The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-01-02
Written for the Standard
DOWN BY THE RIVER SIDE.
BY CONSTANCE CARLETON.
Chapter XIV.

She had told him more than once that
there was no longer any necessity of his
teaching her. that she would try to study
the language alone. Conway smiled at
this, and begged to be allowed to keep
his position as her instructor,
Il shall go away soon" he would say.
Hefattered himself that he was grad
ually winning her affections. One less
conceited than he, would have sur
missed that in those frequent reveries,
that called such a dreamy, far away look
| to her eyes, there was no thought of
himself, but another. But with Conway
it was different; he had been fattered so
much in society that it seemed an impos-
sibility that this country maiden could
fail to be fascinated by him. And when
he saw that she was not SO lighthearted
as when he first knew her, and that she
seemed more thoughtful, he said, exult-
ingly:
She loves me; indeed 1 cannot fail to
win her after the work of all these
weeks"
Kate no longer dislil1ed him; his kind
ness to her, and the fact that her uncle
and aunt thought good deal of him,
made her forget her old antipathy toward
him.
One morning when they were in the
little sitting-room, Aunt Betty was called
out to superintend some domestic affairs
and they were left alone Kate was
reading aloud from Corinne (who that
has studied French has not read Co
rinneO Conway seated near her at the
table was listening attentively, stopping
her occasionally to make some remark
about the story, or to correct her accent.
At length she read those impassioned
words of the heroine:
Ie suis Hbre, etyje cous ainae, conanee il n al
jaeais Annie" when Conway seized her
hand and exclaimed:
"Ah Kate, if you would but say those
words to me-"
She looked at him in astonishment.
lyon are jesting, Mr.. Conway" she
said coldly, and drawing her hand away,
attempted to go on with her reading
But her companion took the volume from
her hand and closing it, threw it on to
neighboring chair.
81 am not tjesting; is it possible that
yon have been blind all this time, or is
this surprise feigned, one of the arts of
a coquette?'' and without waiting for
reply, he continued
81 want you to be my wife. 1 have
had many firtations, but you are the |
only woman 1 ever really wanted to mar
ry. What is your answer, Kate?
He was calm now, as one who is sure
of success. Her face was averted, and |
she returned no answer. It was the sud-
denness of the avowal that paralyzed her I
tongue, not excessive love for himself, as
Conway imagined.
"Come petite, say that yes that is al
ready trembling on your lips. Or if you
would rather be silent, your silence I'll
take for consent"
The young girl arose to her feet. and
said:
Il am very sorry for this, Mr.. Conway,
but my conscience cannot reproach me,
rs don remembar of ever having CIV
en- you reason to think that I love you.
Y You have been very kind to me, and l
thank you for it, but l cannot repeatwith
truth all the words of Corinne. The first
could say, that / am free, but that L
ove you as I. have never loved, is not
the case, nor do entertain for you any
feeling than friendship"
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet,
Bertram Conway could not have been
more amazedr He had been refused;
MS handsome fortune, his handsome per-
son, had been actually refused by little
girl, who had never in her life
been outside of her own county. 1t was
for this he had so patiently plotted, for
this he had dec eived his best friend
"You know not what you are talking
Of girl, he said passionately. Il can give
you everything that money can buy.
Do you prefer to drag out your existence
in this secluded place, and perhaps some
lay to occupy the enviable position of a
farmers ,oJe ?"
81 shall probably never marry" said
Kate, quietly. LAS to dragging out my
existence here, l was happy enough be-
'ore you came; what is to prevent my
being so when you leave?
Conway was desperate, now that there
seemed te be some doubts as to his win
ming her, she seemed doubly dear to him.
"But, Kate, consider the matter you
10 love me, am sure; if you only
step sounded on the gravel walk out
side, and they saw Mr.. Leonard's old
straw hat pass the window. Conway
iercely muttered an oath, and hastily
up book, appeared absorbed
in the contents, when the old man en-
tered.
Mr. Leonard's face, usually so ruddy
md smiling was now pale and sad, and
he had an air of the deepest detection.
lie sank into a chair, and laying his arms
On the table, he laid his head upon them
in an attitude of exteme grief Kate
FASTENED to his side, and asked in alarm
"What is the matter papa, are you ill2'
He looked up, and his first words
would have caused smile to appear on
the face of an outsider. They were:
Isaac Moore has busted up" and he
let his head fall into its original position.
Conway, under the impression that the
old gentleman had reference to a steam
boat was about to inquire how many
were killed, when Kate exclaimed, sor-