The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-17

! 'if you will promise to keep it secret till
| all the world hears of It,"
81 will be silent as q sphynx."
/ read Lizzie's confidence. When l
| finished reading 1 looked up, and my
sharp lesson of modification was
stricken upon my heart at one blow.
Selwyn Tratford had made the same
| mistake.
1t was the first time l ever suspecte d
that Selwyn Tratford thought was tn e
heiress Elizabeth. But the blank con-
sternation upon his face could not be
concealed by the forced smile upon his
as a ghost, and said, family:
"Quite a romance, indeed, Miss Rush
ingL0n. Your cousin seems very happy"
"She is happy" 1 said, bitterly, for
my modification was deep and biting;
"she has found one true heart in d
world of false ones"
There was a moment OF silence, then
selwyn Trafford said, hoarseIy:
"YOu despIse mel l see it in your
face, l hear it in your voice. But hear
me. l am wholly dependent upon my
uncle. If offend Erasmus Selwyn, I
am beggar."
"Your family affairs do not interest
me-" | said, haughJily, rising as spoke.
L
siouately; "you shall not condemn me
without defense"
81 have heard no accusation" / said.
"But you know my error. l was seut
here by my uncle to WOO Elizabeth
Rushington. Somewhere he has met
ynur cousin, and IL occurred to him that
she would make me suitable vile, with
| suitable iortune. L came, as | obey
all commands laid upon me, TO please
my uncle. | was III reality wholly
indifferent, expecting to find a frivolous
butte fly OF fashion, who would waltz
| through society with her own fortune,
and allow me perfect liberty TO do the
same. l found q woman who had a
heart, brain, a disposition that might
win The true, loyal love oi any man;
woman full OF noble inspirations, Win-
some and dignitied; and while | O0eyed
my uncle, loved Elizabeth Ru shin yton.
[ nave been an empCy-Ieaded fop, but
YOU could have made me man! And
with the love strong in my heart, The
hope bright and clear, came TO ask you
| to be my wife, and l find L must tear
myself from YOU"
| smiled bitterly.
"Not because you are poor, but be-
cause | am! Not because you are not
the heiress, but because my uncle Will
thrust me out to starVe ii BRING nome
| a wife other than the one that he has
chosen. And l love you 100 well TO
drag you down TO such poverty as an III
terry useless man, deprived of fortune,
must endure"
WituouC waiting for my reply, he
turned away and went into the house,
and l heard the door of his room c.ose
| sharply.
A ant To q fN1NT 1tNfC CT n fpN
the low window OF the parlor. Never
had ner face been SO WOmanly i'll its
| tenderness as it was when she pressed
her lips upon mine, saying:
Bessie, forgive me! 1t was all my
| fault. But l. thought it was such IA
chance for you"
You have heard?" | said.
"4eS; l was doing on the sofa when
your voice awakened me-"
"Iou knew The mistake Selwyn was
maklngW
81 guessed it! And really, child, l
could not be expected 10 set HIM right"
"NOl 1t is pity, though"
"You love him! L did not think you
did"
II don't! might have married him,
as he might have married me, for money,
| Dut do not love him. Sill, as you
heard, he loves me-"
| And when | heard six months later of
oelwyn TratforGs engagement with ii
real bona Fde heiress, l endorsed my
aunps opinion.
| But l went back to the seminary a
sadder and wiser woman, having
learned the value of the true nearL thaC
| loved me.
| Herbert Worth is my beloved and hon.
ored nus band, ana we live upon his sal
airy III modest, coy fashion, but very
happy.
But drive out no more wrapped in
lnula shdwls, leaving all such luxurIes
to my cousin Elizabeth the heiress, who
was married at the same time as N.Y.
sell, our aunt insisting upon giving
grand entertainment TO celebrate the
double wedding ul the Misses Elizabe th
Washington.