The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-14

IT.; and with serious misgivings at my
heart, which dared not express,
walked with him to the Post-office, and
saw him drop the missive into the box.
We did nothing all day but lounge about
the house and garden, waiting anxiously
until the postman would bring the let
ters In the evening. At length the weary
day passed, sand the letter carrier ar
rived; and sure enough there it was, a
little pink note, addressed to John Fer
rars, Esquire. My heart beat as quickly
as IL it were my own happiness that was
at stake as Jack broke the seal. looked
| over his shoulder, and what we both saw
was:
"wednesday Afternoon.
"DEAR Mr.. FERRARs: / accept the
great honor you have done me. Before,
however, meeting you, I would like you
to see papa, and obtain his consent to
| our engagement.
"Yours, sincerely,
''EUNIcE HALLAM."
There is an old adage that says s'truth
| Is stranger than felton," and if ever
| felt the force of it, it was as 1 read that
| note. Contrary to all my expectations
Jack had actually been accepted. He
| bore his good fortune with much more
equanimity than l did, his only remark
| being: "Eunice-what a pretty nilme."
While I, with strangely mixed feelings,
actually got up "hurrahV'
The next difficulty was how or where
! to meet Colonel Hallam and obtain his
consent. An idea seized me; had seen
| the old Colonel walk down the road a
short time before. "Stay here," l said
| to Jack, and started forward. l had not
gone far when l espied the Colone
standing by the fence, with his attention
directed toward some object apparently
of interest to him beyond. / instantly y
returned to Jack, and pointed out To
him the opportunity now offered for
private interview with Colonel Hallam.
Put on bold front, my dear fellow"
L said. halt pushing him forward ON his
way. "Yonder is the Colonel, go speak
to him, like q man; tell him plainly and
heart; tell him of your business and
social connections, and don't neglect TO
impress him with the fact that you're
your mothers only son and heir to her
fortune and estates. These SORT of things
90 long way with the old boys"
Having thus delivered my advice to
Jack, | sent him of to push his senti-
mental fortunes with Colonel Hallam
and sat down pensively to smoke a cigar
| before following him. About half an.
hour afterward | sailed forth, and a
minute Or tWO lOuHu mt IiuSluS III IHG
| Coloneps front door. My heart beat
audibly, as following the servant up
stairs heard the sound of piano, anu
Miss Hallam's voice merrily huinming a
bar or two of some lively air, and felt
much relieved when the door of tue
| library was thrown open and l found
myself ushered into the presence OF only
| Colonel Hallam and Jack. One glance
| at Jacks flushed aud radiant f,tce, as he
stood leaning against the marble mantle
piece, sufficed to assure me that all had
gone ''merry as a marriage bell' with
him, and with feeling of thanklulness
[ returned the ColonePs cordial greet
ing.
"Come away, now, and see the ladies;
[ know this boy is getting impaLlent," he
said, with a twinkle in his eye, as he laid
his hand familiary on FerraIs' shoulder.
"IRs all right, old boy, and Pm The
happlest fellow alive" whispered Jack,
as We followed the Colonel down Stars;
but had only time to grasp his hanu
and give it squeeze Of congratuiatiun,
when the edrawIug-roomdoor was opened
and we entered,
| The elder lady was seated OH a couch
beside the fireplace, where a fire had
been lighted, for the evenings were get
| ting chit; the younger was leaning on
| the grand piano, engaged in looking over
some music. Both stood erect when we
entered. Tne Colonel, going over to the
lelder lady, took her hand and led her
FORWARD, saying as he did SO: "Eunice,
have much pleasure in Introducing Mr..
iFerrars to you. My daughter, Air. Fer
lrars."
Ferrars turned deadly pale. And
and-the other LADY," he gasped, look
| ing round at the beautiful young girl
/ ut
"My wife,"
1 don't suppose our CONSERVATION
could have been greater had bomb.
shell entered the apartment. Jack would
j have fallen had l not supported MIN.
Every one seemed to take IN the slua-
ton at, q glance. Miss Hallam did not
faint or scream, or do anything which a
Younger or more sentimental lady in
similar circumstances might have done,
but she blushed as deeply as her faded
complexion would allow OF, and, cover.
ing her tace with her hands, said: 'Oh,
how dreadful He has Thought Nelly
was my fathers daughter" Mrs. Hal.
lam glfded to her side and LED her from
the room, while the Colonel and | ap.
Piled res toratlyes to poor Jacks color.
less lips.
"Poor fellow" muttered the Colonel
~ see his uniucky mistake. l wish, foi
, the sake OF everybody concerned, this
had not happened"
) ssTnis explains the ready acceptance
|, OF Ferrars' proposal, and the Coioneps
willing agreement TO let his daughter
marry comparative stranger." l in
, wardly growied, in disdain Of the whole
business, as l loosened the tie wnicl
Jack hadso carefully arranged an hou
! before.
N When he had somewhat recovered, WI
Il took him home, and laid him on the sois
|. in the dining room. sat by him all tht
evening, and although he did not seen
lin the least excited or feverish, he KEEP
: asking me such strange questions, ant
lseemed so unconscious OF all that hat
ltransptred, that was afraid his brair
was affected. l, however, was deter
mined that we should not on any c0nsid
Grafton remain day longer in Dai
0Arroch; and sunni ,5ning Mrs. Mason
/ instructed her tc .,et our traps ready
as we require to be of by the frs
!. steamer u the morning. s'Mr. Ferrar
doc Ast feel very WE'LL" I added in re
i piy to a glance Of inquiry she cast a
Jack as he lay motioniess ON the sofa
"He has had unpleasant news fron
X home."
, My conscience smote me for the delib
! crate falsehood Iuttered, but i felt tina
some excuse was necessary tor the pros