The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-28

even before she spoke.
II am very sorry, Mr.. Cumberland, but
1t is not my fault. have not wiifully
won your heart to cast 1t aside. 10u
know l have not sought your society;
and it was for this reason have tried to
discourage too friendly relations be-
tween US. am engaged already"
Ralph grew very pale, and Meade
SAID kIudIy, feeling sorry Tor his evident
pain, and yet wishing TO teach hlm les
son for his good:
81 have never seen the gentleman; 1t
| is IA match made between his father and
mine. Yet a chila's first duty Is 10 her
parents. Therefore, the promise is as
binding 10 me as though had made II
my SELL"
A sudden change passed over Halph
| Cumb ,rland's face.
camp sad he, sadly, "beIore such
love as mine everything else seems OF
no value. |, too, am betrothed, anu
| strange to say, 10 stranger; OuI
would break the tie il its sunderlnS cut
me adriIt from every relative L nave III
the worl !, and could win. on, Meade,
wlll yuu not alteryour decisiohT know
| eau make you love me II you Will only
glVe me the chanCeF
| The girl sad gently: at seems
strange fatality that We should BON be
|
ate Is visible IN it to me-; L shall ce'-
taIny do as my father wlsnc and II you
will Ue guide by me, you w'll at any
rate try 10 p,ease your parents. Inc
Young lady may prove untractabIe, ana
then tue goidian knot would De cut by
iuLher hands tnan yours"
| Ralpns face frightened suddenly;
zero use a trlte adagc, st is IL poor ru, e
lthat does not WORK bOCu ways3 perhaps
vuur inlenueU-but no-tAerG's no
chance OF tnhl."
Meadie put out her hand. cat any
rate we can be Trends"
Ralph took the preferred hand in his
and raised 1t TO his lips. "Pardon me.
1t isa farewell token-IareWell to hope
of happineseT -.
Alter this Meadie concluded to shorten
ner visit, wisely concluding that III
would be better I0r bOLh not TO be thrown
together at each village merr! IN king,
! If Ralph was to do the honorable thing
and TO get her, SO as TO fulfill his matrl
, m0uial compact.
"Aeadle," said Mr.. Cameron, "look
; your pretLlesC Tonight, Tor Trend Mid
uleion's son IL 10 be here"
, Meade grew very pale. The time oi
trial had come, and IN her dread OF meet
, iDg the stranger she learned the deptL
Of her feeling for the handsome young
, lover she hav So lately refused.
she looked very Lovely Wnen she
descended to the parlor in the evening
y but her father pinched her cheek play
lulIy, saying:
"My rose has become lily. Dom
> look SO snadOw-iiKe, darling, or L sDal
+ think you are unhappy"
= Meauie smiled resolutely, but hel
heart was heavy. A ring at tue bell
| CNnm bptOrp hpr nvas Snp
was dimly conscious that her fathe!
!. went forward TO greet some one. She
: rose mechanically herself TO be intro
= uuced, with eyes whose heavy Hds
I wuulu conceal them. Then--an excla
nation! and she lelC herself caught tt
a manly breast-She heard Well-AnoWI
> voice eXclalm:
: "Mine alter aII-my own, my precious
- love-"
. And raising her eyes, heavy no longer
she breAtAed sigh Of deep content, a
V she saw the happy, surprised face o! he
y one loVe-Wl0m she mad never agall
thought to meet during her whole Lie.
Explanations followed. Had she bUel
= introduced as Miss MeaQie Cameron, ht
y, would never have mad an ppOrtunity t
- prove his obedience to his taLher by com
~ ing. as he thought, to keep his pligh
~ win a stranger, Tor ne mad lost his heal
- to the pretty lutte cousin before thel
4 formal acquaintance, so that 1t Woul
u nave been TOO late for the perVerslt
y winch ever attends upon made mate
tO show Itself.
Meade had only heard him spoken c
5 as MIR. Middleton's son, and did nc
know tuaL ne was sLep-son, and bore
/, different name. AS tue ending was s
l, salts lactory, The lovers 1orgaye Lhe lrea
IL ol fate IN making them unhappy for
!. few months
K "Isu'G it NICE" whispered Meade
III SHAT we acted an honorable part viii
le we loved each other all tAe tlmeW
"a "Speak tor yourself, darling," was til
u answer. yours was The guiding spir
:, At tnat time. l was so despera at til
ia thought of losing you that l fear W
IL nave very little cause for pride in IN
no actions"
II, Meadie smiled archly.
w "Prlde has SO little to do with loy
an that l ear, if you chose, l should prov
W the truth ofthe song which began my a
ns ouainLance with you. Do you rememb
n0 'Oh, whistle and [ will come to you, IL
,ts lauT"
ho "Were you the singerP ! thought
~ aflerWard, but was under the lmpre
W sion that 1T was my little friend Sus
or Elting, when | joined in. What did "
,s | Lniuk OF me ("
'I as "Tnat you needed a lesson in polit
- ness and that | should try and give y
a one"
W. $50 that's why you were 30 much mo
1is diguitieu. with me than wlln COus
Cd WOIr, was il? Well, Pm only too nap
to accept you as my preceptress
10 llie."
~ - -