Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-12-11

an appearance of conscious guilt, |
and she scarcely knew how to answer
the charge.
'Don't tease me now, Cora" she
said, putting the eager girl aside. 81
want to think little; another time
Wen talk, it over.''
swell, Pll leave you. You can
mediate all you've mind to, now
that your thoughts have taken such
sublime turn. l don't wonder you
want 10 think, either, with such a.
glorious subject for contemplation"
laughed Cora, as she made her exit.
Emillie did consider the matter
very seriously that day, and the re-
suit of her deliberations was q mark
ed change in her manner to the Eng.
lish nobleman, She avoided his So
ciety henceforth with great assiduity.
Mrs. Deane watched proceedings
for week with ill-concealed dissatis-
faction, then her Indignation burst
forth, and she took her niece to task
for the unseemly behavior.
Such a wholesome effect had the
good lady's lecture, that Emillle
seemed to repent the folly Of he-
ways. Why, indeed, waste her life
in vain repining? Better crush out
or bury forever this early affection.
So, mentally resolving, she again,
though half reluctantly, accorded a
gracious reception to Lord Estleigh's
advances.
Transported by the favorable
change, his lordship determined on
speedy crisis, and one evening short
ly after, as they promenaded the
moonlit beach, he not exactly sur
prised Emllie by passionate avowal
of love.
Notwithstanding her indifference,
somehow her heart throbbed wildly
at his words, for the old familiar
strain rang again in their accent.
With a smiling assent on her lips,
size raised her eyes 20 his face, but
its wistful, eager expression smote
her to the heart for the injustice she
was about to do him, and quickly
Withdrawing the half extended handss,
she buried her face in them with a
little moan OF anguish.
"EmiIlie, darling, what is it?"
cried his lordship, bending anxiously
over her.
But she had recovered her compo-
sure almost instantly, and, drawing
| slightly away, answered calmly:
Il am grateful, my lord, for the
great honor you do me, but 1 must
decline. l can not be your wife"
''Bnt why, may l ask? L thought
surely-pardon me-" he said,
pausing abruptly, his voice husky
with emotion.
The girl was silent a minute; then
replied, with some emotion:
81 acknowledge, my lord, that some
explanation is due you, therefore
will confess that my affections are al
ready engaged. L love another. 1t
is now almost seven years since we
parted, but my heart still clings to
him whom / perhaps rashly discard
ed; hence, my lord, cannot con-
scientlousEy accept your proposal. -
Emiliie's eyes being cast down
during her confession, she did not
see the glow of delight breaking over
his lordship's countenance. A mo-
ment more and he had caught her to
him and was whispering passionately
in her bewildered ear:
"My noble, faithful darling, by
this very fact l claim you for my
own"
my lord what means this ?'' cried
, Emillie, struggling to free herself.
"Why, can you not guess? Do
you still fail to recognize me, my own
precious one? l am George Howard, 1"
and he clasped still closer the now
but fsebly-resisting form, for the
; girls own heart affirmed the declara.
; tion.
''But, George" she said, looking
; up through happy tears, 'why have
you come under such disguise, OF
, sought to win me thust''
Her lover smiled little sadly.
. ''Ah! Emillie, when will you learr
to have confidence in me? Though
truly the change from poor com.
positor to my present position seems
almost incredible, yet nevertheless il
:. Is an actual fact. am really Lort
i. George Estleigh.''
Emillie regarded him in speechless
amazement.
81 must begin at the beginning o.
my adventures since left you to ex
plain how l reached this dignity
, he went on, smiling at her astoni shet
Il look as he drew her to seat beside
J him among the rocks.
''In the first place, when I got you
note of dismissal, dearest, 1 neve
{ suspected that it might be the result
> of impulse, but in after years, reflect
. ing calmly on it, concluded tha
: such it was, and, from an expression
. Q at Its close, also guessed that it hat
y been occasioned by your overhearing
. only partially, conversation I hat
/ that night, on the lower piazza, will
my roommate and most intimat
: friend. Was not correct?''
Emlllie bowed.
;, "Well, my love, had you beel
e able to catch the whole of my luck
:, less remarks, you would have hear,
=" me say; The money is not include,
y in the bargain, for / happen to b
pretty well posted as to her uncle
. financial affairs, and know that h
:, = leaves the young lady almost, if nc
- quite, penniless.
''Oh, George!" broke in Emillie
"and l have caused all our troubl
> by my impetuous haste
u ''Never mind now, dearest: it wa
. all for the best" he answered, sooth
y ingiy. ST was rather conceite
I L fellow at that time, and the lesso
u - you gave me has been beneficial.
o. "Well, then, after reading you
st note, /, with equal haste, packed u
i and left for New York early mex
re- morning, and took passage for Eu
!, rope, expending the last of my say