The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-04-21

| herself and husband, though ordinarily
n would not have occurred 10 her TO
think whether or not she had conferred
favors on one who was almost like her
own daughter.
Their talk was long, protracted, and
often renewed, and Robert added his
pleadings. lie told Of the years during
which he had watched her growing
beauty. loving her first for her mothers
sake, but as she bloomed into woman
hood SO like that mother, he found him.
self renewing the dreams of his youth,
daring to hope that happiness might
Vet be his. The strongest, the best for
titled woman's heart must ever be more
or less moved by the evidence Of deep
and earnest affection; and poor Lizzie
had the yielding, plant nature Of her
mother. And Mark BOynton was away
she had not seen him for weeks; and
not knowing that he was occupied at
the county town with the final trial of
his ease, She felt herself neglected 10y
him. Why, if he really loved her, was
he not here TO say so, and 10 stand 10y
her in this time Of trial? So il came
about that, helpless in the hands of her
ailectionate but ill-judging friends, she
yielded, and promised to marry Robert
Jocelyn.
1t was a day or two after she had
formally given her word, that she was
returning one evening alone from "A
neighbours. She had not walked far
vixen she heard quick step behind her,
and turning saw Mark Boynton. lie
greeted her gayly, and the dim light
prevented his observing her pale and
troubled face He took her hand and
drew it through his arm with an all al
most of ownership, saying, as he did SO,
This was Just what | wanted, Lizzie,
10 meet you. was going 10 your
house. | am such happy fellow to-
night that want TO tell YOU about it. "
She made no answer; indeed, he gave
her no time, but went on:
81 have been all the week at Milford,
attending court, and have gained my
case. My farm is my own atlast, and |
am an independent man"
She murmured some half inaudible
expression of pleasure in this result
"Lizzie," he said, stopping suddenly
and taking her hand in his, "there is
only one thing want now to make me
the happiest man in Byfield. want
you TO come and share my home with
me"
Here Lizzie drew her hand hastily
from him, and said in frightened tone,
"Don't! don't, Mark, You must not
talk 10 me sou
What do you mean, Lizzie? Why
may not tell yoH that love you better
than all the worldp | think You must
have known it without my telling
Poui n ie burst into passion of
tears, Lr' could not speak. Mark drew
her GENT out Of the path and seated
her upon stone, placing himself beside
her He waited some minutes for her
answer, but she remained silent. "Dear
Lizzie" he said at last, ''you must know
that love you. Can be mistaken in
thinking you care for meP'
He drew away the hands with which
she had covered her face, and begged
she gasped out in kind of depreca-
ton, :" i have promised to mary Robert
Jocelyn."
Mark Boynton flung away the hands
he held with an angry gesture, and
sprang to his feet "Lizzie," ne cried
Indignantly, "you are not, you can not
I be in earnest"
No answer from Lizzie. Her voice
was choked with sobS. Poor Mark broke
out in bitter reproaches He accused her
Of cruel trifling with him, and declared
his belief that she had accepted Jocelyn
because he was the richer man, and his
I I.,lsf,,l 4 4 al
but one answer to his reproaches; she
cried as if Der heart was broken; and
the strong. tender-hearted fellow soon
grew pitiful Of her grief, and soothed
her, and begged forgiveness for his
! harshness. After a while he drew from
her the whole story He understood
the pressure which had been brought to
bear upon her, and how powerless she
\ had been to resist il. lie saw that she
| loved him. and that If she had felt sure
Of his affection, she would have stood
out against them all. If he had but
spoken out before But his own pride
had been to blame.
Though ne argued long and earnestly,
he could not convince Lizzie that she
had any right to draw back She had
given her word, and she held herself
bound by it, persistently declaring that
he must not talk, or she listen. So at
last he gave up in despair, and the two
walked home in gloomy silence.
In Byfeld every body's affairs are
known to every body else; and so twas
but few days before the whole neigh
borhood was informed Of Lizzie's en-
gagement to Robert Jocelyn, and by
some mysterious agency, known only 10
rural communities, the secret Of Mark
Boynton's love and disappointment was
also generally understood The cir
cumstances created kind Of excitement.
The general opinion was that the two