The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-01
Her Hearts Secret.

Her Hearts Secret.
3" If you refuse Duncan Holcroit you
are a complete idiot, Georgina Gilroyi
and 1 wash my hands OF your affairs
altogether"
Mrs. CassOwin sails majestically from
the room where Georgina, her niece,
remains nervously clasping and unclasp-
ing her slender white fingers, and wonder
ing why matrimony should be positive
duty in the code by which she had been
educated. She is only twenty two,
slender, fair, and looking about sixteen,
with her waving golden hair and soft,
brown eyes.
She has two hundred pounds year,
all her own, and why can't she be
allowed to live quiet life unmolested.
Since her own parents died, about three
years ago, she had been dragged from the
country parsonage, in which her father
lived and died. saving the little fortune
for Georgina, by close economy, to her
aunt's fashionable home, such as her
mother pined for throughout all Georg-
gina's childhood.
When you marry, l hope you viii
return 10 your proper sphere" Mrs
Gilroy would say, whenever she spoke of
Georgina's future but she never needed
much in those days.
Sitting in Mrs Cassowin's grand draw
ing-room, waiting for Duncan Holcroft
to come and propose to her, as her aunt
informed her he had requested permis-
sion to do, Georgina, timid and gentle,
felt her whole being rise in revolt.
Was life to be to erwhat it was to her
aunt, round of calling, shopping, party
going, party-giving, interviews with
dressmakers and milliners? Could she
not escape to some locality where there
were nobler aims and desires?
Where?
Mrs. Cassowin had expos tulated in
vain. Hitherto, Georgina had been
gently firm.
ID - sl-'~ day oven her courage
failed before her aunt's wrath Mt the
proposal to dismiss Duncan Holcroft.
He meacross the wide drawing-room
as she sat thinking, his football unheard
upon the soft carpet.
He was tall, erect, handsome, past fifty,
yet not old his eyes clear IS a boys,
his iron-gray hair curly and abundant,
his gray moustache giving a military air
to his well-cut features.
Faultless in attire, courteous in man
ner, he also possessed hail Il million
attractions in solid Investments.
But all else seemed TO him worthless
COMPARED to the possession OF that slen~
der, pale child, Who, half buried in a
deep arm chair, realized as yet nothing
of the yearnings OF love in the large,
dark eyes fixed upon her.
1t was scarcely 10 be supposed that
Duncan Holcroft, bachelor as he was
had travelled over fifty years of life with
untouched heart, but he had lived over
all other love till this one came and con-
quered him.
1t stirred his heart with sick pain,
when Georgina, looking up, paled to her
lips, while her eyes were full of fear and
trouble, seeing him.
She had always given him a frank,
cordial greeting, and he had hoped to
win sweeter tokens still from her soft
eyes and sweet lips, and instead he had
lost what was already given.
Did you not expect me % he said,
gently 4" you looked startled"
'FI did not know you were here, and
it did startle me to see you so close be
side me ?" Georgina said, q flaming color
shooting now over cheek and brow, as
she wished herself a thousand miles away.
He spoke to her gravely then. and
very, very gently, wooing her most
tenderly, considerate of her youth, her
timidity; and heartily ashamed, she
could only sob and shiver.
Child he said at last, edo distress
you? Am so hateful to you-that-
But she interrupted him quickly:
You are not hateful to me-" she said,
impulsively. 81 like YOU ever-ever so
much, only, why do you want to marry
me-"
He could not keep back a smile, though
his heart throbbed heavily with pain.
81 love you, DEAR" he said; 81 love
you far too well to wish to grieve you.
Shall we be friends still ?''
"Oh, if you will" she said, eagerly,
ignorant of the stab in every word, "let
US forget to-day"
As if he could.
But he was true gentleman, sincere,
unselfish lover, and he led her on to talk
of other matters till the ashy palor left
her cheeks and lips, and she was her
sweet shy self again.
Then he left her.
Left her to meet such wrath from Mrs
Cassowin that she rose against her bitter
speeches.
Il will go to Grandfather Gilroy
since you are so tired OF me-" Georgina
said.
{" would Go bury yourself in that
wretched little farmhouse of Fry Corn
ers; you, who might lead the fashion
here, Duncan Holeroft's wife ~
But even Fry Corners was preferable
to Georgina, TO the prospect of leading
the fashion.
She shivered at the thought, shy little
country flower, ..and accepted her aunt's
ungracious dismissal
It even seemed as if she threw of q
burden when she stepped from her luxu-
rious carriage at the station.
Mrs. Cassowin, slightly remorseful,
was at the last moment willing to revoke