The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-28
q HER PROPER STATION. I

~ f1ich 1t Is the fashion 10 compare youth
and grace and exceeding beauty --sne look.
20, Id her neat, plain, dark cashmere dfess,
Ike princess In disguise.
So. at least, thought Paul sesden. anu any
made no scrupies about saying SO, 700: das
sis.er.in.Aw, the naughty, wealthy WlaoW
q, his elder brother james, lookeu al .1 bun u
in amazement aud contempt.
II am surprised at you, faua. a mere
nobody. Ny ompanion-nussei! sosern , :,
Goa for misunderstanding you VIII
I do beg that you will not make such alb
suyd remarks in the girls hearing. You
viii OH her head with nonsensical ideas.
and quite unfit her for her proper station"
Paul answered her contemptuons tones
with an angry sheer.
PERHAPS our ideas OF her tstation dii-
fer. YOU see. Her father, although poor, IS
a gentleman. A clergyman upon small
salary, but In good repate, Is the equal az
least of your father, who made fortune
ont OF pork But you may rest assured
that when I make her discontinued Wild
her position here shall be prepared TO oner
her a better one"
s.Tbat OF your wife, perhapss" very
contemptuously.
aPrecisely. Before many weeks-pe, haps
davs-are over hope TO offer her my hand.
A business opportunity has suddenly pre-
scented itself " hich seems likely 10 secure 10
ne prosperity. That is what calls me away
SO suddenly tonight. III succeed-and,
indeed, whether or mol shall ask Edith TO
become my wife"
aIAnd you make quite sure OF being &C.
cepted. You are right there; 1t is What th,s
shameless migrate has been plotting ior ever
since she came into the house-to secure
har IN Of flfSt
bcrsef ,,pon his family. oh, am not sur
nrised! I'ye seen Der lures and arts and
wiles; the artful, designing adventures.
Eve seem"
And there she stopped suddenly, con-
fused, il not ashamed, fer the dooT OF an
adjoining room was flung open, and Edltn
Merton stood before ner tfemDhnS "n"
passiop-pale."
t.You had forgotten that / was within
hearing. madam" she said, With indignant
scom. "You know that you accuse me
falsely. am innocent OF oil effort to at
tract your brothers attention or win from
him the offer with which he intends to
honor me. To you, Mr. Selden, my thanks
are due-and my gratitude-1 have no
more to give you. Poor as am. am at
least too proud to sfoist myself upon
family where no welcome awaits me; ana
so madam"
It was her turn to stop suddenly now,
startled at The lady's absence, No sooner
had She turned to address Paul Selden than
his sister.in.law, embarrassed and angry,
had swept noiselcssly from the room.
Edith's pale cheeks grew crimson. She
gave one quick glance at the door, as II she
also contemplated retreat; but Paul.
caught her little hands In both bis own and
detained her.
"l neither deserve nor want your graft
tudc. Edith" he said earnestly. 81 want
YOUR heart and this fair hand. oh. love,
have deceived myself when hoped the
treasure OF Your affecrion might be nine !!
That you would be my wfe!' ...
But the woman to whom he spoke was
very proud. Mrs. Sclden's unjust words
had stung her bitterly. Hurt pride and
wounded modesty were all in arms, ana Tor
one passionate moment stided love.
..It is as she said; he has made quite sure
Of being accepted" she thought bitterly,
and snatched her hand away.
at is impossible-imnossible! !" she
cried; "your sister is right. Seek your
wife from higher station, sir; for met is
impossible"
But Paul persisted. A man does not give
mn fine hone OF his life and the desire Of bis
heart very easily.
"Leaye nv sister out OF the question.
marry TO please mysef-not her. Only let
me hone that you love me, and nothing shall
ever make me give you up. Oh, Edith, do
you care for me? Will you let your pride
break both our heartsi"
All, no. she could not! Something in the
well.iovcd, pleading tones struck at her
heart. She looked into the tender. kind,
rcproachful eyes, and then-all at once she
was in his arms, and wept forth all her grief
upon bis bosom.
The next minute the sound OF an ap'
preaching footstep startled her. 1t was MRS
Seldcn coming back.
81 must eo,' she whispered. "Go"d
bye"
And then she had lifted her tear wet
blushipg face, received on it her lover!
first fond kiss, heard bis quick whisper
"For week only, darling!" and tore her
self from his clasping arms ana nea ava.
to her own chamber. s..,-
Thjther came Mrs. Selden TO Dcr, som
two hours later, when Paul mad safely dc
parted.
no doubt" she began colby. Is L desir
that YOU prepare Instantly to leave N.
house. Here is the money due you, ant
also another months wages In advance. A
carriage will come for your trunks in ar
hour, and the sooner you leave the better
"I think so. too," answered Edith, witt
haueur scarcely inferior to her own. 81
will take the money due TO me, madam, but
no more, and in an hourI will relieve yot
OF my presence"
So it came to pass that when Paul Seldom:
week OF probation was ended, and he came
back successful and joyous to claim hi
bride, he found bitter disappointment
awaiting him--the bonny bird had flown.
No information concerning. her could b.
obtained from Mrs. selden.
81 know absolutely nothing Of her move
ments,r said she, coidly, "and IL did
should decline to aid you in disgracin:
yourself and station" ,~
Whereupon bitter words and quarre
ensued; the end OF which was that Paul lief
the house and took up his quarters else
where. BY so doing he raised a fresh bar
rier between himself and his love, for III
took from her all chance OF communicating
with him. E
"He cannot come to me, for he does nc
know where / am" she said to herself
~and il I should send my address to Mrs
Selden's house she would surely suppress
il. But can walk in the neighborhood ot
casionally and meet him rs he goes In
out. We love each other-I am to be hi
wife-surely there can be no lmproprlet
in my trying to meet him."
And she did try-almost as faithfully q
she tried to obtain fresh employment, AM
as unsuccessfuliy.
One afternoon, passing near Mrs. Selden