The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-08-16

nv harsh words; you shall not Guido us
in generosity. We cannot accept your
offer, although we appreciate the spirit
in which it is made"
"I assure you, Miss Parker, esteem
Miss Leigh most highly. like her I'M
mensely. am most anxious to marry
her."
The bare possibility that he might be
refused-he of all men in the world
gave a stronger insistence to his words.
Miss Parker shook her head.
"No good could come of such mar
riage; you hardly know each other. You
say you like her perhaps so /; but can
YOU tell whether she likes you ?"
! "At least let me ask her. Do not
deny me that. I will abide by ler an
swer."
There was no resisting such pleading
as this.
81 may prepare her for what she is
to expect?" asked Aunt Parker, rs she
moved toward the door.
"No, no /; please, do not. Let me
| speak my own way
! He did not distrust the old lady, but
she might indoctrinate Keziah with her
views, and prejudice her against him.
It was becoming a point of honor with
him to succeed, and he thought he could;
He was no novice in these matters
ere now he had often held the victory in
an issue more difficult than this in his
grasp. and all he wanted now was fair
field and no favor.
"Aunt Parker said | was never to
speak to you again." Kiss said, as she
came into the room, with an air OF ex-
treme astonishment "and now she
sends me to you of her own accord
What does it mean ?"
cit means that have something
very particular to say to you. You are
no worse for your drive, I hope?"
els that ala Yes; 1 am ever 80
much worse-in temper. You should
have heard Aunt Parker 60 on Did
anybody scold you?"
"I escaped any very serious rebuke-
except from my conscience.
"Dear me, Lord Featherstone, yol
make me feel as though were in church.
Was it so very wicked, then, to help me
in my distress? I thought it was most
good OF you"
This simple but italicized earnestness
was very taking.
"No; but people are very censorious.
They will talk. They are coupling our
names together already"
"Does that annoy you" Her air
was candor itself. "Do you mind very
much ?"
"Well, perhaps not very, very much.
It can do me no harm"
CT am glad of that. .
"But it may you, and it ought to be
stopped" -.
"There is only one.way that l can see.
Let us have only one name between us.
cannot very well take yours. Will
YOU take mine?"
Why-why - A light seemed t
break in on her all at once. ooh, wh
a funny man you are! That's just t e
same as an offer of marriage. You c. t
mean that, surely? 1t would be t''-
quite too-absurd.
"I don't see the absurdity," said his
lordship rather gruf1y. Were well
meant overtures ever so shamefuly
scorned ?"
ooh; but I do I" Keziah's little foot
was playing with the fringe of the
hearthrug. "I do. That is, if you are
in earnest, which Of course you're not. "
"But am in earnest. Why should
YOU think I'm not ?"
"You don't know me; you can't care
for me. You never spoke to me till yes
terday. You are only making fun, and
it isn't fair. I wish you'd leave me
alone"
Her ewes were full already.
"I am to go away, then ? That is your
! answer ?" She hid her face in her hands
and would not speak. "You VII be
sorry for this, perhaps, some day." She
| shook her head most vigorously.
"Keziah Leigh, you are the only woman
T ever asked to. be my wife. l shall
never ask another. Goodbye, and God
bless you! :"
And Lord Featherstone, with strange
| feeling of detection and disappointment,
left the room. He could not have be-
Iieved that within this short space of
! time he could have been so irresistibly
drawn towards any girl. Now he was
prieying over his failure rs though he
were still in his teens.
Presently Aunt Parker came in and
found Keziah sobbihg fit to break her
heart.
"I don't want him I don't want
! him! He can go away If he hkes-to
the other end of the world.
"Have you been very i'll used, my
sweet? What did he say to you ?"
"He asked me to marry him, she
said, with difficulty, between her sobs.
"Was that such terrible insult,
then?" :,
"He was only making fun. [ don't
like such fun. And don't want to see
him again, never, never, not as long as
live !"
"Kiss. YOU are right to. consult your
own feelings in this. But Lord Feather
stone was in earnest, I think, and his ILL.,
tentions do him infinite credit"
Then she told her niece what had
passed. ;. -.
"Still, if you don't care for him, it Is
best as it is. Dry your tears, KISS, aDd
think no more about 1t.
"But I think l do care for him. she
said, and began to cry again.
Lady Carstairs became very much ex-
ercised in spirit as the days passed, and
yet nothing positive was known OF Lord
Featherstone's intentions towards Miss
Keziah Leigh.
She made many futile efforts to meet
4, ..lio5 ,n5 coundo1 fho 1o