The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-06

was wild lad from the first and as
soon as he came of age he grew worse,
| instead of better, and in three years
time had spent all his own property,
and then his father died, leaving him
his. That was scarpe two years ago,
but the fine estate is nigh used up with
fast living, and the young man is going
to the bad, ma'an, as quick as he can
go. He is handsome lad, but wild
one, and will never be a ne'er- do-well,
1 fear"
"And now, Rose" mamma said, after
reporting this conversation to me, "you
must discourage any further attentions
from this Breeze Rogers. He is no
companion for you, the betrothed, of
Rollin Weatherbee. | think we have
been sufficiently kind to him for the
service he did you, and I do hope the
| acquaintance, or at least the familiar
footing on which he has placed himself,
will be discontinued in the future. 1t
is not proper for de.elect to be as
ISOLATED SO Familiarity with a strange
young man of whom she knows no good.
| You should tell him of your approach
! ing marriage, and then his attentions
would undoubtedly cease, if he has any
sense of honor whatever"
The necessity was saved me. That
very afternoon my mother took the task
upon herself. Breeze came to Merideth
House, and found me absent, gathering
MOSES. He sat down in the cool porch,
and fell to chatting, in his light, care
less, easy way, with my mother. How
it happened do not know, but mother
managed to speak of my approaching
marriage.
1t was almost dark when / reached
the avenue that lod up to the Merideth
House. A 1.-the figure stood leaning
against the stone gateway, as I saunted
by, my hands full of MOSES. "Good
evening"" I said, gayly. "Will you
walk up with me ?"
He did not answer, save to step for
ward, draw my arm within his, and turn
me away from the house, down toward
the lake.
"We will go this way" he said and
felt the fire of his eyes burning my
cheek tc a fame. We walked so, in
dreadful silence for q moment, then he
spoke.
&c Is this thing true that your mother
tells me % he asked.
what thing ?" almost whispered.
You know r he answered. ferceIy.
6" Is it true that you are to be the wife
of a white-faced aristocrat next Octo-
Der? That you are here to make your
preparations r.
eyes" The word came reluctantly,
and almost with gasp. He took my
hands in his and looked down upon me.
"You shall not-you shall not p he
Kissed. 81 love you, you are mine, now
and forever"
Before 1 could speak or cry ont, he
had taken me in his arms, and was rain
ing kisses upon my lips: was young,
romantic, and impulsive. This man had
aroused strange feeling in my breast, |
that now, as lay in his arms, / believed |
must be love. I could see the reckless
beauty of his face as it bent above me,
and almost t1ncopsciously c!asped my |
arms about his neck, sobbing wildly, |
and whispering, ooh, if I had only |
known you sooner-if it were not too |
late r.
cit is not too late," he cried, pas
sionately, stFaining nae to his heart.
"You are mine, now and for all time.
You must be my wife p
"But I ca1lnot," I sobbed, "I am
bound to another - the wedding day
dlaws near"
ST care nothing for that. You must
wed me, and no other. L cannot give
you up"
His irnperious manner, his impas-
stoned eatnestness, arohsed my giflish
admiration. He seemed like some
knight of olden romance to me, beside
whom Rollin Weatherbee, with his pa
trician beauty, was completely over
Swallowed. We walked long in the
cleaning, he pleading, I hesitaing,
almost yielding, but leaving him at
length with no definite decision. For
three weeks met Rogers clandestinely
each day, and listened to his words of
passionate devotion, and let him i'm
print warm kisses upon my lips. Day
after day he urged me to fly with him
but, though [ believed I loved him,
better than I had ever loved Rollin
Weatherbee, I hesitated to make him
any promise, and strange fear of him
held me back from fight. Yet each
day my resolution grew weaker, each
day the mans hold upon me, and power
over me, became stronger. At last
came an afternoon late in September.
1 was to meet Breeze that evening, and
stood looking out at the gorgeous sum-
set, with a heart full of tontending
emotions, when mamma came into the
room. "Rose," she said, "you remem-
Der Breeze Rogers, who came here so
often some time ago ?"
Remember him ! but 1 only said,
" Yes, mother" in very low voice.
"Well, Harwood tells me a painful
thing in connection with him. She
says her husband tells her it is the
neighborhoOd talk now. 1t seems there
is very lovely young girl, gardeners
daughter, Cora Smith by name, whom
Breeze has been very attentive to for
some months. The girls father says
she is betrothea to him. At all events
he has been most ardent lover, for a
year or more, and now, without word,
or any apparent cause, he has deserted
her. Has not been near her for two
months, and the girl is very ill-calling
for him constantly, but he does not go
near her. 1t is thought she will die.
She is poor, frail, childish thing, and
never knew what it was to suffer before.
1t is very sad. What heartless villain
he must be-"
My heart seemed to die within me.
A rush of emotions, shame, anger, grief,
misplaced love, and wounded pride
fought together IN my breast. Oh how
mean the man was whom had placed I
above Rollin Weatherbee in nay hearts
affection. How I despised him from
that moment. Then l began to think it
might not be so-there might be some
mistake. q" / will go to him to night"