The Republican journal., 1871-07-20

flnc-lOoklnT man bent low over Il whit,
taperng wrist, while little iewelcd fin
gers scintllated and Spali>lcd in the da :
zling light. Gould bu, make YOU I'M
dcrStand,0 he continued IN low, earnest
tones, ''hoW wrGtchcI and miserable my
llte really is. berctt OF love and Marie
you would, at least, grant me u kline
word occasionally. | see YOU wear my
diamond yet Tell me, for conscience
sake, whether you do il out of lingering
regard for your old love, or is it cupdity
only" And the large magnetic eyes
looked honestly into those of his beauti-
iul companion, who, with u seemingly
total disregard of his carnestness, hum
med softly a little blavura. and then re-
piled in distant, half abstracted manner,
which was peculiarly annoying to the
sensitive man.
How often must | tell You, Herbert,
that love YOU As much rs ever did You
know how we are situated; and YOU are
perfectly we'll aware that so long us YOU
cannot support me i'll the style to which |
have alway. been accustomed, no engage
mcnt must he allowed to exist Love is
very well in It's place, but really it shows
very bad taste to introduce il at such un-
seasonable and inappropriate occasions
Good evening, Captain Thornc; isn't
this Il splendid gathering | was Just re-
marking TO our friend, Mr.. Maltravers,
that | had not for Il long time attended Il
! party so cAquisitely got up;' and the
| naughty beauty used her fan daintily,
turning her fair hand 4 little more into
the light, while lightning like corrusca-
| tiona from diamond and pearl dazzled the
eyes of her admirers.
| immaculate and beWildcring laces, to-
| gethcr with the rustic of silk, and per
| tune delicate as from Araby the blest,
| completed Il tout ensemble rs perfect in
| its fashionable and artistic makeup rs it
| was gracefully becoming to its fair own
cr
The Captain offered his arm for prom
cnade and, with the pleasantest bow to
| Herbert, Marie sailed away as if perfect
| ly unconscious of the misery she had Just
| inflicted
| Herbert Maltravcrs had been ior the
two last years an accepted lover Of Ma
| re Genore's, but for some strange and
| incomprchensiblc reason she had, with
ont the least apology or excuse. suddenly
dismissed him, and when pressed by the
| ardent lover for a satisfactory solution of
| the mystery, replied that her love remain
ed undimnishcd, but her family all
Thought the engagement improper as
| Mr. MaltraVerS' pn'li"'.''-y postum would
| not allow him to support her in the
! style and luxury 10 which she had
been accustomed. No argument or en-
| treaty could make her any more explicit,
| 50 with Il love quite as intense as in the
| first and Dalmiest days OF rtshp, Her
| bert followed her to ball, party and ope-
| IA, and used every means to win back
| the attention and tender regard he no
| longer possessed.
| He would not be convinced that Marie
| Genore was as hollow and heartless as
| the vainest butterfly of fashion could pos
| sibly be, and Yet he knew that she had
| loved him rs he had formerly every rea-
| son to believe, no advice or influence
| could have changed her.
| 'Why does she wear the symbol OF
| our betrothal if our engagement is entire
| ly broken off," he asked himself for the
| thousandth time.
| Herbert knew that Marie's father, with
all his wealth, was very close and penu-
rious, especially on the subject of orna-
ments and he knew, too, that Maric's
most valuable jewels We're all presents.
| Common sense whispered that it was the
| beauty and costliness of the diamond that
made it valuable in her eyes, and this. in 4
| fit of wretchetness, and almost insanity,
| he had this evening, for the first time, ac-
| cused her of.
| Il must have one moment with Marie,
and beg pardon for my insulting Ian
guagc. How could | have been SO I'M
manly ?"
Marie; cloaked and hooded. her bright
beautiful eyes having lost none of THEN
sparkle from the nights dissipation, stood
in the hall dispensing kind good night s
to friends and acquaintances.
'l4et me escort you to the carriage
just this time, Marie" pleaded the ardent
lover; and laughing and chatting gaily
she accepted his arm in II matter of-facl
manner, and walked slowly out.
'What is it now Herbert P" and tho
beauty's tones betrayed both ill-nature anC
impatiencc.
81 hope you will forgive me, Marie
for the ungentlemanly language | useC
this evening. cannot bear to think that
| have offended you"
'Yo manner, Mr.. Maltravers, is the
principal thing l have to find fault with
and quite us much on your account as my
own. 1t is not pleasant to have the cpl
thets ''soft and silly" applied to Il gent le
man who for SO long Il time has been :
declared suitor tor my hand. But have
| declare, quite forgotten that you said any
thing this evening which you need ash
pardon for. What was it Herbert ?'
And the young lady met his earnest gaze
terociously, and with a look of rresisti
BILE inquiry.
How the poor fellow longed to enter
the carriage, as he had done a Thousand
times, and draw that queenly head, wount
round with the daintiest of ''unmussable'
wool, on his breast But times ha(
changed, and this was no longer his priv.
ilege.
at was about the ring, Marie; say
that you forgive me-
''Oh, yes, | remember now, Herbert
but what strange girl am? / believe
could never grieve or become much of
Tended at anything you might say" anC
something Of the old tenderness seemed
to return to the tone and manner fol
Herbert pressed the little hand closer
and the grasp was warmly returned
causing the heart of the young gentleman
which had been for weeks on the rack, to
palpitatc still faster, while a strange
feeling Of joy almost deprived him of the
power of speech.
'Herbet, if you desire this ring, it is
yours; but l hate to part with it SO ~
''For what reason, Marie? Was it tol
the blessed old associations connected
with it? Let me see; you used to say
it was in the depths Of that stone YOU
could always see Herbert's face. Is it Sc
now ?"
''Oh, Herbert when will you have
learned to be less demonstrative Why
will you no longer remember that we
are no longer lovers, and that any recur-
renee to former love chapters is simply
presumptive? Mr.. Maltravers, 1 would
like to be your friend if you will allow
me-that is all. Do you understand ?''
| 81 think l do. Miss GenOren cOldlv re.