The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-27
humbly and regretfully over my late pet
ishness. What could have induced me

mean, contemplate feeling Of Jealousy
! have been the cause-jealousy that poor
Pauline d Esterre should have the small
est share of good looks which might pos
siblY attract the attention Of the man
! who was to be my husband
Oh, Nina Brandon, thought, in spite
Of your ancient name, what oontempta-
bic little being you are for such noble
giant as Hugh Gordon to dream Of call:
ling wife! =
| This same Hugh Gordon was an en-
bodiment of my ideal of the noble and
chiyalrous.. As q child, my love for my
so1iier.cousin had been intense beyond
my years. and the tears shed at his de-.
parture had been amongst the bitterest
that my life had known.
( was an orphan. There. on the win.
dow.pane before me, had been written
eighteen years before, with diamond,
and BY the chand sof.asmy fair. young
mother, the words, nina Brandon, aged
eighteen" A year after, she had died;
her gentle life had ended when mine,
amidst sorrow and wa;ling for her loss,
had begun.
The sight of the autograph, and the re-
membrance Of the mourning l then wore
! for the father who had died only nine
months previously, brought the tears i'll:
to my eyes. How lonely and desolate |
should have felt in the world but for one
ewect hope!
1t had been my dear fathers will, Ut
tered upon his death-bed to M, and often
I in his lifetime to Hugh, that we should
marry each other, Hugh taking the name
of Brandon, there being no MAZE heir in
the family. But did he love me with
lanything more than cousinly or brotherly
love? That was the question with which
tormented myself from day to day. To
be Hugh's wife would be for me happiness
supreme but for him!
After an absence from England Of two
years, he was to return'that very night,
and the question upon which my future
happiness sdspended would then be an
swered.
How slowly thehours dragged on !!
| Twilight came: yet still with beating
heart l kept my watch at the window.
At last heard the sound: of wheels COM
ing mp the long avenue, and, first like a
shadow in the dim distance, and then
clearer and clearer, saw my hero once
again.
He was driving himself; and, as the
dog cart stopped at the door, he looked
eagerly aud hurriedly at all the windows.
But had hidden behind the curtains - a
sudden fit Of shyness had come over me.
Though longed to run down an greet
him, yet determined |. would not go
until was sent for. In few moments
the summons came.
Miss Nina, the major has arrived, and
! is asking for you
Very demurely walked down the
broad staircase, though my heart was
dancing with delight. lie should not
think me giddy child, thought.
could hear his voice in the library,
and supposed him to be talking to my
aunt.
The door was little way open, and l
Was about to enter, when the thought
struck me that weuld take a peep at
him first; ! wished to see whether he
was much altered.
He was standing by the window, and
his tall figure and handsome face stood
oat clearly against the light; but, to my
great establishment, it was not my aunt
to whom he was talking IN that low. ia
miliar tone.
| 1t was Pauline. She whom had sup
Cposed to be = total stranger to my cousin
was standing close to him. her hand upon
his arm, her face raised to his with an
expression of earnest entrcaty. heard
her last words-"l have never ceased to
love you.''
| In the hewilderment Of the moment
the thought rushed into my mind-'It
cannot DO real! l am dreaming and shall
wake in . moment; it is certainly a
DREAM But my aunt's hand placed on
my shoulder reused me to the reality.
In another moment Pauline came forth
smiling, showing all her fine white teeth.
Nina, ma belle, Major Gordon and
have met before, in Paris. Is this not a
pleasant coincidence
Mechanically took the hand he held
out to me with so much seeming warmth
and eagerness; but, when he would have
drawn me to him, and kissed me, as of
old, drew back coldly, and with as
much dignity as my seventeen years
could assume.
/ I could not be content with Hugh's
country love; therefore for the future he
must treat me as = woman, not as a child.
He only smiled in an amused manner,
and then, turning to my aunt. began to
converse with her. Beyond him could
see Paulines dark eyes with laughing
triumph in them. could not mistake
her expression. No doubt she was think.
ing how sfavo-ablH: her welcome must have
contrasted with mine.
My heart seemed bursting with griel
and indignation. could not remain a
moment longer in their presence; so ]
stole Quietly from the library and I'M in,