Smyrna times., 1877-10-24
A Woman's Wooing.


Mrs. Vac, smilingly, and then left them to
get acquainted the best way they could.
" trust we shall each do our best to
crafty Helen's hope" said Miss Beresford,
giving Alfred Charlton her hand.
{" am sure | shall try to do my part
we'll, answered Charlton, earnestly.
I" don't think we shall find much diff
ficulty in getting acquainted" said Miss
Beresford. Helen has told me so much
about you that feel as if knew you al
ready"
81 am much obliged to her." laughed
Charlton.
And then the conversation branched off
into other fields, and before he had known
her an hour, Alfred Charlton felt that they
had been acquainted for years.
You must be careful, my good fellow"
he said to himself that night, when he was
alone in his room. I" No falling in love
with this woman"
1t was easy enough for Charlton to tell
himself that he must not fall in love with
Miss Beresford. 1t was not so slight
matter to keep from doing 50. Before he
knew it. he had compromised his heart
He would yearn for that which had
come so near and was so far away. His
life would lack the flower which should
crown every mans life with that of COM
pleteness.
. But l must not think of it in that
way" he said, as he looked the matter
fairly in the face. "If allow myself to, it
will only make it the harder for me to
accept the situation. She is not for me,
and that sottles it,
lie was going up to town one day. Two
gentlemen, who had been stopping at
Richmond for few days, were in the car.
but they did not see him, as it was large
saloon carriage with three compartments,
separated by low partitions.
BY the way" spoke up one Of them,
"what do you think that affair between
Miss Beresford and young Charlton will
amount to p
Nothing, of course" was the others
reply. He's poor, you know, and the
Berestords are proud as Lucifer They
would consider themselves terribly dis
graced if she were to make such match"
But she seems in earnest" said his
companion.
Yes, l know that" replied the other.
Women often seem to be in earnest you
know"
Then you don't think she cares for
him?" asked the other gentleman.
mo, l DON'T was the reply. "She is
a Beresford, and will not sacrifice the
Beresford pride. She is probably enjoying
herself well, and finds, no doubt, much
amusement in fooling Charlton"
=" had made up my mind that she was
not the kind of woman to indulge in such
amusement" said the other, thOughtfllly.
There can be no doubt about Charlton
earnestness.'
''Oh, no." was the reply. "He would be
doing remarkably fine thing for his own
interest if he were to marry her He ewould
not have to work, as he does now in the
city, if he could catch Miss Beresford. He
is probably looking out for number one.
don't blame him. But he'll hardly make
his plans work.
Charlton heard every word of the CONVEX
satlon. That was the way the world would
look at it if he were to marry her. He
would be considered in the light of a for
tunehunter merely. He would get credit
for no higher, nobler motive.
But what stung him most, was the
thought that she was amusing herself with
him. Could he believe that?
=
." wish you would read to me-" Miss
Bsresford said. 81 am tired. | want
rest"
What shall I read?' Charlton asked.
a lJ.
heart was heavy.
"Here is Whittier" she said, taking up
volume from the table. Read me AMY
Wentworth please.
He started, and looked at her kecnlv. |
What could she mean by selecting that?
Did she wish to tantalize him? Her eyes
dropped before his glance, and soft color
suffused her face
lie found the poem, and began to read.
"Stop," she said, softly, when he had
half finished it. "Will you please read
those last verses again? think they are
so beautiful"
He looked as her again, searchingly, but
her face was in a shadow.
The spring is brightest at its birth,
And love is not like wine;
Not honored less than him who bears
Is he who POUNDS a line
Full lightly shall the prize be won
Iflove be fortunes spur
For never maiden stoops 10 him
Who lifts himself to her"
Il think Whittier has written nothing
more beautiful than that" she said " If |
the world would only look at it in that
light, how much better it would be for all
of u.s.
But it WON'T" he cried, passionately.
III never Judges people from stand |
point"
"What is the opinion of the world
worth p she asked, turning her face to
him. " If those who are so intimately con-
cerned understand each other, it matters |
very little or nothing at all what other |
people say"
am going away" he said, suddenly.
lie had come to the conclusion that he |
could not trust himself any longer. He
would get away from the sound of her voice
and her hunting eyes.
when p she asked
Tomorrow" he answered. Since he
must 60, better 60 at once.
" And so our happy summer is at an
end y she said, softly, with little sigh
Ut has been very pleasant one to me-
Very, very pleasant"
Good-byer' he said, getting up and
coming to her side, with outstretched
hand. Perhaps you think it strange that
go away in this hasty fashion; but YOU
would not if you understood my reasons.
1t is better for me, for both of us. II
would have been better if / had gone
weeks ago."
She gave him her hand, and he felt it
tremble in his.