The Van Buren press., 1874-04-21

She turned and walked maJesueaiIy
away as Tom gathered up the implements
with grin, and then followed her.
When he came up to her she was sitting
on stile. looking dreamily on tue
ground. She raised her eyes as he ap'
preached
MIR. LuttreIl, " she said, :" ! want to
speak to you seriously.
Tom deposited his burden on the
ground, and sat himself on log facing
| her, and waited silently
! ~ want to know if you're quite dc
tcrmincd not TO marry Miss Leigh Z"
Il am, !" he replied, looking steadily
at her, and tapping his teeth with her ii.
b. pencil
Since when 2
He hesitated.
I. Since when 2" she repeated, imperi
ously.
Tom began to dig little holes witt his
stick
"Well, within the last few days, he
said, at last.
II he had been looking at her, he
might have seen the smile and blush OF
pleasure which lit up her face as he spoke,
lyon see, y he continued, "its my
! fathers marriage, not mine, and man
| likes to choose his own wife. ] daresay
there's no real harm in the young person.
If she's yonr friend, it speaks well for
her, but still"
But still what? You've never seen
her; how can you tell you won't like
he. Z"
Tom became more than ever absorbed
in his excavations
"The truth is, 4" he blurted out between
the digs :" the truth is that lately, quite
| lately, | think I've seen the only girl i
shall ever care to ask TO be my wife,
and he looked suddenly up at her
She rose confused. and began to con
suit her watch earnestly.
"l must go, really. Please give me
my things. This is the park boundary,
so won't trouble you any more.
She sprang over the slIle as she spoke,
interposing it between them MS they said
adieu.
"When shall see you again y he
asked, as he held her hand at parting.
She allowed it to lnger in his. as she
answered.
"Oh, soon, daresay perhaps when
you least expect it. And gently re
turning the pressure of his hand, she
turned away. After few steps, she
looked back
ANY message to Miss Leigh ~ she
asked, mockingly.
"Oh, coniound Miss lie ghn growled
| Tom, wish she was IN Otaheite ."
Then, seating himself on the stile, he lit
a cigar and watched her graceful figure
till he could see it no longer Suddenly
he smote his thigh. by Jove! | never
got her name after all, he said
Immediately on arriving at his inn he
commenced cross examination of his
hostess, by which he learned two facts
| First. 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 han
som from Paddington to his fathers
house in Brook street, intent on destroy
ing that worthy old gentltman's peace Of
mind by the announcement OF his dc
termination to give up Miss Leigh and
Hill ngdon.
lis my father in, Simmsi' he asked
Of the butler, when that functionary APP
peared to attend his young master.
No, sir; Mr., Luttrcll went out with
Mr., Leigh just after lunch. ;"
mir Leigh? Is he here y
Yes, sir; Mr. and Mics Leigh arrived
this morning from the country.
The deuce " said Tom 4" they haunt
me wherever 20, and he retired pre-
cipitately to his own den, took down his
pipe and commenced smoking Violently
Then he suddenly quit and said
Bring me something to eat here,
Smms, 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
character, he sat down, squared his cl
bows. and commenced TO write. The
following cpistlc was the result of his cl
forts:
MY DEAR MISS LEIen-For the first
time 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 ar
rived when our decision must be made in
regard to our whether we shall
90 through life together or separate-at
once and forever | will not conceal
from YOU, my dear Miss Leigh that for
some years have looked on you as my
destined bride, and have considered my
self fortunate in the prospect of an alli
ance with one Of whose beauty and good
ness | have heard so much, 1t is but
quite recently 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 u.s. Let us, then,
separate without a personal interview,
which would only cause unnecessary en-
barrassment AS to lIillingdon, resign
it to you willingly, feeling sure, that you
would make a better mistress than l
should master
Trusting, then, some day to meet
YOU as the bride Of some one more
worthy to possess YOU. than myself, |
am, my dear Miss Leigh, your sincere
friend,
THOMAS CURzoN LuTTErLL.