The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-04-28

ohCuSh W diaAC UP iOE tue iHck Oh
money and social position in the cir
cles where Josephine had so sud-
denly found admission, and wherein
even already she seemed to be 80
much at home. gsi
The two who had been lovers met
no more that time. Josephine re-
turned home to her parents during
the winter, but Walter did not even
then see much Of hor. He was in
deed q good deal in London and he
avoided her. Nothing was said OF
their old engagement. It had ap-
parently passed so entirely out Of tho
world Of realities that poor Walter
thought it would be piece of pre-
sumption on his part il he were even
to offer to release Josephine Ascot
from it. "This long time" he
thought TO himself. bitterly, "it has
been practically at an end. She
would think it an offence il / were TO
remind her in any way that it ever
had an existence. She only wishes
me to forget it,"
Mrs. Selby Glare had evidently
taken quite a fancy to Josephine
She sem for her in the winter, and
made her come to Nice. Josephine's 8
father and mother had not the spirit
TO refuse. They said it would only
stand in the way Of the child's ad-
yancement. They were very good
people in the negative, harmless,
sense; but they utterly failed TO un-
derstand that their child night have
higher interests to advance than any
which the capricious favor Of rich
old woman could make or mar.
Josephine had many admirers, but
as yet not many suitors. There was,
indeed, something too uncertain
about the basis Of her future to
satisfy the prudent young men Of the
West End when they came to con-
slider the matter seriously and closely.
But she met at Nice with q wealthy
and influential mana leading part
ner in banking house, and member
of parliment, who could probably be
in high Office if he liked, and who
had lately been made a baronet.-
This gentleman fell in love with her;
kept up his love for her when he and
she returned to London, and early
in the season proposed to her, tell
ing her frankly that her personal
fortune was not q matter Of any i'm
portance or consideration whatever
TO him. Now Josephine was not by
any means in love with Sir John
Riddle not tho least in the world in
love with him. He was more than
forty years old, and she was only
just twenty; he was q steady man,
who seemed older than he really was.
She did not love him, and she did
not feel as il she ever could. But
then there was no one else-in socie-
ty-whom she loved or cared at alb
about. OF the many brilliant, hand
some young men whom she often
met around her. not one had touch
ed her heart. For she had heart;
and the more she mingled in society,
now that the startling novelty and
dazzling gloss of the thing were wear
ing off, the more she began to yearn
after some sensation deeper and more
real than that of variety and graf
ifed vanity and socal display. She
did think OF Walter sometimes-of-
tener than she cared to-and she
sometimes doubted whether in losing
him she had not lost all. But she had
lost him she did not know even
where he was; and there was no use
in thinking of the past any more
She might as well marry Sir John
Riddell; the marriage would make
her rich; she might do anything she
pleased for her family; she would be
Lady Riddell; aud what delightful
sensation it'would be to drive in her
carriage through the streets of her
native town, and be known as Lady
Riddell! So she thought she had
! better accept Sir John Riddell.
Mrs. Selby Clare thought SO, too,
and reminded Josephine that she
had not penny of her own, and on
ly dependeo for o fortune on her,
Mrs. Selby Clare. II am very fond
of you," said tae old lady, "but then
| we may quarrel some day. I am ca
pricious, and am a woman; SO are
you, and we may fight ut any mo-
ment; and / really think you had bet
ter secure yourself at once against
oil chances.
So Josephine Ascot accepted the
proposal of Sir John Riddell, and
was to become Lady Riddell in few
months. And she received many
congratulations, and she congratula-
ted herself q great deal, telling her.
self over and over that it was like q
dream, and picturing to herself the
magnificent future kind fate had
prepared for her; and she was very
brave and exultant all day in society.
But at night, in her room alone, and
in her often sleapless bed. her spirits
gave way. her hopes turned into sad
ghosts, crowding around her, and
| she shed a great many bitter tears,
and longed for the day, light, society
and the animal spirits again.
The weeks and months went by
and it was once more drawing toward
the close of the season. One night
there was brilliant reception, OF
conrefsdzione, in the rooms of one Of
the great scientific societies, and Sil
John Riddell, who took some inter
est in science, was there, and SO were
Mrs. Selby Clare and Josephine As
cot. The rooms were crowded, and
all the celebrities of science, letters
art, politics, and travel were gather
ed together. Even Josephine will
all her present WEAKNESS of mind
, felt some interest in looking arount