The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-04

everything, IN short, to cOnduce 10 aillllNe-
ment and above all, Col. Peytou and his
daughter had taken house, situated near
the shore and about a NJ e-from W.
This was ecstasy for me hlh as the Col
oncl and Miss Peyton Oftd.,'Same over TO
Mr.. Soame's, the latter frequently stayed
with Lady Geraldine while the Colonel
and old Mr.. SOame walked oil somewhere
together, and then Charley and ] would
attend to Gertrude, sing duets with her,
aud so on. assure you, on my honor, |
never saw that my 4 cared for Ger
trudc Peyton; there was nothing in his
outward demeanOr t2 indicate 1t and Ms
for her. really bel ia this day that
she loved him then, NndqoIes me now
for she is still living, rs you will hear
again presently. Vain though It may
seem in me to say so, do say It emphati-
cally, and SayLlso that Charles Soame's
blood was on his own head!
Well, ! had frequent opportunities of
meeting Miss Pcyton alone, and as knew
my month would quickly pass over, en-
dcayored to see her MS much as possible. |
became more desperately in love than ever I;
and one day when was walking with her
alone toward her own house-Lady Geral-
dine having requested me 70 escort her
home, rs Charley and his father were out
somewhere together, as ! was told de-
clarcd my love for her in straightforward
manly way.
81 have been expecting this, Mr.. Molly
neux," said Miss Peyton, "and sincerely
thank you for the good opinion you have
Of me, and the honor you confer upon me-
Allow me to say to you what | should Say
to very few Of your sex, very few indeed !:
That any woman might be proud of win
ming your regard, much more your love /;
but my heart is already anothe:'s, and that
being the case, we can never be anything
more than friends. Good friends, hope,
we shall ever be, Mr.. MolyneuXi" and she
held out her hand to me.
"Miss Pcyton,n said |, thunder-struck,
you surprise me Thank you for your
kind speech but why have you led me to
suppose that you cared for me when, rs you
say, your affections were engngcdl Do
you suppose me to be stick or stone.
that you should thus play with me and
make me wretched for life You have
made me love you, and now you tell me
you are engaged
saw that ! was on dangerous ground,
but felt desperate at the idea of being re-
jected by so charming creature; so said
/, Z" I'll you promise to pardon me, if |
make one more observation : If it seems
an improper one, you will forgive me, and
attribute it to the perturbed state Of my
mind at present. Is It really iact that
you are engaged to another, or did you say
so merely from a kind wish to soften the
effect of what your generous heart told
You would be fearful blow !"
al assur" you Mr.. Molyneux, that have
told you nothing but the truth, and, under
any circumstances but the present, should
resent any doubt cast upon my veracity !"
81 do hOt presume to doubt your word,
Miss Peyton, but | have never seen or
heard Of any other gentleman paying you
attention, norh has my friend Charley Soamc;
so presume the matter must be OF clan
destine character. I may say also that
Lady Geraldine has remarked that you
seemed to favor my advances
"Really," said she, "yOu are going too
far, Mr.. Molyneux, | am not bound to tell
Mr.. Charles Soamc everything do, nor is
Lady Geraldine necessarily right in her
surmises concerning my department to-
ward you or any one else.n
"Ccrtainly not" said | "but it seems
incredible that lady could evince so much
pleasure in being with person as you
have in being in my company, without
either caring for that person, or else being
very ery-yery-ah-possessing great indecis-
ion of character"
" Circumstances often happen in this
world which appear singular, but which
one word oi explanation would make per-
icctly clear" said Miss Pcyton, her eyes
filling with tears. ave all bend to oneccs.
sity."
Necessity r' said |, almost grasping her
hand. "What doyoumean, Miss PeytOn ~
at only mean what | say" she replied.
"But," said |, "what is your necessity N
and looked straight into her eyes.
She paused for some time, and then said,
" Can trust YOU Mr.. Molyneux ~
"Trist mem replied | al would die
for you with the greatest pleasure"
"But can you keep secret 2"
"You might Ms well whisper it to that
rock" said |, pointing to mighty mass Of
granite.
"Well," said she, "yOu ask mt what my
necessity is it is to marry the man only
like, and not the man really love. was
in real earnest when showed my pleasure
at being in your company. You are good,
generous and talented; but cannot give
you my hand, though | love you, and that
is the necessity to which | bend. If you
really love me, you will go from here and
never see inc again; we moy perhaps meet
in the future under happier circumstances y
Her tears fell thick and fast, and | had
the greatest difficulty in repressing my
own emotion at this astonishing dcclara-
tiOn
"NIIss Pcyton," said |, "yOu surprise
me. l."
"No more, Mr.. Molyneux," she replied /;
"you have my secret. Kecpit. Farewell"
Before could seize her hand she was
gone, and / was left alone, and what my
feelings were you may imagine.
1t was past the dinner hour when |
reached home, and when | entered the
dining room, Mt. Soamc and Lady Gcral-
dine were seated at the table, but Charley
was not there.
"What have you two fellows been
about ~. imputed Mr., SOame in his usual
good tempered way-"why, we are through
the soup"
"Charley hasn't been with me-" said |
surprised; al haven't seen him since
luncheon. ! thought he was out with
you, Mr.. SOame.'
so, dare saw he'll turn up presontly,n