The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-02-28


"Miss Munro" exclaimed tho other,
while his color was considerably heightened,
''is that Miss Muuror
"Why, yes. What is there so surprising
about it? Do you know her ?"
"No," was the reply, "but I have often
heard of her" Then after pause, he
added, "Can you present me?"
"Certainly, if you wish it," rejoined his
friend. and they crossed the apartment. * (
"Miss Munro, permit me to present to
you my friend, Mr. Gordon" There was
low bow on the part of the gentleman, a
courteous salutation on that of the lady,
and af.er g few commonplace remarks,
Elizabeth Munro was led to the dance by
Frederick Gordon.
''The handsomest couple in tho room by
all Odds" said Frank Stanley. 1 should
not wonder if that should be match yet.
Gordon is half in love already, and if he
undertakes to win her and does not succeed,
| don't know who can" And with these
words he turned away to join group of
friends who were chatting merrily at little
distance.
Arthur Talmadge, the young artist address
sed, gazed upon the dancers sadly and earn
estly for few moments, and then murmur-
ing3"Stanley IS right-if he cannot win
her who can ?" He hurried from the ball
room. Nobly gifted, but poor and proud,
he felt that he had nothing in common
with that gay throng, and he bent his steps
toward his own cherries room.
And Frank Stanley, and Arthur Tai
madge were not the only ones who arrived
at the same conclusion One by one the
admirers of Miss Munro-and their name
was legion-dropped off until the field was
left entirely to Frederick Gordon.
As may be supposed, he was not ncgli-
gent in improving the advantage thus given
him. Yet at the end of six months he
felt no more secure of her favor than at the
time of their first acquaintance. Her de-
meanor toward him was always courteous,
and such as became lady; she received
his attentions frankly, but yet so calmly and
quietly, that it was evident she felt none of
the timidiy of dawning love. Her cheek
never brighten at his approached her voice
never faltered as she addressed him; her
eye never wandered in search of him, neither
did she repulse him, and so he hovered
round her hoping that success would yet be
his. She listened with pleased ear to his
glowing descriptions of other lands her
fine eyes were lit up with enthusiasm as he
spoke of Italy, with her sunny skies, her
gems of art, and her oppressed and degrad-
ed children Of Greece, with her temples,
beautiful even in their decay; Of Egypt,
that land of fable and mystery, and of the
East, thronging as it does with memories
and associations that stir the heart to its in
nermost depths. He was a fine reader, his
voice was deep and thrilling, and when he
read or rccited the finest passages from
Shakespeare, Milton Or Wordsworth,
"Lending the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of his voice. =
Her cheek would glow, and her heart beat
quickly. But all this might be without
one throb of love for him, and he felt it.
He could but observe. too, that she careful.
ly avoided every thing like intimacy, and
there was no heart communion between
thcm-shc never spoke of themselves;
there was interchange of thought, but
none of feeling, and strive as he might, he
could not lift the veil that seemed imper-
viously drawn between their souls
And when Frederick Gordon became
aware of this, a shadow deeper and darker
than any that he had ever before known,
rested upon his pathway. He had returned
from Europe fully determined to WOO and
win her for the sake of her wealth Love,
or any congeniality Of feeling that might
exist between them was but a secondary
consideration. When he saw her that
night in the ballroom, more beautiful al
most than his widest dream of beauty
cmphatically the "star of the goodly com.
panie;" when he learned that the proudest
in the land had sued humbIy yet vanly for
her favor, pride came to the aid of his mer-
ccnary motives, and he resolved to bear off
triumphantly the prize for which so many
were contendng. But when he was thrown
almost daily into her presence the atmos
phere ofpurity and goodness which surround
ed her, made him feel much as we may
suppose fallen spirit might feel in the pres
cnce Of an angel Of light. lie could not
meet the glance Of her clear eyes, that
glance so holy so unworldly, without a
pang Of remorse for the unworthy incentive
that had first led him to seek her. And
he learned to love her dceply-devotedly
His heart thrilled at the sound Of her voice,
the lightest echo of her footsteps, the mere
touch Of her fair hand. He would have
taken her to his bosom, and called her his
own sweet wife with no other dowry than
the love of her pure, trusting heart. Yes,