Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-07-12

did not yet unfold 1t. '-You are quite s
sure you would like inc to read il r. she !
said slowly. 4
.'Oh, yes, please - was the eager an.
swer, aud then Ida did read IL from be
ginning to end. Af.er which she folded {
II up very carefully, and laid il on the
table, saying merely, "Well :"
II was no emotion In her voice, and yet
something there that reminded poor tact
less Nora, Too late, that it could hardly
have been pleasant letter for the disin-
hcrited Miss Lamarque to read.
"Oh, am so sorry IL idn'tthink-"
she began TO mend matters, then hurried
on breathlessly to drown her timidity-
"Lida, dear don't be Oliended-I'ye so
citen wanted to say lt-you know you've
ever so much more right to all this money
than !, and If you'd only share 1t with
me should be so much happl-"
glance of Ida broke the sentence |
short. Her lips were compressed, and, |
the dark eyes glittered like fire out of the |
pale face.
81 would sooner starve than accept |
your charity" said she, aud turned |
abruptly to the door. But there she
stopped, and, coming hack, put her hand
an instant on NOra's. "YOu meant II
kindly" she said. 81 thank you for the
intention, and we will forget the rest"
But hand and voice were alike chilling.
"she minds the money 80 muchl"
thought Nora looking after her with eyes
| full Of tears. "Oh, dearl | almost wish
she had 1t all, and va back again at
Birch Hill. / don't think | am so much
happier for being rich" And, certainly,
the sobs that choked her were not very
eloquent witnesses of felicity.
Unfortunately, too, Adrian Glare did
not prove wholly consolation. IT only
she could have understood one hundtedth
psrt of what he talked about; if only
feeling her own awkwafdness increased
by his graceful courtesy, she had hot
Redeemed with confused idea of being
uuizzed, when he offered her the little at
tenIions which are the merest common
places of society; in short, had not his
companioaship made her feel like II creR-
ture of another species, she might have
appreciated ani enjoyed ii. Her CON
straint was not lessened by remembering
the projected marriagescheme did Mr..
Clare know of ii, ,toOi she wondered; hard
w. il would seem, from the periec. uncon-
sciousness of his manner.
He did know, however, ard his feelings
, in the matter may be gathered from II
scene which took place one morning he
tween him and Ida Lamarqc. They
{ were by chance alone together for the
I first time since his return. on which
, score, indeed he was reproachine her.
I "Avoid you ~ she repeated, looking
I at him with a calm surprise. "Excuse
, me, Mr. Glare, but really Why should
trouble myself to do that 2"
= He bit his lips her Inconsistencies
q was ftinging beyond anything else.
c sYou might have feared" he answered,
= "that should remind you Of something
Z you would apparently rather forget
: "You are extremity mysterious" she
d said, with q half laugh, "but if you
think ! would rather forget it, whatever
o il may be, suppose we let it pass
s "Miss Lamaique-Lid !" he cried
driven beyond endurance, ''you mus
II know what | mean. From our fir
o meeting, have loved you, and hoped on
IS day to make you my wife"
d "Mr. Clare" she intcrposet, quietly
le drawing away the hand he had caught
" "have ever spoken one word to encour
l. age those feelings l'n
1t .'Spnken hO," said he, after hewil
dered pause, "but words are not all.
d have dreamed-no surely il could no
Iy have been all a dream - And then h
m began again TO plead his cause with ri
r. the art of which he was master-an
N which produced as much effect on III
Or girl who listened, as on the china sheE
We herdess at her elbow.
le "Mr. Clare" she said, "ietus end this
ID | am sorry for any mistakes, whethe
AS yours or mine, in the past, and will tax
care there shall he none IN the iutur
of do not know that there Is more can Sd
to except to thank you for the honor yG
a have done me-" she concluded, with
lis slight smile.
up He looked at her almost incredulousl
&c but there was not the slightest sign OF !
lenting in the calm pale face turned full
ar tuWal d him.
We "Then you are utterly heartless y
cd exclaimed, startidg forward, 'you ha'
lot never cared for me"
r.; "You forget that is my Justification
as need one. But, il il is any satlslacIi'
in to you to think me heartees, do So
ret shall not deny it," In speaking, she hi
lf, moved toward the door, where she turn
ay and said "GOOd morning, Mr.. ClaT
ell If YOU are wise, you will forget these Ia
est cles-and me-as soon rs possible.
ler With which she left him alone.
rly That was the girl he had loved 1T
an girl he could have sworn loved mn
re. And he was no coxeOmh, ready to Hat
,
eat woman. IL was only vanity that smart
Re now, hnt the deepest feelings of his '
asst ture--wounded love and trust that stu
lld ned him at first. But pride and ans
we came to his aid he steadied himself a
in- wnlked away with q firm step resolN
cry that. if she had been ahla to cause h
hat suffering, she should at least never graf
eX- herself with any further evidences OF
Through the gdrden-door' standi
ed, ouen from the hall, he perceived NJ
ing moving about among the flower beds
watching her all unconscious OF ohser
cen tion, for the first time perceived her
OF lurai grace unconstrained into awkwa
lm- ness by the fear of being awkwu
TO Obeying a sudden impulse, he joined l
II Her color deepened as he came up
On 81 have been getting such lovely rose
my said she, not knowing what else to
Gun 'Iu $50 perceive" he said, hut It was
,,',ii LII at her hands he glanced.
"ni 81 suppose you don't care an
10 flowers" she continued, after sh
''ho W embarrassed pause -.
pe, IThat depends" he answered smill
seeS "I should decidedly care about ont
QUIZ these. If YOU will chose it for me.
own Morn was delighted. She threw
WIN contents of both hands pell-mell on I
lPpl- den scat, and together they turned II
eslre over. talking all the While, until, by
lonS time the selection was made, Nora
n cnatting with the prettlest unreserVe,
NO; betrayed much more of her real sell
iOr she had any idea OF. When Mr., [
ic y 70 lifted his hat at the end of their !
JAIN JAIN hours conversation, he said, with an
IL smile
uls- 81 am charmed to have made you
niy duaintance this morning, Miss N
CT W After this, shall not submit to he sci
Coventry any more.
anl Nora did not understand the allni
lou but she caught the spirit OF the We
9o1 and hlushed again, as she hoped her
> ~ ! Die talk had not seemed very silly TO
IL Is elegant Young gentleman. And then
iault gnthered the flowers together again,
w iu ran into the house, more IKE lhe olu
cou.u than she had been since the day
own she made II trembling toilet In the !
haps, of unacetistomed luxuries while a.
salhst Glare walked away, with her rose !
'pertS button-holc, and a wholly new lhouh
suen the giver in his mind. During
il not weeks that he had known Of the ~
Dncie tion attached to MIR. Wuterslon's
g any the uossibiiity of fulfilling 10 had
once seriously occurred To hlnl' l'
h had Ida US he did entirely, ana
ore il ing in the chance helress
Ia one an uniformed, awkward dairy
s, aud upbappily lifted by Fort
came caprice out Of her proper sphere
now,' he said to himself, Us he q
If the his heel into the gravel, why sho'
ie bot not profit by Miss lahaI9ue y