Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-03-18

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Crawford Life with him would Be one
Of ease and luxury; but decided that
] would rather ksep boardsrs. MOI
long after this ths Cranfords concluded
to 60 20 housekeeping, and l(rs. Shell.
grove Was in her glory. She always
came 70 luncheon N her bonnet, and
gave ~ minute details about The
house in the last twenty-fcur hours.
Tt il really magnificent said she,
frightening out each syllable. Broth
or las such perfect taste and he i o.
tually Furnishing IN library, 1rinu
Edna, after your suggestion. You zee,
we look upon you quite - one Of the
family
That is very good Of you,' replied
shortly; but certainly have no eIpec-
tation of ever belonging to it.
Mrs. Shsllgrove laughed as though
/ had perpetrated an excellent joke.
Young ladies always deny those
things. Of course; but John tells q diff
ferent story
I ratified the cups and saucers angri-
~; and my thoughts foated of, not to
John, but to Johns father, sitting lone
ly in the library furnished after my
suggestion. Wasn't it, after all, my
duty to marry the family generallyp
The house was finished and moved
into, and John spent his evenings with
me. 1 used to get dreadfully tired of
him. He was really too devoted to be
at all interesting, and ! had reached
that state of feeling that, if summarily
ordered to take my choice between him
and the gallows, I would have prepared
myself for hanging with cheerful alacrity.
! locked the door upon John on the
evening in question, when I had finally
got rid of him, with these feelings in
full force; and l meditated while I'M
dressing on some desperate move that
should bring matters to q crisis.
But the boy had become reused at
last. He too had reflected in the watch
es of the night and next day I received
quite dignifed letter from him tel
ling me that business called him from
the city for two or three weeks, and
that possibly upon his return 1 might
appreciate his devotion better. I felt
inexpressibly relieved. 1t appeared to
me the most sensible move that John
had made in the whole course of our
and I began to breathe
more freely. Time few, however, and
the three weeks heightened into six
without Johns return. He wrote to
me, but his letters became somewhat
and I scarcely knew what
to make of him. If he would only give
me up, thought; but felt sure that
he would hold me to that weak promise
of mine, that I should either become
Edna Crawford or remain Edna CARING
ton. Mr.. Crawford was announced one
evening, and I entered the parlor fully
for an overdose of John, but
found myself confronted by his father.
He looked very grave, and instantly I
imagined all sorts of things, and re-
preached myself for my coldness.-
John is well,' I gasped, finally.
Quite well,' was the reply, in such
kind tones that I felt sure there was
wrong.
What it was, I cared not, but poured
forth my feelings impetuously to my
visitor.
He must not come here again. 1
exclaimed. I do not wish to see him.
Tell him so, Mr.. Crawford. Tell him
that I had rather remain Edna Car
as he made me promise, than
to became Edna Crawford
And he made you promise this was
the reply. The selfish fellow. But,
Edna, what am 1 to do without the
little girl have been expecting? am
very lonely-so lonely that I do not
see how I can give her up
/ glanced at him, and the room
seemed swimming romd-everything
was dreadfully unreal. I tired to sit
down, and was carried tenderly to the sofa
Shall it be Edna Darlington or Edna
2 he whispered. You need
not break your promise to john
Edna Crawford replied, feeling
that l had left the world entirely, and
was in another sphere Of existence. If
the thought crossed my mind that Mr..
Crawford had rather cheerfully supplan-
ted his son, the proceeding was fully
justified during the visit which / soon
from that young gentleman
l tried to make it plain to him that I
did him no wrong, as I had never pro-
fessed to love him, although not at all
sure that / wouldn't receive the shak-
ing threatened on . previous occasion;
md I endeavored to be as tender al
for I felt really sorry for him.
To my great surprise. John laughed.
And am not villain, after all
What do. You think of her, Edna He
produced an ivorytype in a rich velvet
pretty, little blue-eyed simple
.on. She looked ike atat seventeen.
Rose he continued. Rose Darling;
The name suits her, doesn't it She
was staying at her uncle's in Maryland
that's where / have been visiting, you
she's such q dear little con-
iding thing that . fellow couldn't help
faling in love with her. And she thinks
no end Of me, you see-says she's quite
afraid Of me, and all that
John knew that I wasn't bit afraid
If him, but felt an elderly, sisterly
sort Of interest in his happiness, and
had never liked him % we'll a. at that
And this was the dreadful
news that his father had come to break
10 me. when his narrative was nipped
in the bud by my revelations, and the
interview ended In far more satisfac-
tory manner than either Of W had an
ticipated. So I kept my promise to
John, after oil, and - Miss Rose kept
hers, he 10 nov steady married man