Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-10-11
A WOMAR's WOOING.

and let me supplement the intro
duction with the lrope, that you will
be very good friends said Mrs
Vac, smilingly, and then left them
to get acquainted the best way they
could. - ~ - s-.
Il trust we shall each do our best
to crafty Helen's hope and Miss
Beresford, giving Alfred Charlton
her hand.
Il am sure I shall try to do my
part well,' answered Charlton,
earnestly.
Il don't think we shall find much
difficulty in getting acquainted,' ,
said Miss Beresford, sHelen has
told me so much about you that |
feel as if l knew you already
Il am much obliged to her.
laughed Charlton.
And then the conversation
branched off into other fields, and
before he had knew 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
No falling in love with this
woman
1t was easy enough for Charlton
to tell himself that he must net fall
in love with Miss Bcresford. 1t was
not so slight IA matter to keep from
doing so. 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 completeness.
But | must not think of it in
shat way he said, as he looked the
matter fairly in the taco. If [ allow
myself to, it will only make it the
harder tor me to accept the situa~
ton. She Is not for me, and that
settles it,
He was going mp to town one
day. Two gentlemen, who had
been stopping at Richmond for a
few days, were in the town, but
they did not see him, rs it WAS a
large saloon carriage with three
compartments, separated by low
partitions.
BY the way spoke up one of
them, Fwhat do You think that affair
between Miss Bercstor0 and yonng
Charlton will amount to 2
Nothing, OF course was the
others reply. 'He'spoor, you know,
and the Bcresfords are proud as
Lucifer They would consider
themselves terribly disgraccd if she
we're to make such match
'Bnt 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 lon't think she cares
for him 2 asked the other gentle
man.
No, I DON'T was the reply
'She is Bercsford, and will not
sacrifice the Bercstord pride. She
is probably enj Dying herself well,
and finds, no doubt, much amuse-
ment in tooling Charlton
Il had made up my mind that
she WAS not the kind of woman TO
indulge in such amusement said
the other, thoughtfully. There can
be no doubt about Charlton's earn
estness.'
ooh, no. was the reply. 'He
would be doing remarkable fine
thing for his own interest if he
were to marry her. He would not
have to work, as he does now in the
city, if he coul,. catch Miss Beres-
ford. lie is probably looking ont
for number one, I don't blame him.
But he'll hardly make his plans
work.
Charlton heard every word of
the conversation. That was the
way the world would look at it if
he were to marry her. He would
be considered in the light of
hunter 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
4 wish you would read to me,
Miss Beresford said. Il am tired.
[ want rest
'What shall l read 2 Charlton
asked. His voice had weary sound
in it. His face had a shadow on it.
His heart was heavy.
sHere is WHITTIER she said, TAX
ing up a volume from the table
'Read ne Amy Wentworth,
please
He started. and looked at her
keenly. What could she mean by
selecting that z Did she wish to