The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-08-17

feminine burst of sobbing, such al
only the young heart can indulge
in, in it's luxurious abandonment Of
grief.
"Adeline /"
She started round at the voice
and a scarlet flame rushed over the
whole face as she saw the speaker
standing near her, with eager, CUES
tioning looks.
"Adeline, can you forgive an un'
2 willing listener in the little scene
that has so agitated you? l car
hardly regret my involuntary i'm
prisonment, since it has given me
courage to say what I came here on
purpose to speak-courage to ask
lyou to be my wife-the wife of
man more than double your age
but who will strive to lavish upon
you every compensation in his pow
er for such q sacrifice. Adeline, l
am rich-far more wealthy than
even your parents suppose, and if
you will give me your little hand,
both you and they shall share in
every luxury and indulgence that
money can give. Even before your
birth your father and I framed such
wish. VIII you carry it out?''
A strange shiver ran through her
frame, but there was almost fierce
ness in her tone as she replied:
"No, no-never I will not sell
myself for gold, as hO said! You
cannot purchase me, Mr.. Penden-
mis- /"
''You are too young to appreciate
the advantages of wealth." he said
graveIy. "I am sure you could be
happy, Adeline. Everything that
you could desire or dream would
be at your command. You would
reign as a fairy queen, and indulge
every taste-every caprice. And,
as you have rejected your young
lover, and are sensibIy certain that
it would be rash imprudence to
marry him, I do think, you should
pause ere you reject my offer"
"No, nolo she reiterated, 81 will
not be bought It is unkind-un-
manly to press me so cruelty, Mr..
Pendennis AS a gentleman, 1 ask
you to leave me ~
"No, not yet, Adeline," he said.
81 have, at any rate, proved that
you are disinterested and true, and
/ that is some consolation for the
pangs you have innocently inflicted.
AS it is, my foolish dream is over.
would have done my best-I
would have tried to guard you from
sorrow-to anticipate every wish,
watch for every passing caprice ;
but you are right 10 rebuke my pre-
sumption in thinking 1 could recon-
pense such a gift as your love. But
1 will atone, Adeline. Listen to
me, calmly if you can. The wealth
that is valueless to me shall be in
strumental still to your happiness.
The fortune Of my adopted child
shall not be unworthy of Sir Ralph
Dasant's daughter.in-law; and, at
last, yOu shall be happy"
"No, 1 cannot-I will not !"
calculated poor Adeline, gaspingly.
"Mr. Pendennis, it is impossible
1t would be of no use, for-for
I can never take it, or-or do what
you say /"
81 do not understand you," said
Cuthbert, gravely. Gam 1 in error
in believing that the obstacle to
your accepting Mr.. Dasant was
the want of fortune on both sides ?"
The girls head was averted, and
she did not speak but her fingers
trembled so violently that she drew
them from her companions observa-
ton.
elf you hesitate on my account,
Lima, it needless. 1 shall never
marry-never want a hundredth
part of what 1 possess; and you
will give me some balm to my
wounds by allowing me to give,
during my life, what must certainly
be yours at nay DEATH"
She turned her glowing face to
his own, and her bright eyes blazed
through tears as she spoke her graf
itude-perhaps something more.
"You are good and noble, but it
must not be 1t would only make
me miserable, for 1 cannot marry
Horace Dasant. He is an old play
feIlow-a brother to me-but 1 can
not love him."
"AdeIine, why can you not love
him ?" Is there any one else you
dO-you could lOve?"
But the only reply was an in
creased trembling of the slight
frame, and Cuthbert Pendennis
cOnld not but feel glimmering and
delightful insight into the truth.
"AdeIine, do not trife with me,
for I cannot bear it. Imay be mad
vain, presumptuous but 1 must
try my fate once again. Can you
is it possible you could love me?p
eyes, 1 do," was whispered, or
rather breathed on the air, and new
er was music so sweet in Cuthbert's
/ ears as that slight sound.
/ He was generous to ask no more,
but permitted the girl to weep out
her agitated feelings on his shoul-
der.
"And pray, why did my darling
/ so determinedly and formally reject