The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-09-20

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nightly kissed and prayed over GER
tain face i'm a certain lOcket? Were not
her eyes long since dried, the lOcket
lost, and unnumbered flirtatiOns heaped
over that naples fancy? "Marriage," "
Mrs. Marlette said, logically, "is the
greatest step in woman's life. Love
is a mad caprice. TO leave marriage is,
therefore, to leave the greatest step i'm
a woman's life to a mad caprice" The
experience of the niece had so well
proven the aunt's teachings that she
unreservedly adopted them. Seven
years of bellehood, moreover, are gen.
orally enough to tougher the heart to
old as well as to new impressions.
If Helen, therefore, went down stairs
in an unusual glow, wearing the very
dress i'm which Sake had told her she
looked best-even with red rose in her
hair-it does not follow, nor is it to be
construed, that she entertained any but
feelings of pleasure, always consistent
with the views of a young lady of dis
cretiOn, at meeting an old acquaint-
ance.
Ignoring her breakfast, she passed
out the front door and found her aunt
seated on the shady piazza that sur
rounded the large, Old-fashioned house.
Mrs. Marlette was the relict of a once
obscure and happy military officer, upon
whom successful generalship in the
War of the Rebellion and the restless
ambition of his wife had thrust a seat
in the Senate of his country on him.
When the first six years at length drew
to close he would have retired gladly
to private life had not his wife goaded
him on to another campaign. He died
before his second term expired, and
Mrs. Marlette found herself debarred
by Salic institutions from taking further
part in the management of public
affairs. Wisely she turned her energies
in the direction the infallible judgments
of mankind had seen fit to leave open
to them, and acted well her part as
mother, aunt, and leader of society in
her early home, Airline.
Good morning, my dear" said this
estimable lady on her niece's approach
chow fresh you look after your late
hours :"
"She didn't look fresh till told her
Ernest was coming" Sake said, silly.
Mrs. Marlette suddenly turned her
attention to a restless little Spitz dog
that had till now tugged unnoticed at
her dress.
"SaXie, coax Roger around to the
back yard, and tell George to keep him
at the stable the rest of the day.
don't know what is the matter with
him; he seems to be so vicious this
morning"
Congratulate me, auntie," said
Helen; 81 am twenty-four to-day"
Congratulate !" called Sake, still |
within earshot; 81 should think you
would rather be cOndoled with. Why, |
| felt terrible my last birthday, and
was only seventeen. cried, and cried,
till mamma promised me diamond |
ring. Come, Roger, don't be so cross.
You detestable dog, let 90 of my dress"
81 do congratulate you, my dear, and
you wear your years WE'LL" Mrs. Mar
lette said, in her stateliest manner.
"But, Helen, have for some time felt
it my duty to have a sober little talk
with you, and be sure it is your welfare
| have in mind when l ask you if You
do not think you are old enough to
marry"
cold enough! Why, yes, of course"
the girl said slowly, turning troubled
look upon a vista of the lake shining
through the trees. "But-"
81 would not urge you to this step
against your inclinations, my child; |
speak to you as a mother. No woman's
life is complete till she marries; and,
though you have had, and continue to
have, opportunities that"
eyes, auntie, know what you would
say-opportunities other girls longed
for, and opportunities | may not have
again. | know, too, that there will
soon be plenty of tongues to whisper
'old maid,' and 'how she fades, when |
pass by. But whom shall marry to
escape this dreadful fate?"
,,,igap,v IN, tIn
girls face and voice as she uttered
these words. The world, the flesh and
the devil had laid siege to her soul for
many years, and she could not now
make an unconditional surrender with
out some bitterness of spirit.
Mrs. Marlette replied briskly to her
last question.
"YOu have the best match in Airline
in your grasp this morning. Who is
richer, more talented, more ambitions
than Ernest Houston. Already he holds
a high positionin Washington, and"
"Well," interrupted Helen, jumping
up from her low seat with little
laugh; 81 am wise enough to under
stand you. pquiring friends may find
me in the library at any time this morn
ing"
She lightly kissed her aunts still un-
wrinkled forehead, and left that lady to
her embroidery.
Within an hour Mrs. Marlette's reve-
RIGS were broken in upon by the COM
ing of two young men up the serpen-
tine gravel walk.
The elder was very dark, with hand
some, regular features, and polished,
manner, strongly at con-