Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21


avowal. Her Irritation with me was in
tended, also, to impress on Mr.. Har-
per's mind the conviction that she was
really attached to me, and he ceased,
therefore, to trouble himself about Cap
tain Cox. He liked me, and he encour-
aged me, on purpose that the odious
captain might be thrown into the shade.
Such was the state of affairs at the out
set of Julia's Irritation with me. But
Rachel assured me thatI really had made
an impression on the young lady's
heart, though she had not by any means
given ur the gallant captain.
l asked Rachel how this could be-
how it was possible that any heart could
bear two impressions at the same time.
She said that she supposed some i'm
pressions were not as deep and inefface-
able as others. At all events, she be-
lieved that to Miss Harper it was mat
ter of no very vital concernment whether
she married Captain Cox or Mr.. Blox-
ham; but that she was determined to
have one or other. The fact is, the girl
was play ing a double game, and deceiv-
ing both of us. All this was very clear
to me from Rachel's story. But she
told me it was her own belief, that Julia
would determine on taking me, after all
and that for the very excellent reason
that Captain Cox was engaged else
where. At least, that was the story in
the town since his return to barracks.
Poor Rachel shed a great many tears
while she was telling me all this. She
cold tbof bav;ro, hot frox,aJ bor ,,,icfraao
she could not think of remaining with
her. She was decided on this point.
With warm expressions of gratitude, I
took her little hand in mine, and said
that would be her friend-that she had
done me an inestimable service-that 1
was glad to be undeceived-that the
little incident of the deception of the
slippers had shaken my belief in Miss
Harper's truth, that altogether my
opinions had changed, and that I knew
there were worthier objects cf affec-
ton. Then l spoke Of her own position
said that of course her determination
WAS right-but that she would confer q
very great favor on me if she would do
nothing until she saw me again. This
she readily promised; and it was agreed
that on the following day, which was
Sunday, she should call o. me during
afternoon service. I pressed her hand
warmly when I wished her goodbye.
She came at the appointed hour, look
ing prettier and more ladylke than ever.
She was extremely well dressed. I
shook hands with her and asked her to
seat herself upon the couch beside me;
and then asked her, laughingly: "What
news Of Captain Coxs" She said there
was not the least doubt that Captain
Cox was engaged to be married to a
lady in London and that Miss Harper,
on the preceding evening, not before,
had been made acquainted with the fact.
[ then asked Rachel what the young
lady had said on receiving back her let
ter to the captain : and learned that size
had been greatly excited by the dis
covery, and had been very eager to as
certain how much of the letter I had
read. When Rachel told her that I had
read only the words "I am SO de-
lighted, my dear Captain Cox," she
somewhat recovered her spirits, but this
morning she had pleaded illness as an
excuse for not coming down to break
fast, and had not since left her room.
There was at this time lying unopened
on my table note from Miss Harper,
which had been brought by her father,
an hour before. I asked Rachel to give
it to me, saying: "Now, let US see,
Rachel, whether any new light is thrown
upon the subject" I think her hand
trembled when she gave it to me. ]
opened and read:
"MY DEAR Mr.. BLoxHAM Very
many thanks to you for your prompti-
tude in returning the note, which,
stupid little bungler that I am +" {" Not
so very little, is she, Rachel2" paused
to remark) ST sent you by mistake-I
am very glad that had not sent the
other to Capt. Cox-for, although it
does not much matter if ones letters to
ones acquaintance falls into the hands
of ones friends, it is not at all pleasant
if ones letters to ones friends fall into
the hands of ones acquaintance. L
wrote to Capt. Cox only to tell him how
delighted I was to hear of his engage
mentor he is going to be married to
Miss Fitz Smythe-a very ladylike girl
who was spending some time here with
the Maurices, and was really quite
friend o. my own."
I had not patience to read any more.
I knew it to be all lie. SO tossed the
letter into the middle of the room, and
said: "We have had enough of that"
was ineffably disguised. One thing,
however, was certain, that Julia Harper
was now to be had by me for the ask
ing.
I had other views for my humble self.
Rachel, I found, on inquiry, was the
daughter of Mrs. Ernshaw, the widow
of an officer. The widows means of
subsistence were slight, and her daugh-
ter had obtained a situation as, what
people called, Miss Harper's maid.
My good fellow, [ can hardly tell you
what happened after this. I have o con-
fused re ollection of having looked in
quiringly into Rachel's face; read whole
chapters of love in it; then threw my
arms round her waist, pressed her fondly
to my bosom, and, while / united her
bonnet strings and removed the obtru-
sive covering from her head, said to her
"We sailors have all been sworn never
to kiss the maid when we can kiss the
mistress-un unless we like the maid better
than the mistress, and Heaven knows
how much do !"
After the lapse Of two or three weeks,
and very delightful weeks they were,
too, Rachel Ernshaw became Rachel
Bloxham, and I the happiest husband
in the world. / have got the very best
of little wives, and never, I assure you,
for one moment, though we have little
enough to live upon, and I cannot bear
these long separations, have I deplored
the loss OF Miss Harper.