lamp still burned-the
lamp l had lighted with such high and
bounding hopes!