The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-09-19

ingly. Hattie Will DC sure 10 attlaCL iuIc al
tention, and think you'll regret it.,
Pooh, pooh Mr., Fithian,' said the good
natured father; we can't keep her in a glass
case, you know
| Would to Heaven we could" | groaned,
and went in search of her
| found her wild to go. We were in the
summer.housc, and those little octagon-shap-
ed boxes force people into close proximity.
She had never been 50 beautiful In her
white dress, with a tear in each OF her soft
blue eyes, she was the embodiment OF woman
| ly lovelnesS.
Please let me go? she said, with her white
hands clasped entreatingly.
! moved towards her, impelled by a strange
magnetism. | was dazzled, confused bewil-
dcred.
! Why DO you ask mey / stammcred. is
my consent necessary to your happiness"
| Yes, yes she mnrmured; Il could not en-
Joy 1t otherwise" She stopped and drew a
long breath. | felt it on my cheek, and "a
sweet, rapturous conjecture was suddenly con
ceived in my heart. | sank back, ovcrwhelm
ed with the conviction that | loved her with
mad, ungovernable ardor.
A dim sense of disaster spoiled the dawn
ing of my first passion.
She looked at me with a sudden fear
L have wounded YOU she whispered. Now
that is enough. | will not go"
you willn cried you shall! But with
me, Hattie. love you, child"
Then | took her III my arms and kissed
her, and went rapidly out Of the summer
house. But before | went home it was ar
ranged that she should go with me- to the
concert, poor old Blgby giving wondering
but bland consent.
| determined, upon reaching my lodgings,
to send little note to Gertrude, stating my
inability to be with her on the night Of the
testiyity, but found upon my table note from
her. | opened it with languid interest; but
upon reading the first few lines | threw it
down and walked mady across the room.
licr note contained request that | would
attend her to concert given for the benefit
of the ST. Johns Chapel. 1t would be imme-
diatclv under the auspices Of the Reverend
Cavcndsh, she added: and that 1 must be
aware of its charitable intent and purposes
when she mentioned this name to me
This concert was the very one for which
Bigby had procured tickets, and to which |
was pledged to take Hattie,
! sank into q chair and supported dazed
and bcwildered brain with my trembling
hands Whatever was to be done must be
done quickly, as the night Of the concert was
close at hand and it was certainly out OF the
question that could so with either Of the
parties.
With a sort of consciousness that the task |
was about to perform was neither an easy nor
a delightful one, seized pen and wrote
thus to Hattie:
My DEAR LITTLE HATTIE-In spite Of all
our hopes and plans can't take you to the
concert. \ big goblin has stepped in and
upset everything. | can't tell you how in
consolable l am. Go with your papa and
mamma but look straight on the stare and
don't with your rare lovelines> attract vulgar
attention. Yours jealousy,
AUGrsTUs FrruNN.
Then, with a heavy sigh putting aside
this little missivc, | wrote thus TO Gertrude:
My DEAR GERTRUDE-I find it quite i'm
possible to 90 with you on Thursday evening.
An unpleasant but imperative obstacle for,
bids. Yours always,
AUGUsTUs FrTHf,N.
Night was already upon me when | had
finished writing. Hurrying the two notes in.
to envelopes, directing them with sCrawling
precipitation, and giyine them into the land.
lady's hands TO post, threw mysclf on my
bed without lighting my lamp | lay hour
after hour tossing, thinking, wondering, One
thing was certain, my honor was pledged to
Gertrude, but my love to Hattie, and there
then. ] turned coldly from q severe appeal
on behalf of eXpediency and Gertrude, and
plunged headlong into delicious revcric of
love and Hattie. Not wink of sleep did
get till the morning sun streamed Coldly and
aCcusingly through my window; then in
sheer fatigue fell into profound Slumbcr
and never awoke until noon.
Accompanying late ma!utnai meal there
came what seemed to be Il yoluminCus post
There were letters and letters. | opened a |
prodigious envelope directed in Gertrudes |
severe italian hand. There fell to the floor
my mls,,vr of the night before, What did it |
mean: opened and read her explanatory |
note:
NE fIrHNN-I return you The letter to :
your friend Hattie, which YOU misdrected /.
last evening. hope you will keep the en-.
gagcmcn' that | unconsCiou>!y interrupted. /
and vii! he able to protect her rare loneliness /
from IL" vulgar attention You - much de.
plorc, Respectfully,
GEETRUDF NANpEwATEE. /
After recovering from this thunderbolt of
Justice took up ll0tie's little note which !
contained these few but terrible lines:
DEAR Nh. FrrHAN-I understand now
way you were unwilling should go to the /
colbert As must not be an unpleasant ana !
imperative Ob>taCir 'p You, shall never see /
yoa gain. HATTIE BlGBY.
/ itoGi rsy hat and went cut without know /.
! ing cN;rtly why and found myself presently /,
at Gcrtftdc's house. The blinds were par |
TALLY clocd, lat under the curtain saw the |
clumsy tt tthc reverend Cav ndish almost /
touching le slippers ot Gertrude, and all |
four feet VICE under the table ladcncd with :
architectural drawings.
! Sudden Impulse of rage seized me: | ran
up the steps a.d pulled loudly at the bell.
The servant ouN half opened the door
Miss Naufrwacr i not at home to day .
he SAID.
handed him IN. card and beckoncd 70
him to take it within. Something In my
face made him obey He went in with it.
but came ont again host immediately with
the card in his hand,
Miss NaEdcwatcr i at at home lie re
pca,cd in that dry, hollo voice peculiar to !