Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-12
CHAPTER VII,

sItbad been the longest, dreariest win
ter That Celia 1Iargraye had ever known.
Not that she looked forward with any
pleasant anticipation of spring-she was
not sensible of looking forward to any
thing with any particular feeling of
pleasure-but because the great stene
walls seemed to shut her in so, and she
had a aneryons sdesire to get away from
Between them, lest sometime she found
herself crushed between them. She
used to have fancy sometimes that
| they were gradually contracting, and
half wild with morbid terror and appre-
hension, she would put shawl over her
and run out into the yard before she
could overcome the impression.
| 1t was therefore with unalloyed pleas
ure that she welcomed Leslie, and in
wartliy resolved that he should not
leave her again. He had been there
nearly a week before she said anything
to him about Agnes Carroll. She was
waiting to see if he would not mention
it. She had resolved to urge the mar
riage Immediately, and have them come
| to- Brent, II 1she would consent. Per-
haps the old house would not seem quite
so terrible then. She waited as long as
she was able, and then she broached
the subject.
"Do you guess what>a nice little plan
have for you, Leslie ?' she said, COM
ing up beside him as he stood looking
off, with dreamy, introspective eyes.
She spoke twice before he answered, and
then he started like one waking out of a
i sleep.
ssWhatv' he said:
She repeated it, adding:
81 have quite set my heart on it,
} s'No, do not guess, what is it?'
81 want you to be married and bring
! Agnes here to stay with me. You have
!, no idea how much L have suffered here
| this winter" she said, shuddering.
"Agnes Carol! will never come to
Brent, Celia"
aBut Agnes Wolcott will, LesIie.''
''There will never be an Agnes Vol,
: cott."
!, "What do you mean, Leslie? You
have not broken with Agnes 20 graspins
E his arm, and looking searchingly in his
$ face. 8sGE
t ssWe have both come TO the conclusion
a that we are unsuited to each other. Sht
Y Chinks me too dreamy and mythical
4 think her too Independent and strong
e minded. "~@
s.Leslie, did you ever love her?
;. have thought sometimes that you dit
: not. How did it happen that you be
$ came engaged?'
| WHY hHOW3 SSAA.
' think, though, that liked her once, be
Il FORE lie checked himself abruptly
d and looked out OF the window.
/ "Before when ?'' she persisted.
: "Before found out my mistake. w
i. will not talk about it any more, Celia
!, please. l shall probably never marry
J. so you can rely upon my company
Ii alone, at the old house,"
vi "Will you stay, Lcslie?" she asked
st eagerly.
y II don't know. 1 suppose ought
do something-everybod is expected
il in this prosaic age" with little grin
,e ace of disgust.
IN "What dreamy, indolent fellow yo
$. are, Leslie" she laughed. ''You al
=. sadly out of place in this practical. g
le ahead, money making land. But yo
le need not trouble yourself about 'doinl
l. anything if you will only stay in Bren
N There are only you and /, Leslie, and
of have enough for both; say you will sta
with me, or l shall be tempted to leaN
~ Brent altogether, for cannot, nor wi
la not stay here and undergo what ] hay
IdI this w,ntef, again, o2siie said, with de
IN pairing vehemence.
ss He looked down into her face, notir
C. for the first time how much cider az
ne sadder it looked, and with a little fec
10 ing of pity for her loneliness, as we'll
m q natural repugnance to exertioh on h
he Town part, he said briefly:
ls "I viii stay In Brent, Celia"