The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1873-12-26

rived tins morning from the country"
"The deuce!' said Tom; "they
haunt me wherever go" and he re-
| tired precipitately to his own den.
Bring me something to eat here,
Simms; and don't let Miss Leigh know
that am in the house."
By the time he had finished his lunch
his mind was made up. Selecting a
hugely crested sheet of stiff note-paper,
so as to give the document an official
elbows, and commenced to write.
The following epistle was the result
of his efforts
! MY DEAR MISS LEIGH For the first time 1
| address you, personally, though you doubtless
| must have been for some time aware of the
| link which in some way connects us. The
| time has now arrived when our decision must
| be made in regard to our future-whether we
| shall go through life together or separate at
once forever. I will not conceal from you,
my dear Miss Leigh, that for some years Ihave
looked on you as my destined bride, and have
| considered myself fortunate in the prospect
| of an alliance with one of whose beauty and
| goodness l have heard so much. 1t is but
| quite recently that have discovered that my
| heart is no longer mine to dispose of, and l
| now feel that to urge you to fulfill our engage
ment would be to insure life of misery for
personal interview, which would only cause un-
| necessary embarrassment. AS to Hillngdon,
1 resign it to you willingly, feeling sure that
you would make a better mistress than I
should master.
Trusting, then, some day to meet you as the
bride of some one more worthy to possess You
than myself, I am, my dear Miss Leigh your
sincere friend,
THOMAS CURzoN LUTTRELL.
"ThatIl do. think, I hone itwon't
smell of tobacco, Simms," as that wor-
thy answered the bell stake this to
Miss Leigh, with my compliments.
Simms was too well trained to show
surprise at anything; he bowed and
went. In ten minutes he returned.
"Miss Leighs compliments, sir, and
would you speak to her in the drawing
room %
"Oh, hang her !'' said Tom; but
there was no escape. The drawing
room was darkened to exclude the after
noon sun, but Tom discovered a white
figure at the far end, which rose and
bowed as he advanced.
81 am delighted, Miss Leigh" he be-
gan, "to have the pleasure Halloo!
Miss Harding? You here?"
"Miss who ?" said the Laughing voice
of his Settlebourne friend, 81 am not
Miss Harding"
"Then who in the name of goodness
are you ?' he demanded eagerly.
She looked down demurely.
"I'm that horrid Miss Leigh, as you
called ne the other day."
Tom sat down and stared at her
presently he broke into great laugh.
go it's all very well to laugh" she
said in an injured tone.
In moment more he was kneeling
by her chair, looking up into her eyes.
"Miss Leigh-Nellie-"
"I told you not to call meNellie, yes
terday," she said tartly.
eyes, but yesterday isn't to-day
we're engaged now"
Engaged, sir? What, after this ?"
go hang the letter You know
love you to distraction. You are your
own rival in my love, and you will mar
ry me, dear, won't you?
Certainly not. You said was fast
and slangy, and that Hillingdon would
be cheap price to pay to be rid of me.
And then this letter Let go my hand
how dare you, sir Be quiet, Mr..
Luttrell Tom, don't"
But Tom was not to be denied. After
this spirited resistance Miss Leigh sur
rendered ignominiously.
'tTom," she whispered, as her head
lay on his shoulder, "do you really care
for me ?" (Kisses and protestations.)
''And you really want to msrry me?"
More kisses and protestations.)
"Then," and her voice sank lower
yet, then take down the card, for I'm
let to a single gentleman"