Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-02-24

him, and why he esteemed it luck
told her how often he had longed
plainly to ask her, as he did now, to be
his wife, but how till now he had de-
layed, because he felt it would be wrong
told her.
But Edith Winthrop burst into tears.
"Ned, dearest" she said, cit cannot
be-"
And then Edith Winthrop told Ed
ward Gervayse everything.
Ned said few words in reply AT first,
it is true, he laughed the notion to
scorn. Edith was simply in sport-she
could not mean it. But then he found
she not only could, but did. Edward
Gervayse was on the point of giving ut
terance to some words of bitter anger ;
but he checked himself when he looked
down and saw Edith's fearful, sad,
heavenly face.
Well" he said breaking a long ST.
lence, & shall go to the Cape"
He bent down, kissed her forehead,
and left the room.
And Edith-what of Edith ? She sat
as one stunned. Till now she had
rever realized in its full force the pro-
mise she had given-the deed she had
done. She sat on low little chair
close to the fire, and she laid her face
on her hands upon the table, and wept
and moaned to herself, 30, Ned! O.,
my love, my lover' That was all; but
in that was everything.
She heard a voice call " Edith" She
looked up-it was Mr.. Jeffery.
II Jof
told me you were here"
She noticed that Mr. Jeffery did not
on this occasion do what he had often
done before when she failed to address
her affianced husband by his Christian
name-ask her why she would not
call him James. Mr.. Jeffery simply
said:
"Yes, my dear, l came in some few
minutes since; but did not interrupt
you; and, indeed, did not see you
were there in the twilight till | thought
I heard you speak. | met your cousin,
Edward Garvayse, on the stairs. 1t is
well, I think, that he has returned.
came to tell you that have taken the
box at the theater for tomorrow night,
and hope you and Clara and Edward
Gervayse- will come. And now, my
dear, as | have an engagement at six, |
shall leave you. God bless you, Edith"
And Mr.. Jeffery was gone. .......
Yes, he had only been in the room a
few minutes; but those few minutes,
how much had they taught him!sr He
saw it all now. Fool, blind that he was,
only to know what he should have
known so long before-only now to
have perceived that when Edith Win
throp had promised to become his wife,
it was gratitude, not love, which had
shaped her answer 80 Ned O my
love, my love - Yes, he had heard
those words uttered, and he knew all
their meaning.
Mr.. Jeffery had uttered very venial
kind of falsehood when he had men
toned an engagement at six. He walked
slowly and sadly home to his lonely
chambers and he spent sad evening
in meditating with himself. He knew
now the happiness which love might
bring with it-happiness greater and
better than happiness of any other kind,
but it was too late. But there was other
happiness of another kind. 1t was not
too late for that.
Mr.. Jeffery had sent his carriage for
the party from Lily Lodge, with a mes
sage that he would meet them in the
box. They were all to come indeed,
they all had come-the two Miss Win
throps and Edward Gervayse. But
when they reached the box, No. II,
first tier at the Theseum Theater, Mr..
Jeffery was not waiting to receive them.
A note, however, in Mr.. Jeffery' S
handwriting, was placed in Miss
Winthrop's hand as she entered the
box. She opened it; it was short, and
ran thus:
My DEAR EDITH-I know now that
was mistaken from the first. God for
give me, and you forgive me, too. | had
hoped, my darling-I must still call you
that-and thought that you might have
been my wife, and that your blessed
bright face might have cheered my fast
darkening and closing days. But it was
not to be. [ was wrong in thinking
that it ever could be. love you too
we'll, my darling, to stand between you
and your happiness. | was blind. |
only knew yesterday that you loved
your cousin, Edward Gervayse. To your
cousin | give you you will have from me
everything that you would have had of
worldly wealth had you been my wife.
May God bless you, and have for you
and your husband many happy days in
store. JAMES JEFFERY.
P. ST. shall join you later at the
theater tonight.
That was ALL The words were not
many, but the characters were traced in
the blood of that true mans heart. And
Edith well knew the struggle, nay, the
agony, which it must have cost him ;
and knowing this, knew also how to es-
innate the nobility of the sacrifice. She
handed the note to Edward Gervayse,
and its purport was communicated to
Clara.
II always thought he would cry off,
remarked that light hearted young
lady. i" All men are jilts."
Not long afterward Mr.. j effery came
into the box. He shook Edward Ger
vayse warmly by the hand, and seemed
to be in excellent spirits. But he soon
excused, as before, on the ground of an
engagement.
As may be conjectured, Miss Win
throp is now Mrs. Gervayse; Mr..J efery
still lives on in his chambers !; and this
is true account of the only love affair
he ever had.-Enghsh Society.
The Boston State House was the scene
of unusual proceedings Tuesday. AT
about three O'clock, in accordance with
previous arrangements, carriage halted
at the Beacon street entrance, bridal
party alighted, and ascending the steps
were ushered into the commodious office
of the Sergeant-at- Arms. Notice being
given of the arrival of the. party, Rev.
Dr. Putnam, of the House, accompanied