The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-30

at if Mr.. St. Ledger, when his reading was
over and he had nothing else to do, and,
the books being usually such as he was we'll
acquainted with, not much at the moment
to think of-took pleasure in observing
her.
He had not forgotten his promise OF Sc
lecting authors for her own private studies;
he seemed to take much benevolent pleas
ure IN endeavoring to compensate to this
generous and excellent creature for the in
tellectual disadvantages of life devoted to
others as hers had been. He usually, also,
found or made an opportunity for talking
over with her what she had been reading
and he believed, in all sincerity, and so did
she, that he was actuated in these proceed
ings merely, as said, by the disinterested
desire OF offering compensation for past
sacrihces-stimulated by the very high val
ne he himself attached to mental cultva-
ton, regarding it as the best source of indie
pendent happiness both for men and
women.
But whatever were the motives with
which he began this labor of kindness, it is
certain as he proceeded therein a vast deal
more interest and pleasure were mingled
up with this little talk than had been the
case at first
LCi oltnpiS, ulldHtCtSu purity vi ,
her sing e. emindedness unstained by selfish
thought pride, or vanity, or folly, in its
simplicity and singleness of purpose. were
displayed before him. The generous be-
nevolence of purpose-.the warm and CRATE
full piety-the peculiar rightmindedness-
the unaffected love for all that is excellent,
/ true, good, or beautiful, and the happy ia
cility Of detecting all that was good or ben
efcial wherever 1t was to be found, and
wherever observed, the sweet cheerfuness
and repose of the character, that resem-
bance to green field which have heard
husband of only too sensitive nature
attribute to his partner; all this worked
strongly though unmarked.
Mr.. st. Ledger began to experience sense
of a sweetness, solace, and enjoyment, in
the presence of Lettice Arnold that he had
not found upon this earth for years and
which he never had hoped to find again
But all this time he never dreamed OF fall
ing in love. His in agination never
| travelled so far as to think of such thing
as appropriating this rare blessing to him
self. TO live with her was his destiny at
present and that seemed happiness enough
and, indeed, he scarcely had got so far as to
acknowledge to his own heart how much
happiness that privilege conferred.
She, on her side, was equally tranquil, un.
disturbed by the slightest participation in
the romance Catherine would so gladly have
commenced. She went on contentedly,
proliting by his instructions, delighting in
his company, and adOring his goodness; but
would as soon have thought of appropriate
ing some bright particular star to herself
as this gifted man.
She deemed him too infinitely her su.
perior.
Well, it is no use keeping the matter in
suspense any longer. You all see how ii
must end.
You do not fret and worry yourselves as
Catherine did and abuse Mr.. st. Ledger for
his Indifference. You see plainly enough
that two such very nice people, and so ex-
cellently suited to each other must, thrown
together as they were every day, end by lik-
Ing each other; which, but for the previous
ARRANGEMENTS of the excellent Catherine,
would have been very perpleXing business
| to all parties.
When al last, just before Edgar and his
wife were going to sail for Canada, and he
and she were making Their farewell visit at
the Hazels, when at last MIR. st. Ledger,
after having looked two or three days very
miserable, and having avoided every one,
anu pdl pun lStltltC, W NllOul HC
had not spoken a word all that time, and
who was miserable at the idea that she must
have offended him, when at last he took
Edgar out walking, and then confessed that
he thought it no longer right, safe or
honorable for him to remain at the Hazels,
| finding, as he did, that one creature was be
coming too dear to him; and he trembled
every moment, lest by betraying his secret
he might disturb her serenity; when at last
the confession was made, and Edgar report.
ed it to his wife, then Catherine was ready
to jump for joy. In vain Edgar stroye to
look wise, and tell her to be reasonable. In
vain he represented all the objections that
must be urged against her out-ofthe-way.
scheme, as he was ill-natured enough TO cal
it. She would hear oil none.
| No, nothing She was perfectly unreas,
onable-her husband told her so--but il
was all in vain. Men are more easily dis
couraged at the idea of any proceeding Out
of the usual course than women are. They
do not, / think set so much value upon alb
stract happiness, if may use the term
| they think more OF the attending circum
stances, and less of that one ingredient
genuine happiness, than women do.
Catherine could and would think of moth
ing else, but how perfectly these two were
suited to each other, and how excessively
happy they would be.
Dear, good thing! how she labored in tn he
cause, and what world of contradiction
and trouble she had to go through. First
| there was Mr.. ST. Ledger himself, to be per
suaded to be happy upon her plan, the only
possible plan under the circumstances; thel
there was Lettice to persuade that Mr.. ST.
Ledgers happiness and dignity would moi
be hazarded; then there was Edgar to rea
son out of calling her romantic; and last o.
all there was the General, for Mrs. Melwyr
| consider, as Catherine did, already per
suaded
This last task did appear formidable. She
put it off as long as she could; she go
every body else in the right frame of mint
before she ventured upon it; she had per
suaded both Edgar and Mrs. Melwyn tt
second her, if need were and at length
with dreadful feeling of trepidatioE, sht
broached the subject to the old veteran
With all the GOODNESS she could muster she
began her speech, and laid the whole mat
ter before him. He did not interrupt hel
whilst she spoke by one single word, or re
mark, good, bad, or Indifferent 1t was aw
full; her poor little heart tluttered as if il
were going to stop; she expected the storm
every instant TO burst forth in some terri
bic outbreak. She sat there shuddering al
i II,