The Van Buren press., 1872-01-16
MISCELLANY.
Defeated.

"Paul engaged ?"
Eyes lie went with Miss Harland to
the opera last evening, and this morning
he told me that he was engaged.
And then, looking over to where Floy
Percy sat in the pleasMt window, engag-
ed upon bit Of delicate embroidery, she
exclaimed: rtss ... .....
why, Floy, how pale you have
grewnr' Aud Mrs. Forbes went over
to the side of the beautiful girl Come
let me prescribe for you, she said.
What say you to q journey to BARTON,
to see sister Ella?"
Would you like to 60, Floy3' And
Mrs. Percy looked tenderly at her daugh'
| ter ... r.l
The young girls lips quivercd, and
there was look OF mute cntreaty in her
gentle eyes. aag. g
"Then you shalEgo: You can take
the evening express, and reach Elias be
fore it is too late. u ~
"By by, then Elov, l hope you will
have a pleasant journey, and Mrs.
Forbes arose to go.
Laying aside herat lork, Floy fitted
out Of the rosm and VI to the chamber;
and then, burying h4r face in the cush'
ion of an easy chair, she sobbcd piteously
to herself.
"Ah. Psulr' she moaned "And l
have loved you SO! | cannot believe
that you, are false! low can bear
this p lTSTO4A.
As Mrs Forbes tAs | am dee steps OF
the Percy mansioi0fments. the one
word, "Home. to- SUI, N. In; and
then sntsrin mbition, ), :, she
gave vent tf3 @NpracticsN EN >,
Foslishi Z --tent qpoug thofed, half
aloud, and. ..'j9Is aud .ious. tAo thands as
. .hf1 f1YYffh ItN i. W. vii9kks o. b: her !,
CO.., .uvr 'Aa'a, ~ univ, ~. do
va, .nr .sslaidWssss ia at.,R thus And
Paurs note---let mtne .TSit once more
What answer can | mspnsito it3'
Drawing from her pocket folded note
she opened it aud readlm
Miss PERcY--DEAR FLoY 1T was
with many regrets that | was detained
from keeping my appointment with you
last evening; but when you know that
the evening was spent by the side Of
dying friend think that you will for
give me. Ifso, give me the pleasure Of
your company to the opera this evening
As ever, your PAUL.
This note. which would have explain
ed all, never was seen by Floy Percy !;
for, wcmsn-like, Paurs crafty old aunt,
Mrs Forbes, had quickly seen that love
had sprung up in their young hearts,
and in her own base mind, she had re-
solved to estrange the two.
With low laugh she returned the ILL.,
fated note to her pocket. She had a.
ready told one Deliberate falsehood and
when the carriage drew up before Paul
Ellerslis's home, she was ready to tell
another. .4n.. ...s...t .,,
"Yes, nephew; l saw Miss Percy"
Mrs Forbes replied to Paul's inquiry.
She read the note, aud giving it back
to me she said: Give it to Mr. Ellers-
lie, please, and say that I cannot com
ply with his request, Us leave for Bari
ton this evening .... +
Grasping the little note in his hand, he
turned and strode away.
"Cruel, heartlsss girl = he muttercd.
" How could have been SO blind ~
And yet his love for Floy Percy was
deeply rooted in his heart; and, try as
hs might, he could not crush it out. All
day long he wandared silently and aim
lessly over his great house, his heart
convulscd with passion; and all the
while, his plotting aunt was seIiloquzlng
Rleefully over the success Of her plans.
The red September sun was slowly
sinking behind the distant hills, when
Paul Ellerslie ordered his great black
horse to be brought out, and mounting,
he rode at a gallop down the road.
The spirited steed snuffcd the pure
evening air with wide distended nostrils
and arched his proud mock as he felt the
yielding turf rush past beneath his feet |;
and his dazcd rider, half unconscious Of
his wild speed, sat in his saddle, repeat
ing over and over in his mind thelwords :
False! false! All. Floy, l little
dreamed Of this I"
Gradually the shades OF evening fell
around, and soon the twilight had deep
ened into darkness; and still, the horse
few on upon his mad race, his rider en-.
wrapt in his own sad musings, paying no
heed to his thoughts But soon his
speed slsckened. and white with foam
and fatigued BY his long continued efforts,
the steed came down to q slow walk
Suddenly. with wild, unearthly
shrek, a broad glare strcamed upon the
road around the horseman. and rumb.
ling, rushing sound iille,l the air. A mo
ment Of indecision, dreadful shock, and
nothing more.
As the train rushed past, the signal for
breaks came sharp and quick, and In
another moment the train stood motion.
less upon the track, and the passengers
focked forth to learn the cause OF the
sudden halt.
"A man on horseback on the track
We were coming around the curve, and
when | saw him II was too late the en-.
CINE struck him, and threw him on )"