The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-02-23

/ large armchair. He had met her that after
noon at Effb Blacks. What If she should
say something aud betray him to Myrap
Tho evening was drawing to close and
Mr. Shirly was congratulating himself on his
lucky escape, when suddenly Aunt Betsey
said
"Myrie, why don't you do knittin' work ?
Effie Black is knittin' somethn' out of red
yarn. was 10 there this afternoon, and this
young Teller was holdin' yarn and she was
a-windin IL, an they was laughin' an grin
min as If it was real fun. Can't you knit,
Myrie pn
But Myra did not reply. Her face and lips
were colorless, while the gentleman's face was
as scarlet as the red yarn Aunt Betscy was
speaking about.
TIE family retired, leaving the young cou-
pie alone. There was silence in the room for
some time then she said, almost in a whis-
per- $50 that was why you did not come ?
Oh. Horace! thought better things of you. -
And she leaned her head on her hand and
watched him closely.
"Myra, i" he replied, ~ did not intend to
disappoint you. Effie is only friend, you
know; but the time passed SO quickly was
too late
"Wby did you not say SO, thena" she
asked, coldly.
Because knew you would be angry, and
I thought the best way to do was to pass It
over as smoothly as possible"
:" But you might have known l would find
you out
"And if you did, would it be any killing
matter?',
81 don't suppose you would think SO but
it is just this--you have either got to stay
away from Ellie Blacks or else from me, one
or the other |" said Myra, angrily.
Do you mean that?" asked the gentle
man, earnestly.
Certainly do y was the reply.
Horace Shirly was not angry, but he was
determined now that there should be an un-
Outstanding between this lady and himself.
Now, Myra,' he said, "let us have good
plain talk. You have had your say--now
think it is no more than just that I should
have mine. For two or three years past you
and have had our names coupled together,
and in all that time you have tried to rule me,
in some things, with an iron will. You have
been opposed to every lady friend have. If
spend an hour or two with one of them, you
are angry. have thought this matter over
great deal and have reached this conclusion !;
You do not trust me as you ought to, if you
cared for me. And / am not willing to sacri-
a my Ind ftra 10 fur oh
wh,m of one do not suit You at an, /
think, and SO we will just part as friends.
Coming here in this way am just depriving
you of other company. ] do not want to
stand in any one else's way. / do not wish
you to feel sighted if I do not come here at
stated times as I have hitherto" He drew
out his watch arising as be did so, and, TAX
| ing his hat and cane, walked to her side and
held out his hand Goodnight, Myra," he
said.
But the girl sat with her hands tightly
clasped in her lap, and did not seem to see
the offered hand.
Won't you say goodnight, Myra? did
not mean to wound you'll only did it for the
best. thought the sooner we came to an
understanding, the better"
"Please do not think for moment you
have wounded me |" said the girl, scornfully
"Do you think am so much taken up with
your desirable company, that it would cause
instant death to lose it? l have plenty Of
| friends !"
81 know you have, Myra," he said, "and
hope you will always place me among the
number. l shall ever look back upon the
many pleasant hours we have spent together
with happiness, and l hope you will do the
same" And again he held out his hand.
"Good- night, Myra. May God bless you "
But the girl stubhornly refused to take his
hand and coldly said, Good night" The
young man bowed and hastened away.
1t was not the first time they had parted,
but for all that she felt very uneasy. "lt
will come all right" she thought. i" was
awful hateful .
But the days heightened into weeks, and
| the weeks into months, and Horace Shirly
was ever kind friend to Myra Taylor, but
he never came as in those old days gone by.
He called as others did, and passed pleasant
hour But neveragain would lie be more to
her than friend. People say he is perfect
gentleman and great favorite with every
one. But he does not care to marry. All
ladies are alike to him, as far as love is con-
cerned. He is every lady's friend.
Myra often thinks of that last parting, and
would give the world, If she could, to go
back once more to that night and take the Of
fored hand. But it is too late. That one
mean act. will never be blotted out of her
memory. She dare not think what might
have been had she not been SO overbearing.
She often glances back over the tablet OF
memory. as he babe her do, and she cannot
find brighter spot than those hours she pass
ed in his company.
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A correspondent of the Scient.JSc American
says. Let any one who has an attack OF
lockjaw take small quantity of turpentine,
/ "a a.