The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-06-22


would cleave to my mouth; the very
thought seemed to deprive Inc Of all
power Of articulation. Here goes,
said at last. | win write it off once,
and won't read it over.
My Dear"-Ilere | was at full
stop already. How was | to begin If
| were doing it personally, | might try
the effect Of f" Alice" spoken in a low,
deep tone, but it looks so cool Oh paper.
Therefore began again :--"My Dear
Miss Gordon, - cant remember INV
words, though no doubt my wife does,
but know my letter was very tender.
and, | hoped, very earnest aud impress
siyo.
was once more puzzled how to end
my eplstle, but decidedto write on,-"Be
lieve me, dear Miss Gordon, waiting in.
trembling hope aud fear, yours in life
aud death, yours only aud forever,
PHILIP GwYNNE"
This | dispatched to Miss Gordon.
enclosing note for the young ladys
papa, to be delivered ut her discretion.
You may believe | scarcely closed my
eyes all that night
Next day, Christians Day, I was TOO
busy to attend church but ! got clear
about four o'clock, and hastily dressing
myself, started for MIR Cordon's. He
met me warmly.
Come iu my dear fellow" said he /;
6 cao't tell you how pleased she is-my
wife, | mean. And | am qnite satisfied
as TO money and worldly affairs. Quite.
Old Ihompson's is good practice. We
must have settlement, you know; but
ihatll be all right. Rather you have
her than an earl. God bless you |
am proud TO call you sou. I've spoken
to her. She loves you, my boy, loves
you dearly, she says, and has done so
long. And now that you're ofthe fam.
lily | may as well tell you secret. NV
youngest daughter is engaged too.
Yes, Alice aud my nephew William are
going to make n match oft Don't look
so astonished. She'll make him good
wife; for though she is a year younger
than dear Hetty, she looks older, you
know, AID is more steady and sedatc. But
Hetty's dear girl, aud will, I'm sure,
make You happy. Don't speak, don't
speak There, LII send her i'm Aud
of the lawyer boltcd 10 his usual jcrky
way before | could speak word.
Was | mad? Was | lrcaming? /? Alice
the younger Alice engaged-lIctty
loving me dearly! IIetty coming to me !
fe powers, what on earth was all this
about How could | have been such a
fool A thousand little hitherto unuo
ticed facts crowded on my brain, con
firming the statement. How could |
have trusted to appearances so utterly,
and taken her for the eldest without
being certain. She enga,ed, and wild,
merry, sweet lIetly loving me It still
would not enter my brain What should
do! Get up, bolt, aud explaic after
wards !?
sprung up to obey my impulse. As
did SO the door opened, aud with down.
cast eyes and rosy blushes, Hetty came
in. | rushed eagerly towards her aud
graspcd her hauds, would conless
all, | thought. "lIetty," | began. She
mlstook my action, my words, for af
fection. She came nearer to inc, re.
sponded to my warm clasp, aud then,
overcome by shyness, hid her pretty
curly head on my shoulder. My embar-
rassment momenturily increased "0h,
Hetfy, iletty," | began once more.
Dear Philip" she whispered, in re-
ply to what she deemed affection, II am
SO happy, Philip"
What could do? Tell her it was all
mistake, and thus blight the bright
young life and heart IoreverY In that
one second | made great decision.
My chances Of happiness had fed. l
would sacrifice myself and marry her,
and she should never know the truth |!
bent down and whispered
God bless you, Iletty; l will try
aud make you happy" aud kissed the
wild, teasing, merry girl, now SO gentle,
so winning, so sweet. could not rude.
ly break her heart.
She looked up, aud then hid her face
again on my shoulder, aud cIuug to me
to hide her emotion. Was it not pos
sible to love her :? Ought l not to love
her ! Ought | not to be thankfully Had
married Alice, no, mean proposed to
her-l should ouly have been rejected,
aud gone away miserable; now | had
real, true heart to love mo. Surely,
surely, iu time | might return her al
| fection.
Can you be happy with me, Hctty?g
| asked.
"0h, Philip, indeed | can" she re.
piled.
!" !. ! always feared you laughed at me, "
IonH laughed to hide my feelings"
replied Hetty.
!" am not rich, Hctty," / continued.
will be a careful little wife, Phil.
il" she answered.
" am not worthy Of you,' | said.
Yes, you arc" she exclaimed Z. |
am not worthy Of you
There was no escape for me. She
would not see me in my worst light.
She would love me.
We sat down side by side. She
prattle to me how Alice aud Willie
had long loved each other, but that it
had never been settled thing till now,
for bis position had not been such that
he could marry.
And Alice is SO glad for me-" went
on Hetty, little thinking what my feel.
ings were. She says you're just the
kiud Of man she would like for
brother. You know il would not do for