The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-05-27


tcrs IN Tie fire, make up your mind t,
say yes and so to sleep yoursclf.'
"Thc letters must retnrn,' sh,
said. III wish to rctard some of then
first. | may sit up very late, bu
; don't let me disturb YOU"
She sat down to her task, and look
ed the lovcmlsSlvcS over one hv one
Selecting four us correct types of tn,
others, she laid them aside to.ethe,
with the last one received. Then,
writing Il reply, she gathered the 9th,
crs together, and put them away.
In the morning she rose early
Eraidins her hair slowly before the
mirror, she glanced down into the
garden below.
Mr.. Th"rnc was there, chatting
with the gardener, who was cutting
some flowers. She scanned his tall
and handsome figure critically for a
moment, and when she turned back
TO the mirror, she met widc-opcued,
half. frightened eyes, and Il very wan
face.
"What have I donc??" sho asked
herself, with feelings Of doubt and
t"rcbodiug. 'Or, rather, what am !
about to do? wonder if Fortune
hv"rs the rash as well us the brave ~
There was u tap at the door, a bou-
Tnrt with Mr.. Thornc's compliments,
aud little note among the flowers.
llc was waiting for her answer.
Would she meet him in the garden in
half an hour! 1t was Il whole hour
yet to breakfast time. lie was impa.
tient-wOula she como?
The messenger was waiting.
EYES," she said in answer. "Tcll
Mr.. Theme | will see him.
Then she closed the door; and
turning to her desk, she took out the
four letters she he'd laid aside the
night before. She sat down, shut
fling thcm abscntly, rs one would Il
pack of cards.
ats all Il game she said; and I
am playing in the dark
Aud she shivcrel, though the morn.
| ing was warm.
The half-hour had nearly passed
when she rose, and taking the flowers
Mr.. Thornc had sent her. she pulled
some of them through. her bvaids, and,
her letters in her baud, she went down.
lie WAS waiting at the door with an
eXpectant look it was hard to face in
the full morning light so that by the
time they had walked down the path
tOa quiet nook in u shaded corner Of
the garden, her eyes were flashing,
her checks were glowing, and the
hands that claspcd the letters trcm-
bling Il triie; aud as for Mr.. 'Thornc
lie was, to be caudid, slightly ncr-
vous, too.
Ada, giving him a shy Auttcring
glance, saw it, and was inwarlly
thankful !; for she had learned to he
suspicious of these men who arc al.
ways self possessed and cool.
"Well my darling ?" he said, qucs-
tioningly and with Il SMILE.
swell 2" sho answered him, hest.
tating, aud not knowing what to say.
"llave you the answer | am waiting
for ready p he asked.
"You have not repcntcd p she said.
You are still willing to take me for
better or worse, in yonr morning
conclusions -
"Still wiling he answered, "anl
very anxious too. DO you doubt it ?"
"No,' she replied, staiily. 81 don't
think fully understand you, but do
not doubt. Now I will tell you what
l could not explain last night. For Il
long time was engaged to John Eas-
ton. | knew him from my childhood,
aquiet boy, studious and steady to a
fault. AS man, he seemed the soul
of honor, cautious, reliable, and cool.
When he asked me to marry him, |
said, If there be 4 man in this world
| can fully respect and trust, it is
John Eastorn.' l never questioned
him, never doubted anything ho did
or said. lie wrote me often, fond,
almost foolish letters. Here are four
| selected to show you. Would you
like to see them ~
"No," he answered, taking the
hand that held them in both his.
"You don't want me to read then,
darling, and l will not l can fully
believe what you say without proof
Her looks expressed her thanks.
Her lips were growing unsteady, and
she waited moment, trying to find
her voice.
"Don't tell me this if it distress
YOU" he said, touching his lips to
hers tcnlerly. "rell me that you are
not bound to this man now that is
enough for me. By.apl-by, when
you feel more composed, l will listen
to the story, ifyou wish me to hear
it,"
She gazed ut him trnstingly, and
she looked more childish than ever in
her surprise.
"Y"u are not generous enough for
this p she asked.
81 am not generous when ] do not
love-" he answered "but l love you
fully trust you utterly :; I know
yon would not stoop to deceive nc in
anything"
How we may wrong ono man by
judging him by another !" she cried,
impetnously. "No, am not bound
to this man. He, the honorable, no.
ble-hearted gentleman, who all his
friends believe has never made u mis-
take in his life, broke the bond after
a two years. engagement, saying lie
was mistaken in believing he loved
me; and you, though you have seen
me scarcely twenty four hours, are
willing to take me altogether upon
trust"
"yery willing, and very eager, too.
There! Won shall tell me no more