Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-17

denly up at her.
| She rose confused, began to consult
her watch earnestly.
81 must go. really. Please give me
my things. This is the park bOun-
dary, so I won't trouble You any
| more"
She spraug over the stile as she
! spoke, interpOsing it between them as
they said adieU.
when shall I see you ag ~ he
asked, as he held her hand ar,
She allowed 1t t. linger II his 49,
answered.
"Oh, soon, / dare say; perhaps
when you least expect It. And gent
" returning the pressure Of his hand
she turned away. After a few steps
she looked back.
ANY message to Miss Leigh :" she
| asked, mOckingly.
"Oh, confOund Miss Leigh" growl-
| ed Tom. Il wish she was in Ota-
heite." Then, seating himself on the
| stile, he lit a cigar and watched her
| graceful figure till he could see 1t no
longer. Suddenly he smote his
thigh-''By Jovei I never got heI
name after ALL he said.
] Immediately on arriving at his Inn
/ he commenced a crOss-examinatiOn OF
| his hostess, by which he learned tive
| 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 speeilipg ina
hanson from PaddinetOn to his faith
er's house in Brook street, intent on
destroying that worthy old gentle
mans peace of mind by the announce
ment of his determination to give up
Miss Leigh and Hillingdon.
SIS my father in, Simms ?" lie ask
ed of the butler, when that function
airy appeared to attend his young
master.
''No, sir; Mr.. LuttrelI went out
with Mr.. Leigh just after lunch"
''Mr. Leigh? Is he here ?"
eyes, sir; Mr.. and Miss Leigh ar
rived this morning from the coun-
try"
haunt me wherever 1 CO." and he re-
tired preeipitately 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. Select
ing a hugely crested sheet of stiff
note-paper, so as to give the docu-
ment an official character, he sat
down, squared his elbows, and com
menced to write.
The following epistlc was the re-
suit of his efforts:
My DEAR MISS LEIGH: For the first
time I address yOu, personally, tho
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 to-
gether CT separate at once forever. I
will not conceal from you, my dear
Miss Leigh, that for some years I have
looked on you as my destined bride,
and haYe considered myself fortunate
in the prospect of an alliance with one
of whose beauty and goodness 1 have
heard so much. 1t is but quite re-
Gently that have discovered that my
heart is no longer mine to dispose of,
and | now feel that to urge you to
fulfill our engagement would be to
insure life of misery for both of us.
Let us, then, separate without . per-
sonal interview, which would only
cause unnecessary embarrassment =
AS to HillingdOn, / resign it to you
willingly, feeling sure that you would
make a better mistress than I should
q master.
oo,,,a 1oxr 10 r,oaat
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.
''Thatl do, 1 think. L hope it
won't smell of tobacco, Simms," as
that worthy answered the bell; "take
this to Miss Leigh, with my comph-
ments."
Simms was too well trained to show
surprise at anything; he bowed and
went. In ten minutes he returned.
''Miss Leigh's compliments, sir,
and would you speak to her in the
drawing-rOOm ?"
"Oh, hang herw said Tom; but
there was no escape. The drawing
room was darkened to exclude the
afternoon sun, but Tom discovered
white figure at the far end, which rose
and bowed as. he advanced.
81 am delighted, Miss Leigh" he
began, ''tO have the pleasure Hal
loo! Miss Harding? You here ?"
''Miss who?" said the laughing
voice of his SettlebOurne friend, Il
am not Miss Harding"
''Then who in the name of goodness
are you?" he demanded eagerly.
She looked down demurely.
Pm that horrid Miss Leigh, Is You
called me the other day"
Tom sat down and stared at her,
presently he broke into q great
laugh.
80 it's all very we'll to laugh" " she
said, in an injured tone.
In moment more he was knecling
by her chair, looking up into her
eyes.
"Miss Leigh-Ncllie-'
Il told you not to call me Nellie,
yesterday" she said tartly.
Eyes, but yesterday isn't to-day;
we're engaged now"
Engaged, sirl What, after thi5?H
holding out his letter.
80 hang the letter. You know L
love you to distraction. You are
your own rival in my love, and you
will marry me, dear, won't you? :"
Certainly not. You said l was
fast and slangy, and that Hillingdon
would be a cheap price TO pay to be
rid of me. And then this letter. Let
so my hand-hOw dare you, sirl Be
quiet, Mr.. Luttrelt! Tom, don't"
But Tom was not to be denied
After this spirited resistance Miss
Leirh surrendered.