The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-18

L OOH, u lllblc DpS hIG"llllS DSloiO INV LII
searching with eaynest eyes the secrets o.
! its bright mysteries.
Wien he was left alone, the, sergeant
irew his chair over to the window and sat
down there. He had scarcely done so,
when the door was. op pened, and young
girl entered the room. She did not notice
his presence there, for she went over to
the fire, and remained standing before it.
Her lace was partly turned toward him,
aud the sergeant gaaed upon it with deep
ening interest. 1t told its own story, that
sweet tace-plair.er than many words it
told that, lovely as it was, sorrowful tears
had marred its gentle beauty; and though
now smile frightened over it, that smile
was the shadow of some pleasant memory,
and not the light Of ia present joy. A do
mestic came in, and started when she saw
the young girl.
81 thought you were up stairs, Miss
Amy"
"Miss Matte wished to be left alone for
awhile, Nancy" she answered.
"Oh, mss Amy, you oughtn't have left
her alone. She might make way with
herself. | remember my poor mother
telling Of a young lady who was going to
be made to marry man she didn't like,
and when they went up to call her, they
found her lying dead, she killed herself
miss, rather than marry him. To be sure,
Miss Matte isn't forced to marry old Fra
zer-excuse me, Miss Amy, but | can't say
mister to an old villain like him-but any
one can see it's killing her. All, Miss
Amy, if Mr.. Harry was here tonight
Well, if she isn't gone !' exclaimed
Nancy; for at her last words the young
girl had hastily quilted the room. "She's
off like an arrow whenever mention Mr..
Harry to her. Good Lord who is that?"
she cried, springing back on perceiving the
sergeant.
"Don't be frightened girl" said he.
ooh, the soldier Goodness what a
1rlSnU you gave me-
$50 there's going to be wedding here
tonight, my girl" said the sergeant.
"The bridegroom is no tavorite, Pm
thinking"
The proverbial fascination of scarlet
coat disarmed Nancy's. prejudice against
the intruder, for she answered without
hesitation,-
"You're thinking right, then. Every
thing has gone wrong with the master Of
late, and the last hundred pounds he had
left he gave for share in what he heard
was salmon fishery near Romford. The
salmon turned out to be. frogs, and then
old Frazer kept lending him money, and
making him do this and that, until the
master had borrowed seven hundred
pounds of him! Then at once he came
down on him for his money, and either
the master must go to Bridewell, or poor
Miss Matte become his wife. And my
darling young lady went down on her
knees to her poor father, begging him
for his and her mothers sake, to let her
marry old Frazer; that she would be con-
tented with him if he was fifty times
worse, if she thought they would be hap
py. But he could not be worse than he
is; he is as ugly as the big Cornish giant.
It's my belief he'd sell the last gray hair
of his mothers head if he thought he'd
get o farthing for it. My dear young mis-
tress What husband he is. for you !"
Nancy hid her face in her apron and sobbed
aloud.
"The. old story" said the sergeant
Sand to make it complete, my girl, your
young mistress should have another lover
whom she likes"
"And so she has," sighed Nancy, drop
ping her apron and a tear at the same
time. GA fine young gentleman, but not
a farthing he can call his own. All, Miss
Matte and Mr.. Philip would have made
a beautiful couple"
"Philip!" the sergeant repeated, in a
surprised tone. "Philip what?"'
"Philip Rackstone."
"Philip Blackstone! Why, my girl,
soon after we marched into town, | pressed
shilling into his palm. Bless me, if
didn't think at the time no common trou-
BILE made him list"
"'List ~ she exclaimed. "He kept
, his word then; he said from the first he
didn't care what would become of him il
Miss Matte married. Oh, my gracious
to list 20
"Well," said the sergeant, half-sneer
ingly; "it's my candid opinion that maj
is fool who cannot meet with the spiri
r Of man disappointment in love-"
"D'ye hear that?" Nancy exclaimed
3, her cheeks crimson with indignation. {"
;, knew better and Drawer man than eve
o YOU saw, who couldn't bear disappoint
ment in love !"
= 81 doubt it, was the gallant reply.
e "Doubt it Wasn't he my master
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