The daily gazette., 1877-03-22

her hands. Twilight and darkness
filled the pretty white room; the whip
poor-will's call came on the dewy air,
and the piano sounded softly in the
rooms below. 1t was Hermione's touch
and Rupert St. Charles was happily
bending over tsthe woman he loved
with his whole SOUL" no doubt. Poor
Linly! She wished she could creep
into her fathers grave and be out Of
the sight Of their happiness.
By.and-by, in the stiffness, she heard
steps on the stair. Was Harmione
coming? Yes, the door opened, and
Hermione's voice syllabled, 'sDear, are
you here! Why, we thought you had
not come from town." ma - 4
She advanced into the room, putting
the light she carried under a shade in
the corner. T. s-z ol! s3l ea
"You have come home With q head
ache, I, knsw-the day, has been so
hot; but you ought to have drank some
tea Llnly, dear" H isfoe'
The graceful, fragant form pres d
the couch by the girls side; ten or
arm stole around her neck. =
81 am glad we can be quiet l
have something to tell you. Did I
hurt you Linly, with my ring? Why
did you vince so!"
"No, Hermione, no." feebly.
{ "Linly, something has happened to-
day which gives me great hope and,
pleasure. Shall tell your"
There was little pause-such hard
little pause.
"Yes.n
"You know my cousin, Rupert st.
Charles, a year, and you feel quite we'll
acquainted with him, do you nvt?"
"Quite well"
"He is all he seems to be, Linly. 1.
think you like him."
No answer.
II hope you do, dear, for he is just
what a young man ought to be--honor-
able, pure and steadfast-and the wo-
man who has won his love is fortu-
nate indeed-blessed, if she returns it
fer he will make devoted husband.
She could not have better fate than
to be the wife of Rupert st. Charles.
/ Hermoine Thetford heard her step
daughters quickened breathing, but
she could not see her face. - a
81 walked with him this afternoon
in the garden, and-surely. dear, your
head must be very bad. heard you
mean"
VERY bad. But never mind Her
mione." .,...- .-.
He urged me to promise which I
was reluctant to give"
eyes,"
"I hesitated to take the step he ur-
ged upon me, because yeur father has
been dead such short time, and eth.
ers might think"
"You need net care what others
think If you are sure of your own
feelings, Hermione."
sit is because am sure of them,
Indy, that at last yielded. have
known Ruper from a child, and he is
one in a thousand. So, dear, surely
you will forgive me If you are averse
to this"
"Forgives What should | forgive,
dear Hermione?'' -.
II yielded and gave my consent that
he should tell you his love, and try to
win you're, dear. For nothing could
make nae happier, my sweet girl, than
for you to marry my cousin"
Hermione's voice died away. There
was no sound in the darkened cham
ber. She listened anxiously for Lin
ly's response; but the girl realized
nothing but the feelings of her own
heart.
will you not speak, dear?"
"What shall say, Hermione?"
care you panied or pleased by what
l have told your"
"Hermione, l have been told that
you and Rupert st. Charles used to
love each other.
II have always loved Rupert as
cousin nothing more. 1t was your
father whom l loved, dear, and so you
are next dearest to my heart. l have
promised Ruper to urge you to give
him little signof land
so he has sent you this blush rose. If
he may speak to you wear it in your
hair when he comes tomorrow night;
IL you have no hope for him, yeu
need not see him at all, as it might be
painful to you, and will surely dash
his dearest hopes to the ground. 30 l
will tell him as gently as possible"
"Give me the rose."
Hermiene unfastened the cool, fra
giant thing from her own dark hail, land
in the darkness saw its whiteness lif~
ted to the girls lips.
81 will wear it,"
Soon all Circleville knew of Linly's
engagement, and this Is the way it