The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-04-28
THE MARSHES.

Il really am determined, as l hav
already remarked" and the youn
lady certainly looked very determine
indeed, as she stood firmly planted o.
her two little feet by the window, AM
drummcd emphaticalIy on the pane.
John Rutledge stood just benin,
her, and looked at her in half-sad
half-amused condition ofmind; look
ed at her, too, SO earnestly, that sh
presently flushed up to the tips of he
ears, and turned upon him like tor
mented kitten.
T wish you would not stand staring
at me so, Mr.. Rutledge; it's very un
pleasant.
The young man flushed in his turn
tor her tone was unmistakably il
earnest, and he said, 81 will not lOol
at you, Miss Gordon, since it annoy!
you-although 1 had no intention o.
staring, as you term it; besides,
know very well why you will not &C
with u.s."
Do you? Well, I'm sure l dom
care. l don't go because l dom
choose to go. suppose can do as
like"
81 perceive the real reason for your
not going coming up the steps," re-
joined Rutledge; $50 1 will not trou.
BILE you any longer. Good morning
Miss Gordon" And stepping to the
door, he took his hat and passed out
just as q servant admitted a tall, styl.
ish gentleman, at whom he certainly
stared with anything but friendly
glance.
Lille Gordon had started forward
at his last remark, but, seeing from
the window its occasion, she held her
tongue, and awaited the entrance OF
the visitor in very disturbed frame
of mind. .-.. ......
The gentleman entered the parlor
unannounced, as though be were IA
miliar with the premises, and accosted
Lille warmly before taking seat by
her side.
| She was SO evidently perturbcd by
something that lie remarked upon it ;
but obtaining no satisfaction, he pres
emily said, 81 have 10 leave town this
afternoon on unexpected business,
and shall remain away couple of
days: so VIC will have to postpone
our ride"
"Oh, WELL" replied thc'yOuDg lady,
"icis of no consequence can go ON
the excursion which l intended to
give up for the ride. l dare say l
shall enjoy myself quite as WELL"
This reply was certainly not calcu-
lated to crafty the young man, and
its effect was quite perceptiblc. lie
shifted his position uneasiIy. 81 am
really very sorry, Lille, but | must
go to Boston by the three o'clock
train. Is that-Rutledgc fellow going
on the excursion ?"
"Really, George, don't keep any
account Of the movements of that
Rutledge fellow as you elegantly
term him; and cannot see what his
going or not going can have to do
with yOu-or me-"
"WcIl, excuse me. | am always so
annoyed when | meet him here that
can hardly restrain myself. Let us
drop him. Now about that ride:
this is Wednesday, and l shall be
back by Friday. Suppose we take il
then ?"
Lille laughed-a pretty, coquettish
laugh enOugh-and rising, said, "Wait
till Friday comes! L never could
make up my mind half so far ahead !;
and, besides, your important business
might detain you in Boston, you
know. would not like you to break
two engagements with me the same
week."
"You are too hard with me, Lille
but l see lou are not in a pleasant
mood this morning, so l must sub
nit" - ---.s,n
No woman likes to be told she is
not in pleasant mood, and Lille
showed her entire disapproval of the
remark by rising, making very
SWEEPING and certainly graceful bow,
and saving, GOOD morning, Mr..
Hartley. A pleasant journey to you,
and d pleasant mood to me when you
return" And then she disappeared
through the door, and ran singing up
stairs.
Mr.. Hartley sat for moment look
ing decidedly agrieved; and then,
with mutter of something which he
never learned in the catecIism, pos
sessed himself of his hat and cane,
and departed.
Lille Gordon had not been spoiled,
but she had been permitted by her
parents to remain just sufficiently un-
der the control of her animal spirits
and her little willful ways to keep her
out of the influence of any other con-
troll whatsoever.
She was now eighteen; and having
followed her own guidance in the
matter of her love affairs as she al
ways had i'm most others, she had en-
gagged herself to Mr.. George Hartley,
and informed her father of the fact,
to that worthy gentleman's great dis
satisfaction. Not that there was any
thing against the person in question,
who was well known in society, and
who was currently reputed to be pos
sesscd of independent means, arising
from q large inheritance well invest
cd. But Mr.. Gordon was business
man. a merchant i'm high standing,
and he did not relish the idea of Civ
ing his only daughter to an idler-Onc
who, confessedly, was engaged in 10
pursuit whatsoever, other than the
lavish expenditures of his large in
come. Mrs. Gordon was nOncnti ty,
except in the fashionable world and
after dropping few tears over her
daughters willingness TO leave the
family roof she subsidized into a gen.
tic cOmmiseratiOn of herself rs much
aggrievcd parsonage, and relieved her
mind by loudly bOasting the many
virtues of appearance and purse of
her daughters choice.
John Rutlcdge occupied the rather
disagrceablc position of a lover who
had never dared TO acknowledge him
self, yet could not tear himself away
from the object of his regards, though
he was forced to consider her as the
property of another. AS he had
never spoken, Lille tolerated him
especially as the rising young
artist, whose name was OH every
body's tongue in society, was not by
any means a disagreeable companion
at art-rcccptions and in the studios.
The engagement was, after all, mat
ter of very late date; and as Mr..
Hartley was obliged to be away from
town portion of every week on i'm
portant business connected with his
investments in New England, and as
John Rutledge was an old acquain-
tance, and ''everybody's FRIEND there
had been as yet none of the scandal
cnSfnnaI.U in Such co COS ON nccoI,nf Of