New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-13

il fitting that the daughter should compen-
safe him for the pain her mother caused.
OF course all the neighborho0d gossip
was known to Mrs. Ezra, but she took good
care that very little Of it should come to
Roberts ears. She had made Hp her mind
that she knew what WAS best for Lizzie,
and she did not mean to let her plans fail.
And Robert! Was he ignorant OF the
he would not. He heard it said that Lizzie
loved Mark Boynton, and he would not be-
ieve it. Had he not loved her all her life
ss no young man c0uida Had he not q right
to her? He had missed happiness once, and
now j. was again within his grasp, who
should say that he ought to give it up?
Lizzie would be happy. She loved him al-
ready; she would love him wholly when she
was his wife. The other was but a passing
fancy. He shut his eyes to the evidence OF
her pale and eorrowful face, silenced all
inward circumstances. and held his way.
The preparations for the marriage we're
rather hurried forward, for Mrs. Ezra
thought the sooner it was over the better.
Lizzie made no objection. Since it was to
be, all times we're alike TO her. The day
for the wedding was fixed, and they only
waited tor the regular three weeks "Dub-
lishment." one OF the focms essential in
the first time on that pleasant Sunday after
noon on which this story opens. And Mr..
BesmAn, whose duty it was to perform that
Office, stood up before the congregation
and published the banns of marriage be-
tween Elizabeth Heath and Mark BOynton.
No wonder the people were thunder struck,
and that they moved in silent amazeMent
out OF the chuich.
But once the crowd was fairly outside Of
10 conrnA oEi nd ION,
were free. Mr.. Beaman was beset BY in
Guiries. Ezra Jocelyn was there, angrily
accusing him of wantonly insulting bis
daughter and his brother. The poor man
was completely bewil6ered. He did not
understand that anything was wrong. He
had been called upon by Robert Jocelyn to
publish the intention of marriage between
himself and Lizzie Heath, and he had done
it.
"Why. man alive!" exclaimed by
stander, sit was not Robert JOcelyn's name
that you called, but Mark BoyntOn's.'
The unlucky clerk could not believe it
possible that ne had made such q mistake
until the reiterated assertions Of all his
neighbors convinced Elm. He could only
explain it by the fact that he had thought
good deal Of the peculiar circumstances Of
the case-he had heard. he said, the women
folks talking it overland had pitied the
&ANCISC Ao.0 VI ITO bWO yOUAk UCOpAC CIVcS'
ed in love; and he must have had Mark
Boynton 60 much in his mind that he had
spoken the latters name unconsoi6usly. A
tine commotion his blunder had raised.
Mrs. Jocelyn, with Q flushed and angry
face, to K Lizzle's arm and hurried her
away. She believed the whole thing was o
trick Of Marks, and she suspected that
Lizzie might be privy to it. But she pru-
IDENTIFY repreesed her anger until they
lnA n~A <hnvA 4 :aI1 IT,
capped to her own room and locked herself
IN; 60 the good woMan's lecture had to be
postponed.
AZ for Mark Boy nton, the last syllable of
the benediction was hardly spoken before
ne was ont of the house. Curiors eyes fol-
lowed him, but no one had time to speak to
him, for he quickly sprang over g srile
leading from the church yard TO foot path
across the felde, and disappeared in the
wood beyond.
But doubtless the saddeet, the most pity
ing sympathy Of the crowd went after
Robert Jocelyn, as, with face white and
immova6le as that of the dead he moved
throughout the ttcong. which divided to let
him pass, and walked away to his home.
He eat down by the open window through
which the peneive autumn sunshine
stresmed in warm and sweet, and burying
his face in his hands, remained long time
lost IN gloomy thought. Bitter memories
crowded thick upon him. The struggle in
his soul was cruel one, but it was the bet
ter part Of him which conquered. After @
long time ne lifted his head, and drawing
ont mis- watch, took from the inner part Of
the old-faehioned silver case lock of hair.
faded now, but once bright warm brown:
Over it lay little wallpaper, OF which
was painted in water colOrs wreath of
forget-me-nots encireling two clasping
hands. Underneath the whole was the
name ''PIGbe." He gazed at these treas
ures long and steadily, while the hard look
OF suffering went out of his face, and his
eyes grew tender and moist with tears. He
leaned his elbow on the window-sill and
looked out across the happy autumn fields
to the churchyard where for go many years
poor Phoebe had rested from her sorrrows
Then his eye went to bis brothers house,
from the door of which he presently saw
little Lizzie pass out and take the path to
the orchard. At sight Of her bis lip culver
cd slightly; he heaved one great sigh, and
then said, as if summoning strength for
some final resolution. "Yes, will 90 and
tell her."
Poor Lizzie had thought her cup was full |
before; but this day she was cure she could |
bear NO more; and escaping rs soon as pos |
sible from her mother, she sought the only !
place where she was likely to be uninter- !
cupted. that she might cry her heart ont |
alone. She hurried along till she reached |
aer favorite seat beneath an ancient apple |
Tree, whose long branches dropped so low |
10 to almost touch the ground. On one |
side was the wall, and on another huge |
oarberry bush, 90 that she was almost en-
irely shut from view, and any enc sp- i
preaching could not be seen until close |
Upon her.
Now, not far distant from the Jocelyn |
orchard, and separated from it only by |
mail field, was . pleasant strip Of wood
and. 1t was part of Mark Boynton's |
arm; and up and down it's shaded paths |
,ver since be left the church. He alone, OF |
III present that day, understood in flash |
he old mans blunder and it's cause. In |
hat moment, when he drew himself proud |
y up in the face of all who looked at him, |
10 was saying TO himself. "She belongs to |
ne, and she shall be mine. That notice |
hall be rope ated here, and it shall be no |
)lunder"
Now, as he restlessly paced to and fro,
luite convinced that affairs had reached
risis, and could never stay as they were,
le was fully resolved to make good fight
or bis rights. He was just making up his
mind to 60 to Robert Jocelyn and have it
mt with him at once, when he CHANGED to /
lance across the field to the orchard be-
'ond, and his eye caught the autter of
ink dress among the trees. Well
10 knew who had worn that pink
muslin in church; he knew too the
look under the old apple tree for
70 had sat there more than once with Liz
lie. Without . moments hesitation he
prang over the low wall and went straight
cross the field to the old tree. There, as
10 expected, he found Lizzie. 1t is unnec-
ssary to relate ell the arguments he used
o bring her to his way OF thinking; at least
DOR girls conscience and sense of duty
7ere unfortunately arrsyed upon the wrong
ide.