Middletown transcript., 1874-03-07

me 40 suddenly, and wondered with !
paug il be would feel the separstion q l
felt it--but L might have known that
men's hearts are nos like womsn's. they
WOO and win only 70 cast aside for .
brighter. newer toy (; poor women. they
have faith aud trust 10 their idol until the
very last--bus / thought that was like
the old saying: II made ,ns an idol and
found it clay" 0l
He seemed 20 rejoicsd At the thonght Of
leaving, and turning to me asked me to
read my favorite poem, Al I came to
the last wsrds be laid his hand on mine
snd looking me in the syes. he said :--
"Grseis, you love me. 1 know il. Your
eysa caunot disguise it il your face and
manner does. never intended to make
you do this, I only wanted you to esre
for me Us brother. but it is too late m0,c
| csunot, under tho circumstances, ask
you to remember me, or forget me all
can do is to ssk you to keep and wear this
forever" and be slipped small jswelsd
ring on ny finger. eHss
l was xrievod and pained at his words.
What right had be to say this to me !? l,
was not my fault that l"ved him no
Had be not asked me thousand times tn
care for him ? Had he not done thous-
and things to mrks me? Had hs not sat
at my feet for hours reading to me some
beautiful piece Of poetry or prose, always
H,aliug biiaself the hero and the her,,ine,
and saying things to ME that be should
not have said it be only wanted me to be
as sister =" himY No. it vas not my
fault that loved him 50, it was bis own.
and be knew it. / wondered Why I al
lowed him to hold my hand, and suffered
the ring to remsin sn it; why | still "a,
beside himY tried To move. but could
not. | tried to spaak, but my Voice for
sook ms was as one dead; sprechless
and powsrless. l could not realize what
had happened; it was so like dream.
and did not. until heard my fathers
voice calling me; when Lord Massey arose
and taking me in his nrms, rs he had done
40 often before. kissed me, saying: dear
little Oracle, l did not mean to make you
love me 50. You know that my mother
would never listen to it, Chat is our mar
riage and make sacred, vow, while
staud here clssping you to my heart, new
er to WOO Or win another. Your still.
white face will ever be before me, and |
will ever see those eyes locking up inte
mine, not with anger nor reproach. worse
than all that, such anguish. May God
forgiUe me, Icdnnot ask you to- !" Then
he was gone. o, how the truth forced
itself ON me! 0. the pain, the agony
that almost rent my heart in twain. II
death had come | would have rejoiced.
but l have lived long enough to know that
it comes not at wishing
Fora year | dragged through this sort
of life, when my only.parent died and was
laid to rest beside my mother in the little
church yard 1 was wretchcd before. aud
this only added few. more drops to the
cup Of bitterness that was draining.
Once i was beloved and happy nov
am deserted aud desolate, but l might
have known that life is like a game of
cards, some lose and some win, and all
have sunshine and shadow; but It seemed
MS if the sun had suddenly withdrawn bis
face aud left me enveloped in . clsud of
darkness. No home and no fortune; so
was thrown out on the meroiless world
True, l was offered = home by 4 distant
relative. but pride forbade me accepting
Another year Of bitterness had slmost
pssscd and was eovernsss 10 the family
Of Lady Seyton had three. small chill
dren under my charge; 80 you can imag.
inc my situation.
remained in this ,nonotonous A. BE-
life until spring. when a relation diving
bequeathed TO me his entire property.
Now I had wealth. my only desire va.
to know If Lord Massey was true to his
vow. rtE g
II doubted and did not doubt"
had never heard Of him but once, and
that was when be graduated with the hixh
est Of honors. Tho next six months 1
spent in travelling, but was usnbls to trace
him in the least. In November. L saw
an advertisement in tho London Times far
u c"mpanicn, and made no delay ip pre.
srniing myself TO Lady Beatrice Canuing,
II Canningt0n Tower
bad often heard Lord Massey speak
"f Lady Beatrice and was in hopes Of
gaining some information concerning him
Did speak Latin and French? Did
| understand music !? and would have to
read twice day to her All these, and
many more l agrved 10 do So in week. q
time Was an inmate Of Canuington Tow
ers. ! spent most Of my leisure time
walking in the gardens. or reading my
fsvorite poems. the ones that bad read
oytr three yesrs ago beneath the old hau-
thorne - ~ W. 4 W ~ ~
Lady Beatrice never liked the name Of
Eliwsod, because It did bot have .risto-
crstic sound to her. poor thing She said
u alwsys grated so on her fipe and dsli-
cate nerves; 80 shs called me by INV
second name. Preston. She a)ways INTRO
dpped me ~ my sowpanisn. Miss Pres
tom very accomplished young woman Of
her standing."
Perhaps she thought that she was do.
ing me an honor, but did not.
Winter and spring elided by when the
papers announced the coming Of Lord and
Lady Massey from Austris I read it with