The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-01-16

d her hand with a most adorabl
n smile. Tom felt sadly inclined t
g kiss it, but he refrained.
n "NOw," said she, consulting he
watch, Il must be off"
"And will you allow me to carr
: your things" asked Tom.
: But at this moment she was ca
e PRECIOUS, as ladies will be sometimes
and positively refused to allow hin
, to do any such thing. Then aros
e a struggle for the "things" which
| were, however, captured by Tom at
/ ter short resistance.
She turned 9nd walked maiesti
cally away as Tom gathered up th,
implements with a grin and foilweC
b her. When he came up to her sh,
was sitting on a stile, looking dream
4, lily on the ground. She raised hel
eyes as he approached.
"Mr. Luttrell," she said, 81 want
to speak to you seriously"
2 Tom deposited his burden on the
ground, sat himself on a log facing
her, and waited solemnly.
81 want to know if your are quite
determined not to marry Miss
Liegh?o
81 am" he replied, looking stead
lily at her, tapping his teeth with her
H. B. pencil.
"Sinee whenY' He hesitated.
"Sinee when?'she repeated imper-
iously.
Tom bagan to dig little holes with
his stick.
"Well, within the last few days"
he said at last.
If he had been looking at her, he
might have seen the smile and blush
of pleasure which lit up her face as
he spoke.
"You see," he continued. 'iss nv
fathers marriage, not mine; and a
man likes to choose his own wife.
dare say there's no real harm in
the young person. If she's your
friend, it speaks well for her but
still"
"But still what? you have never
seen her; how can you tell you won't
like herP"
Tom became more than ever ab-
sorbed in his excavations.
"Fhe truth is" he blurted out be-
tween the digs; "the truth is that
quite lately, 1 think I've seen the
only girl shall ever care to ask to
be my wife," and he looked suddenly
up at her.
She rose confused began to con-
suit her watch earnestly.
81 must go, really. Please give
me my things. This is the park
boundary, so 1 won't trouble you
any more"
She sprang over the stile as she
spoke, interposing it between them
as they said adieu.
"When shall l see you again?" he
asked, as he held her hand at part
ing. Sne allowed it to linger in his
as she answered
"Oh, soon, dare say; perhaps
when you least expect it." And
gently returning the pressure of his
hand, she turned away. After few
steps she looked back.
.Any message to Miss Leigh" she
asked, mockingly.
"Oh, confound Miss Leigh?'
growled Tom, 81 wish she was in
Otaheite." Then seating himself on
the stile, he lit cigar and watched
her graceful figure till he could see it
no longer. Suddenly he smote his
thigh-"By Jove! 1 never got her
name after all, )" he said.
Immediately on arriving at the inn
he commenced a cross-examination
of his hostess. by which he learned
two facts. Firstly, that NeWlands was
the property Of Sir John Turnbull;
and, secondly, that there were two.
young ladies staying there, Miss
Leigh and Miss Harding.
Next day saw him speeding in
hanson from PaddingtOn to his IA
ther's house in Brook street, intent
on destroying that worthy old gentle
mans peace OF mind by the annouce-
ment Of his determination to give up
Miss Leigh and HiIlingdon.
"Ismy father in, SimmsY he asked
of the butler, when that functionaty
appeared to attend his young master.
'No, sir; Mr.. Luttrell went out
with Mr.. Leigh just after lunch"
s''Mr. Leigh? Is he here?"
ayes, sir, Mr.. and Miss Leigh ar
rived this morning'from thecountry."
"The deucep said Tom; "they
haunt me where ever I CO." and he
retired precipitately to his den.
Bring me something to eat here,
Simms; and don't let Miss Leigh
know 1 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 character, he
sat down, squared his elbows, and
commenced to write.
The following epistle was the re-
suit of his efFots:
'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 cur de-
cision must be made in regard to our
future-Whether we shall go through
life together or separate at once for
ever. l will not conceal from you,
my dear Miss Leigh, that for some
years I have looked on you as my
destined bride, and have considered
myself fortunate in the prospect Of
an allowance with one of whose
beauty and goodness have heard so
much. 1t is but quite recently that
I have discovered that my heart is no
longer mine to dispose of, and 1 now
feel that 20 urge you to fulfill our en-
gagement would be to insure life of
misery for both of US. Let us, then,
separate without a personal inter
view, which would only cause un-
necessary embarrassment As to
Hillingdon, 1 resign it to you will
lfngly, feeling sure that yon would
make a better mistress than l should
a master.
Trusting, then, some day to meet
- 90, tbc br;1o Of scroa o1a vr,Oro