Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-11-04
MlscELlAH Eous.
TIE MISTAKE.

your last partner" Noel Stratton said
to his friend Nat Hughes, as the two Sam.
tered from the bathroom to the cool piazzas,
"Is il possible, that you have bcen three,
weeks here and do not know Honoria Leigh?"i
cried bis companion. 7s...a-.
'Honoria LeighI ], have heard of her"
.:Heard Of her! l should think so." zss
'.Wih you introduce me, Nat2 Not to-
night, ie adSsed hastily, as his friend
turned toward, ,ths ball,room; ''to>morrov."
Willingly GseFd your heart" -
"SHe is fift, thep2" - =f'-. '..-
s'No. That's the 9aeerost part Of it. She
seems absolutely indiffsrent. to admiration
and attention. resorts 10 Do ea4rifce to gain
either one or, the other, aud gives NO man
the right to feel that he is honorcd above all
othors; yet this very cool contempt Of. their
prctenstons seems to stimulate ths male por-
tion of society till they are fairly piqued into
devoted atteptions." -. - ,4s-.s VS.
1.-THE handsome man who hovers near her
so much - Graham think / have heard Kim
5 called lis he not The favored one2
T4sfMaFk Graham! Why he is her unclei"
"Her uncle! Mark Graham Honoria's un>
oIcl"
..Sby. Noel, what ails youl Nan alive;
are ypu going to faibt2" >liS &
srNo, DO. 1t is nothing; passing spasm.
Do no. mind me- I will tell you, Nat, in an an
instant"
"Tell me. Rhat2 you. are i'll, NooI."
"No, am not i'll. It is deserted here
Nat. Too early yet for promenaders. Sit
down, and will tell you what makes your
words revelation to me. You remember
fivo years ago, when / spent winter In the
capacity of escort-in chief 20 Aunt Edith ?"
'.The aunt who left you her fortune7"
"The same, though death seemed far
enough from her then" ~
"She was one of the most devoted votaries
to fashion, aud our winters was constant
round of receptions, balls aud gayeties Of all
sorts"
"Ons-of Aunt Edith's especial pets was
Houora Leigh" -
"You would scarcely think, Nat, looking
at her TO- night, that in those days she was
ono. of the most animated and brilliant of
bellies.
Five years ago her cheeks were round
and blooming as child's; the icy manner
you mention did not exist then, but every
word and movement we're full of animation,
'"She was wonderfully beautiful, but So
ciety gave! her that most hateful of all names
for a woman to. bear-that of q. firt." 49,,
"T met her, forewarned that she made
plaYthings of hearts, and won love only 10
thrnzz. II aside. i-'s. q + .e-f ar = @E-i
.sBat as ], said, aunt Edith made. HSf %
special favorite. and, in the privacy of our,
own home circle found ber so frank, noble.
and winning, that / gradually forgot the
reputation she b0res and believed her pure,
true. WOMAN" ----.E % ,,a,s r
Have you heard her sing7" -
f'She never sings"
'sIn those days she saag. I
s.In socieoy, her voice, cultivated and
powerful, was applauded as one of the finest
heard in pu amateur peTformer. 1s.-@
''But for us, aunt Edith and me, she
would sing soul music, wonderful German
melodies, full Of pathos aud sweetness. quaint
old ballads Of the pasty and soft, sweet home
tunes, that seemed like echoes of childhood,
"In society men applauded her brilliant
conversation powers, her wit, her reading,
| and her almost masculine grasp Of intellect.
'sFor Us she had sweet, low-toned homes
talk; would tell us Of her aunPs country
home. Of the little children who loved her,
and who were dear to her.
Had only met her abroad, should
have admired her and passed on; but mect-
ing her true self, as believed in our home
circle, seeing her womanliuess, her gentle-
ness and sweetness. loved her with every
tbrob of my heart. z4-
al was always welcome guest in the
private sitting.room of herself and her
Il found an opportunity to tell my. love
even in the whiIl Of gagsty and vas accepted
by HOnOria.
"Our engagement was but one month Old
and was hoping soon ito heye; "a day ap-
pointed for the weddings when ono evening
I called upon Henoria..
: aAs I crossed the ball leading so,the ;dool
of the private sitting room. saw ahead oi
me q gentleman, about nay own age, evidently
just arrived iroma long journey.
Nothing strange in that, you viii say
but the servant who preceded this gentleman
knocked at tie door of Honoria's private
sitting room. and answering a voice from IN
side opened 1t. saying
"Mr Graham, Miss Leigh
...In a moment my HoaOria, with glsG