The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-03-26

CT. blDCeIcIy HOpe uou. ihoin"S
Erskine believes himself to be your fu-
ture husband"
"Let him believe what he chooses" "
snaps Maud, rosily beautiful in her an
ger. "I am not responsible for the
pranks which his imagination chooses
to play. He Joined me in the avenue
Yesterday" she goes on with tossed
head. 81 was so veXed. A moment
later I met Mr. Balistear. OF course
Paul couldn't walk with me, poor dear
fellow, whilst Thomas Erskine was at
my side. He did look so annoyed and
so handsome into the bargain" ="
Mrs. Enninger sighs family. 81
wish your father was living, Maud. 1T
will be pity indeed if no one can pre-.
vent you from subjectipg Thomas and
the whole Erskine family (whom we
have known for years and years. to such
sad disappointment"
"A great pity, mamma. No doubt the
whole Erskine family, as you comprre-
hensively say, will never forgive me for
having deprived their esteemed relative
of my money"
"Maud You know that is shameful
sander. ] wish You had never seen
this Paul Balistear," adds Mrs. Ennin-
ger, gravely. "It is far more probable
that he is merely anxious to marry yon
on account of your money than that"
But Maud, the self-willed, petted
heiress, interrupts her mother quite
furiously, Just here. Is she not OF age
and her own mistress? Shall she be
perpetually dictated to as long as her
life lasts ? ct cetcra, to an almost intin-
ite degree. Finally, exit our impetu-
Gus, spoiled Maud, with eyes a.glltter
and cheeks ahame.
That night Paul Balistear calls. His
visit is the ultimate stamping and seal
ing, so to speak, of Maud's resolution
Tom Erskine is very nice, but Paul is
immeasurably nicer. Tom has good,
honest eyes, that are blue and pleasant,
and nothing more. Paul has dreamy,
lancuoress ewes. Spanish in their black.
ness and their lustre. Toms nose Is an
uncontradictable pug. PAuls nose is
thin-nostriled, delicate, classic. Toms
voice is sound. Paurs is music--a
divine harmony. In many other ways,
the infatuated girl tells herself, the two
men bear sharpest contrast to one an
other No; Tom is certainly not en-
durable by the side of l'aul.
"You must come in a day or two, ~
she murmurs this evening, Just before
he leaves her. "and be introduced to
mamma and little sister Bessy-that is
all our family consists of, You know.
And O. ] forgot Miss Matthew's; she
isn't precisely ono of the family, how
ever though | love her dearly.
"Pray, who is Miss Matthew's? asks
Paul.
"t can't tell you much about her
family history, for I only know that she
used to be in much better circumstances
than she is row, before certain pecu-
niary rcverscs forced her to go out as
governess. n,
"The old story" comments Paul
"Stop, sir You must not aneer ~
nv sweet Miss Matthews. Perhaps II
YOU saw her you would fall in love with
her beautiful, sad face. She isn't my
governcss any longer; she lives with
me as my friend" q,
"And gets paid for so doing !"
oeries Paul, with little laugh.
Presently the lovers separate. Two
or three DAYS pass. At length Paul re"
ceiyes little note from Maud Ennin-
ger, telling him, in rather familiar
terms, that she will be glad to have him
call at about eight o'clock on the even
ing of that day.
He goes, full Of pleasant anticipations
Beyond a doubt, he tells himself,
Ntaud's mother has at length consented
to receive him into her house as the
ani,nced husband of her daughter,
Whilst thinking these thoughts he pats
himself, so to speak, upon his own
shoulder, Just as we know OF his having
done once before. He also passes
mute mental criticism upon himself to
the effect that he is "deuced clever
and "deuced fortunate" just as we
heard him do ONE before. But does
any thought enter his mind concerning
Maud herself-her generosity, her sweet
winning candor her countless charms
both of person and character? NO such
thought enters his mind.
cam I late % asks Paul as Maud en-
ters the richly-furnished parlors to re-
ceive him.
go, no, is the prompt answer.
She takes his hand; she even lets
him kiss her; but she is somehow not
the SAM Maud rs when they last met.
Just then the s)ft-very soft--strains
of a piano begin at little distance from
where they we're seated. Paul looks
round. The back of the lady's head
and figure are plainly visible, whilst
the lady plays her soft little ripping
fantasia. Paul wonders whether her
PLAYING is not low enough for her to
hear Maud's aud his own voices.
"Miss Matthews, | suppose he
presently saws.
I" Yes" Maud answered.
After this there was considerable talk
, between them, on rather commonplace
, topics. Paul is waiting for Maud tt
speak first on the important subject o.
!, whcthcUI heir engagement IS to be I'M
mediately announced. But she doe:
q not.
More commonplace conversation. Ih'
: lady at the piano continues to play he
rippling, tender melodies. Paul grow
? impatient.
q "Maud," he murmuIs, have yo'
q mentioned our-our Engagement to you
@ mother" -
! She gives a rather coll laugh. go
!. dear, no. v
! "And why have you not?"
4 She gave another laugh; louder thi
v time, and colder. The piano stops
. Paul does not notice this. He too wa
!. bent on he girls answer.
because we're not engaged an
Is longer, Paul.
a. lie springs up with flashing eye
l. "Then have been merely dealing wit