The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-02-27

that at twenty am still unmarried.
NV fortune is as we'll known as If its
amount were posted on my back, ant peo-
pie wonder that while Hrs. Wyndham
contrives to marry off her daughters al
the rate of one season, show no signs
of allowing myself to he provided with !
husband.
There is feeling Of nervous d-ead
mixed with my love and happiness as the
thought of "what the w, ndhams will
say" flashes across my excited brain. Al
this time | was staying with SOM other
re ations, who lived u few miles from
Harold's home ln-shire, and Harold.
hsaring that | was coming to his part of
the world this summer, had arranged his
cave of absence from the Foreign Office
80 as to be at Halcnmbe Park while [ was
at--pcrt. My cousins. the Percivals.
are very intimate with Harold's family.
and frequently visit them at H4r, ombe.
and it was there that Harold gave m-
roses on that memorable summer day.
We had arrived during the hottest part
of the afternoon; and after the ordeal Of
introd uction 80 Mrs. Cpurtl4nd, and two
brothers had been gone through, (Harod's
old father had been dead for many Years.)
we were glad to stroll about the garden
and lose ourselves in cool, shady paths
My cousin Garry had to resume periodi
Cal Irritation with Ned CORTLAND, r. A
home on leave from Malta; and Meg and
Miss CORTLAND were desperate allies, aud
always glad Of quiet confabui.tion; so
that when Harold said to me: MIS- Low
ell, do come and see my favorite rose gar
den, and caooSe some flowers tn wear at
dinner" We easily strayed off, without
being interrupted i'll our tete-a-t tie.
All, love to linger over the memoir
of that sweetest OF all the days of my life!
Il would be worth living thousand years
more, growing thinner and palmer each
day, Co have experienced the joy of be-
lieving that Har0id's love was entirely
nv own; to have been bless &c aud kissed
by dear little Mrs. Courtland, when her
son said tn her: "Mother, Miss Lowell has
promised to be my wifa." es..'
suppose he knew that my name was
Norah; but I am naturally one Of those
frigid women with whom people never
venture upon any familiarity, and be-
i;eve am never mentioned save as Miss
Lowell, no one but my few relations call
ing me b. my Christian name.
could see that the Courtlauds were
pleased at Haro d. choice. | suppose my
msney would have reconciled them to
me, even had been double my age, and
very plain, and badly dressed; for the
Courtands are not rich, though fine old
shire family, Of which Harold is the
youngest son, with very little income be-
yond his civil service pay.
played and sang for them after din
ner. (Fauny Percival called it showing
my PAGES wheu trotted out for irspectlnn,)
AMI they seemed to enjoy it. Jack the
elder bro her, e'en seemed inctiDc1 70 cut
Harold OUT. He would have been more
suitable age fot Inc, but that is neither
here nor there.
When we were wishing Mrs. Couftland
good-by that night, | heard her whisper
something to my cousin Fanny about wish
ing were not so pale AMI thin. and fear
| ing that was very delicate. Her words
set me thinking as We drove to the rail-
way station. / seriously decided that
would not allow myself to be an invalid
any longer. had nothing the matter
with me except chronic fatigue and ennui,
and settled in my mind that | would
not coddie and nurse my colds next win
ter; would defy fogs aud east winds, aud
above all, that | would not cover up my
chest In furnish fannels and high dresses
In tue evening.
Harold was riding by the carriage, so
my cousins could not discuss him, or con
graduate me, until we were fairly off by
the train.
knew that they did not feel the same
degree of fascination for my young knight
that die, and so was not disappointed at
their being rather CO Il about my engage
ment. Fanny even went so far as to de
clare "that one could not help laughing
at the idea vt Norah marrying that stupid
old Hsrold!'
"Oli!' [ cried; II only wish he coul d
be made to look little older! shall be
taken for his mamma. Turee years nv
| junior!'
| saw good deal of my Jfance during
the months of July and August, for Hal
combe was only ten miles from-port,
an he constantly rode over to see me.
! When he was Obliged to go back to
London paid fortnight's visit to his
IhmIty, auu was Fery udppy CheTe, being
made a great deal of, and growing very
fond ofMrs. and Miss CORTLAND, and fair
! ~ so OF the brothers.
Autumn set in very suddenly and Sc
verely after the fine lovely summer, and |
began to cough and croak to such an ex.
tent, and so dismal an account of nv
health reached the Wyndhams that thew
worried and terrified me into consentine
to 60 with them TO Mentone for the win
ter.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
and through the long months that was
away, became more aud more ridiculous.