The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-08-10

lVluIHtN llDlut. t I'D.
~ refused my breakfast, aud locked,
myself IN my room all day, not even
appearing Mt dinner,
"That evening, however | bathed
my swollen eyes, dressed myself With
all my usual care, aud went down 10
the parlor where, greatly 10 my sur
prise, / found Martin Coleman among
the gentlemen guests for the evening,
He did not come near me, but devoted
himself during his stay TO npale, gentle
girl who wasa warm friend OF mine,
and ward Of my fathers. Sweet
Emma Leslie, she died more than
twenty years ago of Il, broken heart.
After they had all goile Emma came
TO my room, and told mo how unhappy
Martin was how dearly he loved me,
and asked me why | had so cruelty tri-
fled with him. did not dare TO tell
her only did II to please my father,
30 laughed lightly, though my heart
was well nigh breaking, and told her
thought he would survive 1t. She
looked Mt mea moment, with aworld
of wonder and reproach in her blue
eyes, then left me without even the
usual good night. n.
~ threw myself all dressed rs was,
upon the bed, and cried long and bit
terly over my unwilling falsehood to
one loved so entirely. 1t was many
weeks before spoke more than pass
ing word to Martin, though he spent
every evening at our house. He told
his grief over and over to Emma,
whose gentle heart mourned his hard
fate, though she seldom pleaded his
cause with me. al TLnH
"While we We're engaged Martin had
taken a popular magazine for me, and
still received il every month. One
morning, about six weeks after | had
discarded him, sat in the parlor, read
ing the November number of the book,
which | had just received. | was
deeply buried in the cushions Of n large
arm chair, and was enjoying the
warmth Of n blazing fire that glowed
and sparkled filing the room with
bright, rosy light Emma Leslie
came in and leaned over my chair
as | read. It. was n tale of
troubled love that engrossed my atten-
ton and mt the conclusion of the story
| closed the magazine and leaned back
in my chair, absently caressing Emma's
hand, which lay in my own. She lean
ed her cheek against mine and said,
"Poor Martin will be here Tonight,
Nelly. Do give me one kind word for
him" Withoutfhought ofanythihg
save my greltrove for him, opened
the magaz1N, and rapidly turning tie
pages oc<the story | had just read,
markM passage expressing regret,
rax(Drsc, tore, and writing in the mag
1Nne the words show him this /
laid the book on her lap and left the
room as Martin Coleman's steps sound
ed in the hall. OF course / expected an
atfcctionatc reply. did not 80 down
to the parlor again, but remained in
my room, full of happy visions of the
morrow.
~ had no opportunity of speaking
alone with Emma until the next after
noon, when | asked her what Martin
said when she showed him the lines |
had marked. She told me he said if
he could trust me he would answer
them. | was thoroughly indignant,
and when lac came that night recciv-
ed all his advances with studied cold
ness and reserve. OF course, all this
only made the gulf between Us wider
than ever, and three weeks more Of
unhappincss rolled away. My father
now told me that If | did not forbid
Martins visits to the house he would,
and | conveyed this order to him as my
desire, not as my fathers. At first he
was very angry, and / thought ] oblit-
Grated all his love for me- he was so
cold and distant when we Glanced to
meet.
'One night was to attend lecture to
be delivered by distinguished orator
A neighbor, with whom | was a favor
lite. had obtained tickets for himself,
his wife and me--so he told me, child
and wished me to go with them:
When we reached the lecture hail and
had taken our seats, Martin Coleman
came up and placed himself near us.
1t was not long until he leaned over my
chair and asked my permission to wait
on me to my carriage.
81 consented, and when he said good
night at the carriage door, he pressed a
a letter in my hand, which | quickly
concealed i'm the bosom of my dress.
at was years afterward, child, before
| knew that Martin Coleman bought
the tickets and hired the carriage that
took ne to the lecture, in order to see
me and give me his letter. Are you
asleep, Etlie!"
"No, indeed, grandma; please go
on.u
DWELL, we went home, and mother
and father wanted TO know all about
the lecture, and how i was pleased
with it. said ] would just run up
stairs, put away my cloak, and come
back in five minutes to tell them all
about it.
az locked my door as soon as |
reached my room, and sat down to
read his precious letter can not tell
now what was in it, but ] reinemberit
all seemed very sweet and beautiful
10 me, and he said he would be at
church the next Sunday, and begged
me to bring him one little line, prom
sing him an explanation Of my
strange. cruel conduct toward him.
81 hid away my treasured letter, ana
ran dOWU StailS uSuili w t"ih w haS
parents, as had promised. ,.1
"The next morning Emma Leslie
came into my room, and with her bluel
ewes full of tears, eXclaimed:.
"Oh! Nelly, here is something Uncle
Harry said | must never let you gee
but have been miserable ever since
he frightened me into telling you
story about it,"
She burst into passionate weeping,
and gave me the magazine ! had
marked for Martin. He had written
all around the margin of the page
warm, loving words, full of grief at our
estrangement, and loving hope for the
future. tantai. 1
'The tears came into my eyes when /
thought of my GOODNESS TO him on the
Y u. a In. rnnntEaH