The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-30
Ghe0tfeltiqeuc1r.
MISS BROWN.
a CHARMING LOVE STORY.
From Chambers journal.
NCuAPTER X,


10, out when he wrote to her she wa
nbilged to read and it took her a Ion,
time TO get through il all, and when shi
hau hnIshed, she was very tired. Ais
ms arguments had so far moved her tina
sue seemed to realize, even more clearly
than she had done before, what a terrible
thlng 1t would be to give up all the pleas
ant ease and comfort in which she haG
been dwelling for the past few months
and to become poor Miss Brown aoain
with nothing remaining to her from he,
lest fortune but those new dresses and
rich clothes, which she would he aImoSt
ashamed To wear If she went back tn bnT
Old lie Yet, perhaps, Sometime eISe
would remain too. Robert wrote very
Kindly; he said nothing, indeed of his
own proposal OF marriage; he had NOT
written hastily or impulsively; and though
i nc was really more in love now than he
mad ever been in his life, his natural eau
ton prevented his committing himself ON
paper to any offer of marriage, irrespect,
I'VE OF her decision about her money
Whatever she decided on doing. he
ielt that he would like to have
her for his wife; but he was
not going to say so, until he had first
tried to make her see that if she gave up
her fortune, she ought not TO expect him
TO hold to his bargain Still, here and
break through the more business-like ar
Suments, and seem to hint that he would
not give her up easily.
How changed her own feelings had be-
come Instead of soothing or comfort
ing her, the consciousness which she now
had OF his real liking for her seemed onIy
To depress her still more, for she had no
doubt at ali now that she no longer loved
him. 1t was hard; but apparently she
hnT fs,fE ,,Ir l..
purposes; even if he were to come to her
when she was poor again, rs poor as she
had once been, and offer to marry her,
she could not consent al couldn't be
happy with him-l see that now: and /
should not make him happy either Poor
Robert! perhaps have not been quite
ialr with him; and l have disappointed
him Well, il may disappoint him less,
perhaps, if he sees that / should have
brought him nothing. He will forget
it sooner. Then she put away his
letter, and before she went to bed,
wrote 4 little note to Mr. Finch
which he might receive early the
next morning. 1t was possible that Mr.
Dixon might come early to see her, and
try to argue with her again; but before
he came, she would have got everything
settled, and so she might be spared the
discussion.
But next day she had to go through
some discussion with Mr.. Finch himself
Have you thought well of what you
mean tn do, Miss RrnUn2'' the LAWYER
asked, looking even more uneasy thar, he
had done the day before.
YES, have thought of ii" she replied
quietly, but feeling a little nervous, and
afraid of MIR. DiXOn'S arrival
"And you have consulted Mr.. Dixon p
Il have seen my cousin. He was here
yesterday"
And he approves"
mo" said Miss Brown, coloring. "He
thinks I am foolish. Perhaps l am; but
you see, Mr.. Finch, neither he nor you
know what do. You did not see how
poor Mrs. Barker lOOked-how anxious
and unhappy she seemed
"Well-yes,' said MIR. Finch, who, if
he thought Miss Brown foolish, ut any
rate felt that it was n very honest kind OF
folly. You may be right. But this is
very serious thing to do. You will re-
member that legally your claim to this
money is indisputalsle."
Il can't see that, Mr.. Finch"
"But, my dear madam, you must surely
understand what 1 have endeavored to
explain to you, that Mrs. Barker had real
ly power to dispose of this money rs she
ChOse"-
ooh, Mr.. Finch, surely she had not :
She must have known she had not,
But, Miss Brown, pray remember we
are speaking OF the legal view of the ques-
ton"
But 1 am thinking ofthe other view oft
But Miss Brown" persisted the lawyer
in despair, "you must allow me to remind
you
Eyes, yes-I know; it is stupid in me,
dare say she interrupted, getting more
and more impatient and nervous as she
felt that Robert might arrive at any mo-
ment. "But indeed, MIR. Finch, / can only
think how troubled poor Mrs. Barker was
when she felt she had done wrong, and
how glad she would be, if she could know
now, poor woman, that it will all be set
tied Us she wished at the last You are
quite right about the law, 1 dare say. But
if you had seen her that last day of her
life!'
1t was no use for MIR. Finch to talk of
his law Miss Brown even refused to
hear the word compromise"
al have no right to keep any part OF
it, she declared; and from this position
she refused to be dislodged, with an OBJ
stinacy and invincibility to legal demon
stratiOn, which, however, Mr.. Finch bore
with wonderful patience. And when at
last he rose to go away, he shook hands
with her with Il cordial Iriendliness and
sympathy which surprised her little in
one who had always seemed 80 dry and
cold Alter all, even Mr. Finch seemed
10 understand her better than Robert
Dixon had done. And alter the excite
ment OF the argument was over, and
when she had nothing to do but TO sit
down and think over her future, it COM
fprted her to feel that she would have n
friend in her lawyer She was glad of 1t
She was glad to know that now she
would have some else than her cousin to
consult confldentially.
Her most pressing anxiety now was to
he relieved of the lease which she had
taken of her present home. Mr. Finch
yUouId at first have cOunSeled some delay.
.sMaiOr FOrtescue has not yet arrived IN
England" he said await till he gets
home, and until we see what IS to be done.
| don't, of course, wish to encourage any
crroundless hopes, but can't help think
ing that he will hardly accept your gen
er0us offer without himself suggesting Il
~ H. %