Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-04-06
SaIes s sheteges.
a EOIsTUSATE BEUNDER.

whats that you say, Hayden The
Bolton Bank broke 1t can't be posi-
Bile ~
And Frederick Wells, who had been re-
clning in one chair, with his feet resting
on the back of another, the very picture of
indolent enjoyment, sprang to his feet, tip
ping over his chair, ard sending the cigar
he was smoking to the further end of the
room.
YES it is; it is here in the paper, as
you can see for yourself. But what is it to
you? Did you have anything invested
there -
NO but Miss Neal had-which amounts
TO about the same thing"
An air of intense Chagrin ovcrspread his
handsome, though rather efleminatc fea-
lures, as he read the paragraph to which
his companion pointed.
"Contound it," he mutterGd, ''it's al
ways my luck to have my dish tipped just
when it's full Though | must say, it it's
got to come, that I'm glad it happened the
month before our marriage
Charles Hayden, n young man whose
features, though less regularly formed,
were expressive Of far more manlness and
goodness OF heart, gazed at the speaker
with an air of undisguscd astOnishment.
why so, Wells you surely did not
seek the hand Of Miss Neal simply for her
money f'
"Well, no; l can't say that. She is
most lovely and charming woman aud it
really cuts me to the heart to give her up.
But then l am too poor to afford such
luxury. And Miss Neal can no more af-
ford to marry poor man than | n poor
girl. SO we're about even.n
And have you not thought of the pain
that your desertion will inhct upon the
heart you have won," said Hayden in n
tone Of suppressed Indignation.
softly, my dear fellow" said Wells,
who had resumed his former comfortable
position, and was soacing himself with n
fresh cigar. Il hardly think that it will
be any such q desperate affair to Miss Neal,
as You suppose. Indeed, I've thought
several times of late, that had it not been
for her toolishly high idea of the binding
nature of such II promise, she would have
broken the cnga cement herself"
And knowing this you would have held
her to its iuliilment."
Not being sufficiently disnterested to
refuse the gift of fifty thousand dollars |
rather think | should"
You are not worthy of true-hearted
! like Ellen Neal !" was the indignant re-
sponse.
"rheu so much the better for her, that
| should leave her to be appropriated by
some one that is-you for instance. 1t
strikes me that you used to be somewhat
interested in that quarter now is the
time, old fellow, for you TO so in and win. -
Charles Hayden scarcely felt or heard
the covert sneer in these words, so much
was he engrossed with the newborn hope
that had sprung up III his heart, and which
I IA 10 81.
| ly.
$50 you are to be married next month
my dear ?' said Mr., Thornly to his ward,
Ellen Neal.
"Yes, | believe So" was the rather in-
different reply.
Mr.. Thornly Studied his wards face for
| a moment with his keen eyes.
u don't believe you care two straws for
| Frederick Wells"
'Oh not 50 bad as that, guarde,n said
Ellen with faint smile; Though | have
! sometimes feared that l don't give him the
affection that he deserves. lie seems to
be very strongly attached to me-"
"lumph my opinion of Frederick
! Wells is, that he is too much in love with
his own handsome face to be very much
attached to any woman"
| "Y gu are too severe. Any way, have
/ promised, and cannot break my word"
"Oh, no, certainly not far better break
| your heart"
81 don't believe I've got any," was the
/ laughing rejonder. "If have I've never
been able to discover it. Never fear for
me, guardie dare say l shall be as hap
py with Frederick as with any one."
Yet in spite of these lightly spoken
words, there rose up before her mental vi
sion one with whom she knew she could
be far happier. But even if she had been
! free to choose, how did she know that he
would choose herY True, she had some
| times fancied--but what right had she to
indulge in such fancies
When Mr.. Thornly reached his Office he
found Frederick Wells waiting to see him
who said with an air of constraint, not to
say embarrassment, not at all remarkable,
when we consider the awkward errand on
which he came.
~ heard of Miss Neal's misfortune last
evening, sir, and assure you with deep
regret"
miss Neal's misfortune What the
deuce dye mean 2'' said the old gentle