The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-29

A%Aos NOAhOh w CaIliSh JONf bASAO "AO AOA
tunes in the world still to be made by the
adventurous ard the industrious"
"Give me motive" cried I, suddenly,
''and will both dare and suffer l can
not do it for so poor need as fortune; but
place in the distance something worthy Of
my efforts, something rich enough to re-
ward them, something"
"What?" said she, iDnocently.
'Ioye!" cried I, in desperation; and
before she could prevent me, I had caught
hold of her hand, and smothered it with
kisses.
I spent several hours with the. lovely
widow, and saw-eleerly saw-that only
little time was wanting to enable me to
gain her affections; and then I bade her
an adieu, extorting promise that she
would not communicate my arrival to Mrs.
rGorden, and that, when I called at the
Court, she would see me alone, that
might have an opportunity of telling her
what had passed between my uncle and
myself.
When arrived at my uncle's, I found
him in very bad temper, as he had ex-
pected me the day before; and matters
were not mended when mentioned frank
ly the misgivinge 1 had on the score of do
mestic happiness.
domestic fiddlesticksl" cried he. "What
more would you have than good estate
and good wife-a healthy woman to-
boot, come Of a long -winded. race, and as
likely as not to lay you beside my old
friend Gorden !? She is a grandmother
already. Doesn't that look well? You do
not think her too young?" And the old
gentleman grinned, while gave vent to
spasmedic exclamation. ''Then what dis
turbs you about her--more especially since
you tell me that there is vacancy in your
hearth But here comes q letter from the
Court" and tearing open large, old
fashioned looking missiye, presented to
him by servant, he read as follows
"MY DEAR SIR: am told that your
nephew has arrived, and as he has been
reported upon favorably by one who saw
him yesterday, and on whose taste and
judgment l can rely, am tempted to
say, with the frankness of my character,
that shall be happy to make his acqunint-
ance. am truly grateful forthe many oblig-
ing things am told he said of me, and [
hope one day or other he will find them all
realized. Ny dearest grandehild sends
kiss to you both, with best regards, re-
main as usual,
GRANDMOTHER GoRDEN."
"There!" cried the old gentleman, with
an odious triumph. ''There is spirit Tor
you! Why, you dog, you will be as hap
Ply as the day is long!"
scarcely heard him, for my thoughts
were brooding over the treachery of the
beautiful widow. She had broken her
promise, and she had rendered my position
thousand times more embarrassing, by
persuading the wretched grandmother that
had been such an ass as to say compli-
mentary things shout her age, ugliness
and in6rmities. It was clear that she was
a ilt, and that she had only been laughing
| at nv admiration, and THAT she was now
determined to extract further amusement
from my calamities. I resolved, however,
to die game; and, telling my uncle that,
though we'll acquainted with Mrs. Gorden
from report, desired to see her person
ally before deciding, I threw myself on
horseback and gailoped straightway' to the
Court.
It had been my intention to ask for Mrs.
Gorden, but the willy widow was on her
guard, for as the door opened I heard her
call to the servant in her silvery tones,
"Show the gentleman in here;" and in an
other minute I stood once more in the
presence of the unknown of the forest I
found her more beautiful better dressed
and younger than she had appeared the
day before; and, as saw with keen ap-
probation the treasure was about to lose
forever, my resentment died away, and
deep grief TOOK its place.
"You forget your PROMISE" said I; 'you
make a sport of my misery"
"What could I have said when ques.
toned ?" inquired she, sweetly. "But
what misery do you allude to-the misery
of marrying grandmother p
"Yes-when my heart is devoted to an
other. But it is needless to talk to you;
you are as incapable of passion as statue.
You could never have loved your hus-
band !"
"You are in some degree wrong; still,
was so young when 1 was married-only
sixteen-that looked upon my husband
more as a guardian than lover. was
. not quite seventeen when became q
mother
i 'Is it possible? That is net q great
while ago."
: "Greater, perhaps, than you suppose
ul o1n,t;t,+,o,x ox,1