The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-06-03

"Yes, 1 know, but I-I-there are cer-
tain circumstances that compel me TO
take this STEP" ...'..t <.
''One thing more, and quite your
presence forever, If you 80 will it; but II
these circumstances of which you speak
did not exist, what thsnf"
"Then there would be none other in
the world for me, but" Nslt
Here he rushed toward her as II about
to seize her hand, but she resslutely
turned around and walked rapidly away
and was soon turning the corner and
was lost to view.f ~f-'i l1a".
How confused shelooked, and what a
guilty feeling she had as she entered
her own door. She remained in her
room just as long as II would possibly
do,- In order to become cool and calm
before she should be ushered into the
august presence of these to whom iron
fate was about to forever bind her. Socn
her mother appeared at her door, to has
ten her l"ggard steps, saying that dinner
weuld soon be announced and that she
must go with her immediately to the
drawing room to be presented. So she
dragged herself along, behind her meth
er, and was soon bowing low before the
immaculate broadcloth Of the Rev. 10
seph Elwood, and to his stately lady
who stood before her like an exclama-
tlon point, atttired in silver gray satin
and daintilv extending the tips of her
fingers. Stella glanced around for the
third party-he that was socn to become
her husband-so to have IL all over at
once, but he was not present, her moth
er explaining that Mr.. Bernard Elwood
had stepped into the library with Alfred,
Stella's brother. The lofty Mrs. Elwood
wore high back comb, and had a stiff
looking curl, pinned up in a very pre-
else WY on each temple, and then she
had such a well bred, high. born ali
about her, apd she and her reverend
liege lord introd CceC such grand, exalt-
ed topics of conversstio,N but Stella had
dropped into the nearest seat In con-
fused and very undignfieI sfYle, ana
did very little toward sustaining tina
conversation. Occasionally she vouth
safed word or two, showing plainly
that she either had no knowledge of or
no interest in the subject discussed, her
mind, in spite of herself, reverting about
every other minute to the scene which
had just occurred on the street corner,
and her heart giving wild tbump al
every sound In the hall as she mo-
mentarily looked for the entrance OF
hopeful scion of this very exemplary
couple. She was not long in suspense.
for presently the door opened, ard she
felt herself in the presence OF her pros
pective lord and master. She rose me-
chanically, her eyes still ON the carpet,
as she heard the Rev. Joseph Elwood
utter in his blandest tones:
"My dear Miss Lawton, this is our
son Bernard, and then she glanced up,
but-great heavens !-Prof. Barotinii >.
mercyl What can it all meanl Both
faces were dyed with the deepest GRIM
son, and Stella sank powerless into the
large reception chair close by. Neither
uttered single word, seemingly struck
dump and tterly paralyzed with amaze
ment and confusion. Both parents
thought that some embarrassment would
be quite natural under the circumstan.
ces, but were wholly unprepared for
such display of emotion that they both
exhibited, as neither the son nor the
daughter had ever evinced such won
derful timidity before. -
How Stella got through that dinner
she never knew, she only knew that at
last they were all gone, and she now had
time to. think. How could she ever
have ever made such mistake. Ger
tainly the resemblance must have been
very strong, or else in the glamor of
footlights and bewilderment of stage
parephernalia she had been greatly de-
ceived in the actual appearance of this
italian she had heard sing the Winter
previous. But now all hope died in her
bosom as she felt that she had lost every
thing by her OWE foolish act. Oh! how
she lid wish over and over again that
she had not yielded to that silly impulse,
for, ofcourse, agentleman who had been
nurtured and drilled in all the minutia
of propriety and decorum would have
nothing to do with a lady who forgot
her reserve and modesty as to so far
overstep all bound ofprudence and good
hvmo dfstfr hxro oannh N l.
OF folly. Her fears found hearty oorro-
boration as the weeks passed by, ana he
came no more to the Lawtons. Soon
she heard that Mr.. Bernard Elwood was
very devoted to Miss Maud Bancroft,
who was great belle. He was often
seen with her, and rumor at length
whispered that they were soon to mar
ry.
He was now rising young lawyer,
and so settled in st. Louis, his parents
having returned to their own home.-
Handsome, accomplished, and Travelled.
1t was no wonder he was the lion of
many fashionable and appreeiative
circle.
Stella was aware of all this, and bore
t with bad grace, condemning herself
bitterly, from day to day, that she had
ndulged in that handkerchief fiirta-
ion," and resolving "a thousand time,
rat she would never, never, use that ar
icle again, except foi The use it was in
ended.
The parents Of both finally concluded
hat they were powerless to influence
hese wayward and obdurats young
ssople, and at last gave 1t up In des
pair. .los . f..,.. rs
Whenever she met Bernard Elwood,
Stella passed him with cold bow, he
-eturniug her salutation in the same
u amer. But she kent lersalf z in sucb .