The daily gazette., 1877-03-26
"A LOVE PASSAGE.
BY MARION.

gan tn BY MARION. ol' ~ 9-Hol. /
sis it Lettice?, he cried, coming and
taking me from the pony, in his great,
strong arms. He kissed my cheek and
slipped from his arms to the ground ..oa
II must not have you riding alone at
this hour, Lettice," he said, H6o ? So.
| SO, have of cousins behind" I
"Cousins?" he asked, with an earnest
ness that was quite comical. fa1l' I,
"Yes. There they Gomez .i,2 s'
And Sarah and Annie rode into the
yard, scolding at me for leaving them.
"Hush!" l whispered. 81 have good
excuse. Here is Howardv' r.
introduced him, and he helped them
down. How longed to know their
lopinion of him! Sarah was SO quick, 80
sarcastic even, and Annie so fastidious.
Yet why need 1 care? They were not
|going to marry him. But, after an even
ling of something like constraint on all
sides. we went to our rooms. which were
lconnected. listened eagerly to their
words Of praise, and felt relieve l and hap
py that Howard had suited them so we'll
''Take care of him, Lettice!' said Sar-
ah, as she turned away. Annie is a sad
Ifirt, and would no more mind taking
him from you, than she would mind tal<-
ing mouse from her pet kitten" a..
l looked at Annie. Her face was calm
and sweet. ...l. -.,.-r
"Believe me, Letticel" she said softly,I /
am no fiirt. Howard is safe from my
arts" -'""
Yes, | knew that; but was / as sure of
her sister? l cannot relate all the little
circumstances that led me to belief that
ISarah Hale was determined to supplant
me. knew it by the quiver that ran
TREMENDOUSLY through my nerves, when
she addressed him-her habitual sacasm
softened and subdued to him only; her
voice taking sweeter tone, almost ca
ressing in its tenderness. She sang to
him sweet thrilling songs, and looked the
rest. He was charmed, surprised, fascin-
ated. Day by day, the spells she wrought
SO cunningly surrounded him and made
him yield to her power. They rode to-
lgether, walked together, sang from the
same book, sitting on the same seat, hold
ing each others hands, looking into each
others eyes.
And bore it-covering my deep pain
with the semblance Of gaiety, and advert
ing to my marriage as an event that must
happen. Alas! Howard never spoke of it
at all; but looked on my preparations with
an indifference almost amounting to dis
Igust. Annie spoke, frequently of the
event. and of the part she and Sarah were
10 take; but her remarks won no response
4 from them. 70 ..'F '--f
"Lettice," said my mother one morn
ing, at the breakfast-table, want some
thing from town to-day. Can you go?"
"Certainly," answered; "we can all
lgo." T
A look of meaning which 1 afCerward
Irecollected, passed between Sarah and
Howard. The latter excused himself on
account of business letter that must be
written, and Sarah had violent head
ache, and was going to lie down. So An
lnie and myself took the light carriage and
my own pony, and went away immediate
ly after breakfast.
It was then that first gave utterance
from my overburdened heart to Annie
Dear girl! she had seen it all and longed
to tell me, but dared not. She blamed
Sarah greatly, and wished that she could
} persuade her to go home and leave hel
evil work unaccomplished. We rode
slowly along, talking all the time of this
: painful theme, and did not return until
! near noon. no.. ..-.-.
went to my room and beckoned An
ME in, for supposed from the stiffness
| that Sarah was still asleep. Mother had
gone out to make calls, the servant said
and Annie and proceeded to the parloI
where we talked softly of the same sub
iect that had occupied us all the morning
,, until the bell rang for dinner. Mother
had come in, and was waiting for us al
the table. Neither Sarah nor Howard
. appeared.
"Did they not return with you Littice?
"What do you mean mother? You heard
what they said; we have not seen them
+ SINCE"
"But they went away in Howard's car
riage, an hour afterward, and supposed
that they had followed and joined you
They have not returned"
kept calm, outwardly, and tried to
eat my dinner; but had to plead that [
was tired with my ride. Mother bade me
60 to bed, and Annie went up stairs with
me.
s.What does it mean Lettice?" she said
when we were alone.
e "Nothing, surely l answered. s'Why
Annie, do you suspect anything more than
that they have been delayed?"
"No." she said slowly, Shut how wrong
for them to go at all"
: "Perhaps they did not join u.s."
, She shook her head and passed into
her own room: then quickly came bach
b with note in her hand, directed to her
self.
81 can't read it, T.ettice. am afraid
j., "Silly girl give it to me. 1t is probably
an excuse for going away"
The note ran thus:
"Annie, am going away with Howard
cannot see Lettice again, nor does he
wish to see her. 1 should feel for her toe
much. am sorry to bring this disap
pointment upon her; but some of us have
got to be miserable, at all events, and per
haps she will not suffer so much as
: should, in giving him up. 1 will write
YOU when we are settled. Till then
you must remain where you are.
SARAH."
"Gruel, heartless!" exclaimed Annie
looming to my chair and leaning over me