The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-08

10 youl COuSll, mdpel NE6SSIuStOu1 anu
this is her good friend and inseparable,
Irene Vance, come TO help entertain
you. My nephew, Mr.. Waiter Austin,
girls. Ana this is aunt COrnelia-you
remember her we'll enough, hey2'
And SO the presentation was merrily
got over, and Walter lound himself at
home in the most pleasant family he had
ever known.
They were remarkably pretty girls,
with blue eyes-although Miss Vance's
were decidedly the deeper blue and
more beWitching-and lovely yellow
gold hair, although Walter found HIM
self admiring the style of Miss Vance's
cotfure before he had known her an
hour, and wnen he went up to his room
that night he telt as il, between the two
-roguisn Mabel and sweet little lrene-
he never would come out heart whole.
'For Mabel is a good little darling,
and will take old greaG.uncle Abiah's
advice and tall in love with her, and
thereby secure a generous share OF the
Cressington estates"
And tne handsome young gentleman
went to sleep and dreamed, instead Of
MabePs laughing eyes, OF Irene's gentle,
tender ones, and awoke somewhere III
the middle of the night, unable to get to
sleep again for LhinNing OF her.
And the after days were not much bet
ter. Despite the golden value OF Mabel
there was something about Irene Vance
that made this head-Strong fellow very
toolishy Indifferent to the advice he had
sworn to follow.
Because, by Jove! fellow would
have to be made of granite to resist the
sweet, shy ways of sucu little darling
as Ireue! And PHI marry her, if she'll
have me, and the money and property
may 90 to the-dogs! Pye head and "a
pair ol hands, and little Dlue-eyed Irene
shall not suffer-"
1t was not an hour later that he met
her in the hall carrying great boughs Of
holly to festoon down the sombre walnut
staircase.
"GIye me your burden, Irene. Why
didn't you tell me you were going t.
gather 1t, and let me go with youW
lie managed TO get the lovely sprays
from her arms, but it required an i'm
mense amount Of lardy effort ON his part,
ana shy, sweet blushlng ON hers.
ANSWER me, Irene. Why didu't you
let me 20 with you? Wou dn'L you
have liked itE
He demanded her answer in his most
captivating, lordly way, and she dropped
her eyes conluSedlys
"Y-4-s,'
"lhen why were you SO cruel to me
Say, Irene"
81 am not cruel to anybody. Indeed
must go."
Waiter planted himself precisely in
the way, and was looking down at her
rose-tlnted face.
mo, you can't go yet. Irene you are
cruel, or you would never deprive me of
one opportunity to enjoy the blessed
ness Oh your society"
His voice lowered tenderly, and he
dropped his mead nearer her golden
curls.
You know think 1t is cruel in you
to be 50 distant, and shy, anu reserved
with me-don't you, Irenep
She snrank away, her lovely form
drooptng like lily OF the valley, her
cheeks hanging out lheir signals OF DIS
tress and Confusion.
"Oh, please, don't talk SO to mel In
deed | must 20. Mabel is waiting lOr
The molly, and she-they won't like II
IL"
But Irene was prisoner in his tight
clasp.
I'll what? Ifthey ind you and me
talking SO conddentally togetherp
"No! l mean if dou'G take The holly
at once"
Walter put his arm around her waist
before she hardly knew what he was
doing.
"lrene, look up! You shall not go un-
til you leL me see IN your eyes il you love
me as well as l love you! Irene, my
dear litlle girl, l do love you dearly,
dearlyV
She was silent one second, and he saw
~ fIlII hlt fpnY lat
Then she raised her golden head slowly,
shyly.
"YOu love me? Oh, Walter, what will
they all sayr Don't you know you
ought to talk this way to Mabel instead
OF me? lam nobody, Walter, and Mabel
is great heires.o
waiter mad both arms round her by
this time, and was looking ardently in
her loving face.
81 know Mabel is an heirness, and a
nice little girl; and also know you are
a darling-my daring-and the only
girl l ever asked to be nv wife, or shall
ever ask! Say yes, petV
His tones were low and tender, but
triumphant.
"Aud you can deliberately give up so
much for only just me?'
Her Wondrous eyes met his now brave
lys anu bul1lleu nlu VIII bu6 lONS-llglC
in them.
sOnly just you, my own darling! Why,
you are more than all the world to me |!
Come, Irene, we will 60 tell uncle Ablah
at once. just one KISS tirst-yes, you
mustW
And be had more than one, or two, or
three-he had as many as he wanted
before he led her, blushing, with tears
trembling on her lashes, like diamonds
Oh golden thread, to uncle Abiah, who
sat in his library with Mrs. Cornelia, in
dustrlously looking over a recipe-book.
They looked up in surprise as Walter
marched in, Irene ON his arm.
''lf you please, uncle Abiah, 1 want
your blessing and cordial consent to
give you Irene tor your niece. l love
her, and she loves me-"
Uncle Abiah looked shrewdly over his
glasses at Mrs. Cornelia.
"Well, sister, what shall we say to
itW
And broad smile of perfect delight
was on her merry face.
"Say2 Why, tell them yes, and well
come; and tell them their aunt Cor
nelia isn't fool, il their uncle Abiah
isW
Walter looked astonished, and then
felt Irene tremble on his arm.
.Darling, what is itf'
She smiled through her tears as she