The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-04-09

first devoted himself to h1e ma quiet,
manner, though when
alone for a,few minutes, which often
happened, there was a marked change
IN his demeanor he seemed to re-
strain himSelf with difficulty and to
utter OnlyI guarded words. / knew
what it all.meant, or thought / did ;
he respected the barrier between us
MY own hand had raised. 1 grew
more and more dissatisfied with my
self and George. compared him
OBJ, how pnfavOrably!-with Captain
Carr. / began to detest the tie that
bound me to him. He had taken ad-
vantage of my youth and mex
perience, as Captain Carr almost said
one day when carried away by excess
pf feeling. .f.,..
was barely civil to my lover
now everything he said or did grated
inexpresslbly upon me. On one
occasion he noticed my cOldness.
"lIave l offended you. Maud ?"
he asked, taking my hand and at
tempting to draw me toward him.
"What is it, dear? You are not the
lehst like your old SELF"
eyes / am" / answered, quickly,
"but please let 60 my handW
He Obeyed without q word, and,
looking veXed, left the room.
. i felt remOrseful for the part L was
acting, but what was to do? How
to tell him / had never loved him :
1t was best to wait, and let chance
arrange it all. / was longer over my
toilet on Christmas Eve than had
ever been in my life. a ball was to
be given at "The Abbey" My heart
and head were full of st. John Carr.
He had that afternoon given me the
flowers / was so carefully arranging
in my hair, with whispered wish
that / would wear them tonight for
his sake. Would he think ! looked
nice? hope he would.
AS descended to the hedrawing-rO0m
l encountered him on the staircase.
81 was waiting for you," he said,
softly, taking my hand in both OF his.
"HOw beautiful you are, Maud; or
rather how beautiful you will be in a
year or two! Your forte is certainly
Color How well those flowers har-
monize with your dark hair. / am
afraid your bright eyes will do mis-
chief tonight in more than one
quarter. Will you try and spare me
one dance among your many engage
mentsw
"One dance !" l said, disappointed
that he did not ask for more
"Yes, one" he answered. "DO you
grudge me that much happiness =?
Does George Needham only allow
you to dance with himself?"
D "Allow me-" l rctorted, angrily |;
"you shall see..'' TAntlrquitting him
abruptly, joined my mother in the
ballroom, and suffered my card to be
filed with engagements.
l had plenty of adulation on this
evening. MypOsition as George Need
hams "bridc elect" secured it me,
mamma told me, rather than my own
attractions. i took widely different
view unconnected with George, and
st. Johns admiring looks served to
strengthen it. Ny longed-fOr waltz
with him came at last; he danced as
he did everything else--more than
well. AS we were resting, he suddenly
said:
81 am going away tomorrow,
Maud" (he had often called me by
my name, mt first half i'm Jest 81
find ! can't stay any longer; it's best
added tenderly, "perhaps you would
not send me away. Would yOu," he
asked pleadingly, elf / had only met
you last year? Lucky Neeedham J"
he added, under his breath. "Is he
worthy of such treasure?"
! was deeply touched by the con-
sideratiOn and delicate tenderness he
showed i'm refraining from pressing
his suit while my hand was not mine
to bestOw.
81 shall never be Mr.. Needham's
wife " ! said, excitedly. "You know
it's impossible now, whatever it may
have been"
.ri 81 wish / dared believe yOu," he
said "but you are only trying me.
1t serves me right for forgetting my
self, Forgive me, and say goodbye,
to me 'kIndly.' shall be off to-
morrow by the first train. Goodbye,
NIaud !" And without waiting for
me to answer him, he abruptly left
me.
% My mind was made up now, how to
act, would speak to George on the
morrow, and he was so generous he
would release me, and st. John then
could claim me openly.
s / carried out my resolution on the
Christmas morning, Immediately
after breakfast. George he ird me
very patiently, very quietly. When
/ had said all i had to say, it was
not much, only that i had mistaken
the friendship / felt for him for a
warmer sentiment, and begged him
to release me.
at shall be as you wish, dear
Maud 7" he said, very sadly; "yOur
happiness is far dearer to me than
my own. If you could have loved
mel know | am not worthy of you
but still would have tried so hard
to make you happy |; as 1t Is ! vii!
not distress you, Don't cry, Maud" F"
he continued, as my tears fell fast.
felt so sorry for him +; he appeared SC
noble, so unselfish. 1 never liked
him so well as at that moment. 81
will write to your mother from
town." he added, "and explain
things to her it will make 1t easier
for you. ] feel 1 am not good enough
for you. l ought never to have asked
for your love-"
This painful interview was put an
end to by the entrance of Mrs.
Chichester, and / escaped to my room
sick at heart, and anxious for the
Our return home was a melancholy
One.
The months that succeeded each
other brought no tidings of st. JOIN
Carr. / had written TO tell him o
my rokehfengagement, but had nt
word or message from him. i die
not know what George Needham hat
said to mamma; anyhow, she never
approached me by word, only by sac
and anxious looks, which were hart
enough to bear.
Mr. Needham had gone abroad FOL
an indefinite time, and we had AGAR
settled down in our old quiet life.