The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-11-10
The Unconscious Confession

Hurry up, gentlemen! the coacl
is waiting cried the voice of tht
stage driver. in front of the Metro
politan Hotel, at Long Branch.
My story goes back to days wher
the railroads to the Branch were un
known, and the transit to New Yol
was achieved by coaches to Sandy
Hook, where a steamer awaited the
passengers.
A tall, handsome young man, al
the summons, came down the stair
case, two steps at a time, and al
most ran over a matronly woman, {
few years his senior, who was cross
ing the hall.
What ? Going to leave us?' sale
the lady in some surprise, and witt
more meaning in her look than il
her words even.
Yes! it's no use,' was the reply
Thanks for your good wishes which
I can see in your looks. Mrs. Max
well. But I'm tired of playing tn.
FOOL
'Pshaw' said the lady, putting
her arm familiarly into his, anc
leading him into the drawing room
which at that hour was deserted
Faint heart never won fair lady
Mr.. Hastings. Listen to me. The
coach will wait a moment
1T is not question Of faint
answered the gentleman
But Kate won't nave me. See here,
Mrs. Maxwell, it's l.ardly fair of you
to corner me, but she refused me
point blank last night
And what if she did ? refused
Mr.. Maxwell the first time myself
It's a way some of our sex have.
Come, stay, and try again
Pm proud man. was the reply,
'and don't like beifg trifled with
But Id stay if I thought it would
do any good. But it won't. She
isn't anywhere about, you see tho
l told her I would 60 away to-day,
When said it she actually laughed.
And yet confound her, l can't help
loving her.
Mrs. Maxwell would have liked
to have laughed also. But she knew
better than to do it just yet.
She was little hysterical or she
wouldn't have laughed she said.
The truth is, Herbert, you are a
pair of fools. You are proud, Us you
say, and don't brook refusals. Kate
is. perhaps, a bit of a ffirt, but ]
sincerely believe she loves you. All
she needs is a little more urging.
You must storm the fortress till it
surrenders. Give her no quarter,
that is my advice and now Mrs.
Maxwell, seeing his face brighten
a laugh
1t was clear, musical laugh, and
it cheered Herbert still more. He
hesitated. If another five minutes
Q 'uld have been granted to Mrs.
she would have prevailed.
But, at this moment, a voice cried:
Here he is. Hurry up, Hastings.
The stage dryer won't wait another
and Hastings shook his
head to Mrs. Maxwell's entreating
ook, wrung her hand, and dashed
out Of the drawing-room.
1t was six miles or so to the steam
boat landing. And now Herbert
began half to repent of what he had
lone. Perhaps l have been too has
ty,' he said to himself. What if
Mrs. Maxwell is rightY
He mused thus for quite half a
mile. 'Pve a great mind TO 60
back he thought. Hold on, dri-
yer, he cried aloud, I've changed my
mind. Stop till l jump out, I'll
walk back
Before his sleepy companions
could ask what he meant, he had
left the coach. had lit Cigar. and
was plodding through the heavy
sands on his return,
His mood soon changed again.
What a precious fool I am making
Of myself he reflected, and, he
turned to hail the coach, but it was
q quarter of a mile off.
He stopped still. If that fish
hawk dives before I count fifty he
said, sI'll go back to the Metropolis
tan; if not, I'll walk to the landing
md take the afternoon boat
The fish-hawk dove almost imme-
Fate has decided for me-
he said desperately. Now let US
see how wisely
Meantime, where was the offend
ing Kate? To do her Justice she
was not aware how much she loved
Hastings until she had refused him.
[t was not altogether coquetry that
led her to say mo- The answer had
been in the first surprise and en-
of the proposal.
Even before he left her she bitter
" repented what she had said. Had
he persevered a little longer, she
would have confessed the truth. She