Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-11-01

appeared, under the porch Of Banskia
roses and clcmati>.
He was attire,l in an easy undress suit
Of veiveteem, WIS tall, wcII-made, and
rather manipulating than strictly
handsome the forehead being a trille
too high, the mouth lrifie too large for
the latter, though these faults were cast
into shade 10y Il long, straight Ha>c, soft,
earliest brown eyes, and Il pair of dark
nut-brnwm, silky m"lI>lachc~.
With Il firm. elastic, yet hurried step,
he FASTENED To the gate, and was ready
to assist Mrs. Lyle PrndrrlcilI tn alight
"Ah, Gerard, :, said the, lady leaning
fondly on his arm, as she walked up the
small drive borIered 10y beds Of gerami-
ums and fuchsias, III fanGled you might
be out. / am rather late"
"Out"' he repeated: al was scarcely
likely to Ike that, mother, considering
that you were TO bring back the answer
to question on which j. staked the
future happiness or misery Of my life"
He bent his eyes eagerly upon her face
as he spoke, apPcarentty expecting she
would regard the remark as an imterro-
CATION, and reply TO it.
But Mrs. Lyle, Iankiug down at the
path, remained silent. Then glancing
toward the glass doors of the drawing
room, that flashed and winked like the
eyes ofa cunning Jester making Il butt
of the approaching sombre twilight,
said, al am glad you have had a fire lit,
Gerard. The evenings are really quite
chilly"
Gerard-Or, according to his right title,
Sir Gerard Penderleith-mad an inn
patient movement Of the shoulders, as
he tossed back the hair from his fore
head; but his companion, pretending not
To perceive it, entered the pleasant draw
ing-room-nut drawing room for high
days and holidays, but "A drawing room
to be sat in with ease and cOmfort-a
drawing-room of soft, luxurious chairs,
couches and ottOmaa, aud with books,
p:ints and flowers readily at hand, to
wlrile away leisure hour,
Mrs. Lyle, removing her bonnet and
shawl, drew a low-arm chair to the fire,
sat down, placed her feet on The bright
steel and gold fender, and then said,
"Gerard, dear, close the door, then come
here, aud ] will tell you the result of my
mission"
"Thank heaven for thatu reioined
her Ann. with some irritation in his
tone. 'You must know, mother, that
every minute seems an age till learm
Lady Penderleith's reply. In pity tell
it me, though your face scarcely bids me
expect good news.
He had flung himself on an ottoman
by her side, his cOuntenance displaying
his emOtiOn; her expression changing to
compassion. The mother, resting her
hand on her sons shoulder, said, affect
ionately, "NTy dear Gerard, if it had
been good news, it would have been
unlike Lady Penderleith. If it had
been good news do you imagine should
have so long delayed the pleasure Of in
forming you? ~
''Then"-and his voice trembled-
''your hesitation was TO break to me the
fact that"
''Lady Penderleith has refused down
right-without reservation; and, i'm all
anger, rejected your suit ~
Gerard's head sank on his breast. His
hand shook as he raised it, covering his
face. For moment, he did not speak.
Then lac said, i'm low, husky tone, ~
feared it--you feared it-and so did my
darling Alma. What reply did you
make ~
THAT if you and Alma chose TO wed
setting her Iadysllip's consent aside
I, for one, would not seek to thwart
your purpose"
"NIy dear, good mother r'-and the
young man, lifted the small hand from
his shoulder, pressed it to his lips
''surely, If Alma lose one parent, she
will find another and kinder one at
ROseden But, how" he inquired,
with proud smile, "did Lady Pender-
leith take so bold an assertion.
"By swearing, in Il tempest Of fury,
that were Alma TO yield, never should
she-her only child-iuherit one shill-
ing!D
] "That is out of herpower to prevent u