The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-03-06


what aronsel him, Ny sister, darc say /
exclaimed Mrs Frazer
lIrr sister, Possibly his MARY might I
lee The brunette. aud vet There i
were but three females present On that
fatal evening, besides Mrs Puekford dat
be distinctly remembered sud perhaps
vain hope the door opened, aud the bru- /
ncttg and two gentlemen entered Mr.
aud Mts Holland and Mrs. Arthur
Gray.
All illusion was now over. lie, Robert
Simpson, wealthy tradesmsu, respected
hshmongeF, aud common councilman,
was the betrothed husband OF red-hair'
ed lafnscl with decided east, With
whom, moreover, be had never cxchang'
ed sentence His first impulse, as the
certainty of lis miserable tate flashed M.
on him, was 20 strangle Alfred Gray, out
OF hand, as the author OF his destruction,
when, fortunately, another rap-tap arrest
ed his fell intent.
Miss Fortcsrce, at last said Mrs Frazer
as If announcing glad tidiugs.
Oh calculated the accepted ~nitor.
dropping ueryously back into the seat
from which be had just riscn-Oh'
lie was seized with -ort Of vertigo;
and what occurred, o. Aow hc behaved
for considerable interval, he never dis.
tinctly remembered. lie was, however, 1
soon seated at the table by the side Of his |
ailiauced bride, aud Mr., Pncktord saving
grace. This was the actual state Of affairs
but poor simpsons impression at that
moment was, that he had been led out 30 .
a sudden execution by an enormous sack |.
kelch, with red hair aud a ifightiul
sQuint, and that his friend Pnckiord
was the chaplain, reading the funeral SER
vice. Gradually, however, his brain
cleared he grew more collected, and,
considering the suddeuncss of the shock !
he had endured rallied wonderfully, aud
was enabled to address few words to
Miss foneseue IN cheerful voice and
manner. The lady's answer was uttered
in the gentlest, sweetest tones he had ever
listened TO, and Mr., simpson was a CON
noisseur in voices. The conversation
continued, became general, and the din
ner, commenced SO inauspiciously passed |
of remarkably well.
After dinner Miss Fortescuc appeared
TO great advantage friends, who
greatly esteemed her generously drawing
forth her powers. Her mind, of a super
ior order, had been we'll cultivated, and
her conversation was at once refined,
sparkling and sensible. Mr., Simpson
was surprised, pleased, almost charmed.
Music was proposed, aud she sang sever
al songs admirably. Mr., Simpson deter
mined to postpone his explanation
necessarily an unpleasant one--til the
next day, when lac would do IL by letter.
The party departed about nine O'Clock,
long before which it had several times
glanced across the ironmonger's mind
that a dislike of any particular colorod
hair was, after all, very absurd preju-
dice; as to the cast, that, he was satis-
fed, was SO slight as to scarcely deserve
| the name.
1t had been arranged that they should
all dine with the Frazers the day after
the next; and as Mr.. Simpson handed
u
Mary into the cab, in which Mr.. and Mrs.
Frazer were already seated, she whisper
ed, Oblige nae by coming on Sunday half
an hour before the time appointed; /
have something Of Importance to say &c
1 you. Mr.. Simpson bowed, and-how
could he do lessY-raised the lady's hand
to his lips. The carriage drove off, aud
the worthy mau was left in the most per-
| picking state Of dubity aud irresolntioD
/ imaginable. lie began TO think he had
gone too far 10 recede with honor; aud,
what was very extraordinary, he felt
scarcely sorry for il, At all events, he
would not act rashly. sunday was not
/ far Off; he wonld defer his explanation
! till thea.
/ Mr., Simpson, PGnetua TO his engage
ment, found Miss Foiloseue awaiting him
alone. iIe felt on this occasion none of
/ the violent emotions he had experienced
on the previous Friday. His heart, in.
stead Of knocking and humping like a
Gagged wild thing, beat TRANQUILITY Ia his
bosom; yet it was not without a calmly
pleasurabe emotion he met the confding,
graceful smile which beamed, on bis en-
/ trance, over the lady's features. Seating
/ himself beside her, he with respectful
genilehess requested her 10 proceed with
the matter she wished to communicate.
She blushingly complied, and speedily
beguiId him, if not Of his tears, which !
am not quite sure about, Of something
under the circumstances far more yalua-
Bile. Her family, not many years before
IN afliueut circumstances, had been, By
reverses in trade. suddenly cast down IN
extreme poverty The only surviving
members Of Il, her mother aud Youngest
sister bad been long principally depend
emf on ber exenions for support. The
assistance she had fortunately been able
10 render had hitherto utiieed iof them:
but, of course, II .he married, lhnt source
Of income musl fall. aud -he never. till
surprised by his grner0u- offer, couiem.
plated nafrisRc~bul .he was even now
fully resolved never to do-nnlees -..
MARY fortescue parsed Ia her narrative,
and ber titnid iuquiriug glance rested
anxioa.ly upon the varying eonnienanee
oi her auditor.
Mr simpson was not nade OF aaamant