The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-05-07


manner. | wish he would come back
now, though almost believe / would
give up going to those parties. / am
sorry promised Henry Laurens but
then, how did know Leslie would be
here? I did not expect hm for two
whole weeks. He might have written
to me beforehand, and then I should
have been prepared. Oh, we'll, can't
help it now will fulfill my three en-
ga2ements, and if he docs not come
back before that time, he surely will
before he returns to H. So won't
worry. bat be as happy as I can under
the circumstances.'
But the next three days went by, ami
the next ten, without bringing Leslie
Minute was wretched, but strove to APP
pear Indifferent, and, becoming deerer
ate, accepted all the attentions offered
her from her numerous gentlemen &C
quaintances, I4aurens excepted. She
had kept her engagements with him.
but absolutely refused to make others
She could not have told why, but since
her quarrel with Waldo she had been
filled with dislike and mistrast of her
would be wooer aud he was at present
paying court in a more favorable quar-
j ter.
Matters continued in this way for
some time, and Mitinie, who had rot
received even a word from Leslie, and
had truly repented of her conduct to-
ward him, was growing very restless,
and really looked So i'll as to cause her
| parents much uneasiness. They were
anxious TO learn the cause of her in-
disposition, and surmiscd that some
thing was amiSs between her aud Les.
lie, but, as she had not made a confi
dant of any one, they could only griere
and wonder what happened to hide The
sunshine from their darling. She had
usually been so accustomed to contide
III her mother that lady forbore to
question her now.
NO" she replied to her husband
when he requested her 20 question
Minnie, "wlateycr it is, she has
enough to bear at present; | will give
her al! the co,ufort | can, and Il have
no doubt but her confidence viii come
in time All can ascertain is that size
and Leslie have had some misander-
standing, although she inaists he Us not
to blame, like good, generous darling
that she is.'' And the fond mother
looked as ii she would have liked te
devonr Leslie on the spot.
i About month after her last meeting
with Leslie, Minnie was sitting at III,
breakfast table with her parents, whel
the morning mail came III. AS sh'
handed it across the table TO her father
her quick eye caught sight oi the ia
miIiar hand writing of leslie. With
halt sob she sua,ched eagerly for tb
letter for which she had SO longed, but
alas she was doomed 10 disaptUini
ment, for il was directed to her father
Poor Afinpie could contain herself n
longer, and dropping her head on he
hands sohbed alond After some mil
utes, her mother had succeeded i
calming her sufficiently to hear th
contents OF the letter in question.
'sDear Mr.. Astor." it ran, ''hoping
may not be too late with my intorna
ton, / wish you to know something c
the character of john Brown alia
I Henry I.aurens. to whom your daugf
ter is engaged. ! have just ascertaine
from good authority, that he is alread
anarried, and has . wife and child lis
ing. His wife, an cstirnable lady, sur
ports herself and child, and deSpises til
man who eiticed her from her hom
and then deserted her because sh
would no: support him i'll idlenes,
lie is an adventurer, aud although b
may be IN love with your daughter
is probably very mncb il, love with lie
money also. Should yon wish fc
proofs oil his guilty can give them, a
though | do not think anything furths
than have tcid you will be neeesssr
to convince yoa. trust the above il
: formation will be taken in the spirit
: which it is intended"
After reading the acster Mr.. Ast,
handed it TO his daughter, asking (;
!, , an explanation. She took it nervousl
and, after taking in the contents at
glance, exclaimed
"The villain! Who darcs to say
arm or ever was engaged TO him ? n
: i'ldeed--thongh to my shame he it sal
at FIRST | was very much fascinated /
:. bis handsome face and pleasing aranae,