The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-05-25
Mabel MOore's Stratagem.

self looked not unlikea Persian en-
chantress, as she stood there leaning
one hand on a marbel vase, with
the gold of the acacia plumes hard
ly brighter than her hair, and a
culver in the heavy white lids that
hid her deep blue eyes. She was
tall and finely formed, with very
regular features, cheeks tinged with
a faint color, and an unconscious
ha1Eteur in thss poise of her slender
throat and shoulders. Mabel Moore
Twas born to be an heiress, and very
gracefully she fulfilled the mission
of her sunshiny life.
She was not alone, however, in
the fowery fragrance of the twilight
conservatory. Ernest Beckford was
leaning against the door-post, twist
ing and untwistinga a long spray of
Iiessamiue with sort of impatient
rapidity. He was a tall, manly fell
low, with bright auburn hair, and a
face that you were involuntarily
compelled to respect and like.
"Mabel," he said, almost passion
ately, "do you know that you are
asking impossibllities ?"
"Am 1 ?''
81 cannot go to Australia without
you"
"You can, Ernest, and you will"
"But, my darling. only think of
Iit-a years exile from you I''
"Will it be any easier for me to
endure, Ernest ?" she asked caemly.
"sOmetimes, I fancy, Mabel" he
resumed impetuously, "that you
don't care for me, else you would
never be so willing to let me CO."
"Ernest !"
"My dearest, I know I am unjust;
but"
SNOW" said Mabel, ''let me un-
derstand just what you wish me to
do in this matter"
81 want you to marry me day |
after tomorrow, and go out to Aus
tralia with me in the ship that sails
on Saturday."
GA very reasonable WISH" said
Mabel, laughing. "But, Ernest,
you know I will never marry you
while your mother refuses her sane.
ton and appreciation to the match"
"She does not know you, Mabel"
"Tbat makes no difference. 1
shall never enter a family where 1
am not welcome by every one of its
members"
"But just consider how unreason-
able you are, my own darling, and
how utterly and entirely ground
less are my mothers objections"
"She fancies me a hollow, heart
less woman of the world, does she
not ? She is unwilling to trust her
sons happiness in the keeping of
coquette, who knows nothing beyond
italian songs and French waltzes ?"
"Mabel, am sorry I ever allow
ed you to read that unreasonable
letter"
"But I am glad. No, Ernest, I
have too much pride and dignity to
marry you. unless your mother
gives her free and full consent" i"
"Then you do not love me, Ma
bel ?"
81 do love you, Ernest Beckford,
better than I like to acknowledge to
myself"
"Mabel," ne urged tenderly, "let
US cut this Gordian knot by the ex-
ercise of our own free will. Become
my wife give me the right to take
you with me on this long, long jour
ney."
Mabel Moore shook her head. :
"Let US wait and see what time !.
may bring FORTH" she said archly.
"And now leave me; remember that y >
the ship sails on Saturday"
81 can't possibly go in that ves- =
SELL" said Ernest ; "I've many !
things to do" !,
"But if you do not go on Saturday,
you will be obliged to wait another
fortnight, and your business is so
over there" +
ayes, know, but"
"WelI ?"
"I must get that companion for f
my mother-she will be entirely f
alone. Mrs. Carter told me that she I,
knew some one who would take the i
and I shall have to 60 +
over to Clapham to see her about it
Tomorrow n
"Don't let that detain you, Ernest, n
I think I know Of a young lady who d
who would make an excellent COM
panion, and 1 will send her TO Beck \
fordvilIe." &,
"Can she read aloud, and has she f.
patience and forbearance, and will
she be as meek as Moses p"
"I'm sure she will try" !,
"Send her, then. But, Mabel" o
"Well ?" 7
sit strikes me you are anxious to Ii
hurry me off next Saturday" TX
"Ernest," she said in voice that s.
quivered little in spite of all her
selfcontrol, "you are misjudging fl
me. I want you to do your duty b
to go and attend to the affairs of c.
your poor uncle, whose reason has t
deserted him. And more than this, v
1 want you to learn life's lesson of "
patience and endurance. The sun e