The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-07-29
He replied

''AN N'hSi manu-, am TN eStaDllSneu maj
and as my widow you will be rich wo
man. However; this arrangement will
III Certain sense, set me right with my
Cousin, Mrs. Farrell, who, perhaps, no
fairly; left me nearly all her property
but who was good enough to intimat,
hat she would be glad if L would pro
pose to you, and hoped that you woult
accept me. You have done SO, and we
have fulfilled her wishes. AS to ouI
marriage, I will leave the date to your
self to fix; and L will intimate to my
housekeeper that you are already mis-.
tress here"
She could not confess ii to herself that
there was danger to her in marrying
him because she did not love him. fol
firmly she believed that she did love the
man who had so coldly proposed tc
her.
Naturally kindly, and made by nature
OF sympathetic disposition, she mis-
took gratitude for love, one of the most
dangerous mistakes woman can make
one that results only too frequently in
lifelong misery.
1t was her great good fortune that she
was saved from this fate by the exercise
of that spirit of kindness and brother
hood which had led her to accept CRATE
fully man she could not love.
1t was about week after she had ac-
cepted Henry Roche-and every day he
l
ton, morning and evening, which, how
ever much it oppressed her, gave her
further cause gratefully to admire him
when visitor was announced for
her.
Henry Roche was away in town at his
banking business, and Ann, as he pre-
ferred to call her, was in the great draw
ing-room, watching the life and panora-
ma of the streets. When the visitor ar
rived, she saw her aight from car
riage, and supposed that the lady had
business with .he housek eeper. She had
not the most distant supposilion that the
visitor was for herself; therefore, when
| the footman announced that "Miss
"Roche," wanted to see. her she was
much surprised.
Requesting that the lady might be
shown in, she was enabled to remark
the entry of fine, inlperious. looking
woman, perhaps about thirty years OF
age, dressed plainly, but wearing about
the head foreign-looking hood, which
was quito new head-dress in Annette
Pervenche's experience.
"You don't Anow me, Miss Pervenche
she said, as she entered the room, impe.
riously.
"No; but the name is sufficient to in
duce me to be glad to see yeu. Will you
not sit down?"
mo; will not sit down in the same
room with you-beautiful thiefW
Annette shrank backwards.
"Thief2" she said; ''you must be mis-
takenr'
cam mistaken when say that you
are about TO be married to my cousin,
Henry Roche, whom dearly love, and
have loved for years?"
"You p Annette cried, in amazement.
81 have never heard of your
"But have of you SO you are the
fragile, pretty pauper he prefers to me
He has seen me daily for years; and yet
after but month of your acquaintance,
he offers you his name and hand. You
are not fitted to be kocher
"Tell me, Miss Roche" said Annette,
'"does Mr.. Roche know of your affec-
ton ?"
"IIe should, but 1 fear he does net.-l
We Roches are proud and hide our affec-
tions. He has not spoken, and 1 have
have net smiled; but I love him. Do
you doubt my love, you poor weak
ling?"
ooh, Miss Roche" cried Annette,
"you cannot truly love, or you would
not speak SO bitterly. No.woman, who
truly loves, can, am convinced, be bit
ter. But II also am afraid 1 do not
love your cousin, or 1 should rather
defend myself than weep as am weep
ing"
"Some women can weep easily" said
Miss Roche, in low, clear voice.
~ will go away" said Annette. "I will
not stand between yeu, if you love him;
for have known your cousin so short
time, it is evident he cannot care for me
evident that he only desires to marry
me in accordance With my late aunt's
request"
&C.," said Miss Roche, perfectly un-
Modified by these gentle words. "Why
should you pass into his life2-you make
him no richer; and did he have children
they might be weak and foolish, as you
are; not strong and brave, as the Roches |
have always been.
II will keep my word" said Annette,
calmly.
"Those are the bravest words have |
yet heard you speak," said Miss Roche.
mot for your sake, or for mine, but for
his, keep your word. Do not trouble his
life-leave it to flow uninterrupted by
your poor life."
Annette felt ne desire to rebuke the
violent woman, but pitied Miss Roche
for her misery in loving man who, in
all probability, had never dreamed of
loving her.
But this interview had opened An
nette's eyes to the fact that she did not
love Henry Roche.
II was mistaking gratitude for love-"
When the banker reached home that
night, he founo note awaiting him, of
which the following is 3 copy; |