The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-06-21

"And then" interrupted Ada, with
a smile. 81 know what you would say,
dear. And the tale is not half told.
Your brother asked me to be his WIFE"
The words were uttered quietly, but
the effect upon her listener was electric.
She sprang up, overturned her chair,
and caught Ada in her arms.
"Pm so glad!" she said. You told
him yes, didn't you? OF course you
couldn't well do otherwise"
"NO," Ada answered, gravely.
"What?" And Mary held her out at
arms length and gazed upon her for a
moment in speechless astonisllment.
"Did you refuse him? ?"
"No. am to give him my answer
in the morning"
"Oh, see! Don't you dare to say
mo- to him, you darling. | have always
coveted you for my sister ever since !
first knew you. III hasten to bed, and
then you put these old letters into the
fire, make up your mind to say yes
and go to sleep Yourself"
"The letters / must return. | wish
to read some of them first. | may sit up
very late, but don't letme disturGyou."
She sat down to her task, and looked
the love missives over one by one. Sc
lecting four as correct types of the
others, she laid them aside, together
with the last one received. Then writ
ing a reply, she gathered the others to-
gether and put them away.
In the morning she arose early. Braid
ing her hair slowly before the mirror,
she glanced into the garden below. Mr..
Thorne was there chatting with the
gardener, who was cutting some flow
ers. She scanned his tall and handsome
figure critically for moment, and
when she turned back to the mirror
she met wide-opened, half-frightened
eyes, and very wan face.
"What have / dOne?" she asked her.
self, with feeling of doubt and fore
boding. cor rather, what am ! about
to do? l wonder if fortune fayOrs the
rash as well as the brave"
There was a tap at the door; Il bOu
quet with ThOrne's compliments, and
little note among the flowers.
He was waiting for her answer.
Would she meet him in the garden in
half an hour? 1t was whole hour yet
to breakfast time. He was inpatient
would she come?
The messenger was waiting.
YES" she said in answer. "Tell Mr..
Thorne | will see him."
Then she closed tie door, and turn
ing to her desk, she took out the four let
ters she had laid aside the night before.
She sat down, shuflling them absently,
as one would pack of cards.
"It's all a game" she said, and am
playing in the dark" And she
shivered, though the morning was
warm.
The half hour had nearly passed
when she rose, and taking the flowers
Mr.. Thorne had sent her, she pulled
some of them through her braids, and
taking her letters in her hands she went
down.
He was waiting at the door with an
expectant look it was hard to face in
the full morning light, so that by the
time they had walked down the path to
quiet nook in a shaded corner of the
garden, her eyes were flashing, her
cheeks glowing, and the hands that
clasped the letters trembled a trihe;
and as for Mr.. Thorne he was, to be
candid, slightly nervous, too.
Ada, giving him shy, fluttering
glance, saw it, and was inwardly thank
full; for she had learned to be suspicious
of those men who are always self-pos-
sessed and cool.
"Well ?" she asked him, hesitating,
and not knowing what to say.
"Have you the answer | am waiting
for ready ?" he asked.
you have not repented?" she said.
"You are still willing to take me for
better or worse, in your morning con-
clusions?"
"Still willing and very anxious. Do
you doubt it?"
"No," she replied, steadily. 81 don't
think | fully understand you, but |
! do not doubt. Now | will tell you
what | could not explain last night.
For a long time was engaged to John
Easton. knew him from my child
hood, quiet boy, steady and studious
to a fault. As man he seemed the
soul of honor, cautious, reliable and
cool. When he asked me to marry him,
| said, IF there be a man in this world
| can fully respect and trust, it is John
Easton.' never questioned him, never
doubted anything he said or did. He
wrote to me often, fond, almost foolish
letters. Here are four | selected to
show you. Would you like to see
them?"
"No," he answered, taking the hand
that held them in both of his. "YOu
don't want me to read them, darling,
and will not; can fully believe
what you say, without proof"
Her looks expressed her thanks. Her
lips were growing unsteady, and she
waited, trying to find her voice
"Don't tell me this if it distresses
you, )" he said, touching his lips to hers
tenderly. "Tell me that you are not
bound to this man now, that is enough
for me. By-and-by, when you feel
more composed | will listen to the
story, if you wish me to hear it"
She looked at him trustingly, and
ahe looked more nhildish thnn nNer In