Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-05
posted; and the rest Of the day and night


had to endure tormenting suspense all the
| next day. The post was my first trial; longed
to- yet dared not, look at the letters, and al
most felt relieved that there was not one for
me. Then every ring at the bell set my heart
quivering. At last, in the afternoon, when /
was speaking to Mrs. Thomson in the garden,
Mr. Clitheroe went past in the road. He only
bowed; but she beckoned to him to come In.
He did so. and / grew red and pale. and the
hand kheld out to him trembled. He looked
conscious tool saw that before slipped away.
Would he tell Mrs. Thomson and would she
send for me! But no summons came. and night
closed upon my wonder and excitement.
The next day brought my suspense to an end.
1t was Wednesday. our half holiday. The girls
had gone out with their mother, and I was free
for few hours ] took my book out into the
garden, but | could not read. The click of the
gate startled me. | leaned forward to see who
1t was and beheld Mr.. Clitheroe. Oh, how my
heart beat, and how l trembled as he APP
preached
''How do you do. Miss Morley?'' he said, az
am glad to be able to speak to you alone for l
have something to say and to explain
| stole glance at his face. He looked flushed
and agitated. He sat down. and there was a
minute of silence which grew almost insupport-
able to me. Why did he not speak or take my
hand? Oh, could have sunk at his feet and
hid my blushing face.
''Miss Morley" he continued, II received a
letter from you yesterday"
"Yes. yes" said hurriedly. 'Tt was a stu
pid letter, l know; but yours surprised me so.
| never dared believe you could love me-"
stammered, and hid my glowing face in my
hands.
when did you get the letter you answered."
he asked. gently.
'.The day before yesterday."I answer ed: and
In my nervousness l drew it from my pocket
He put out his hand and took it. He read it
through and then he took my hand.
'Miss Morley" he said. gravely and kindly,
'beeve me, you cannot know how highly re-
spect and esteem you. and how difficult 1 find
it to tell you that l never wrote that letter at
ALL
Never wrote it?' echoed. st upefed
NO" he replied; 'there has been some mis-
take here. some cruel jest never penned it.
nor is it my writing. though in close imitation.
Had SO meant to address you trust | should
have treated so high and holy atheme in more
dgnified manner. Icould not write to you like
that Miss Morley"
Il thought, felt muttered s'But YOU
never wrote it-you did not. you do not
And then the real nature of my miserable
he did not love me.
81 do not love you, Miss Morley as that letter
says, he continued 'Forgive me: but feel it
best and wisest to be frank with YOU have
never yet dreamt of marriage. l have no pres
ent means, and have been too busy with my pro-
fesson to think as yet of love. l bitterly de-
pOre that some-I fear willful-!nistake has eX-
posed you to this unplcasantness
listened as in dream; my head was buried
in my hands, and my very heart was faint Oh,
the shame. the humiliation, the misery of hav-
ing SO openly let him see my love. which now
came back to me rejected. | longed to fly to
escape from my intOlerable position. He had
tried to take my hand, but l had waved him off,
go away, go away!' was all l could say
heard his steps die away. and then my tears
came. For long time sat on thus crushed
and stunned by this cruel blow. At last | rose
to go in. The blissful hours of freedom were
drawing to close, and instinct Taught me to
hide my wound from others. was startled to
behold Mr. Clitheroe still in the garden, appar-
emily examining some plants. He heard me
move. and hurried up to me before could es-
cape.
II cannot let you go like this. Miss Morley"
he said. 'Wll you forgive me for being the in
nocent cause OF this cruel annoyance"
''Oh, yes" | muttered. But I am so
ashamed-my letter"
Miss Morley" he said 81 respect you more
than ever. Your letter and your words shall be
forgotten by me; they shall be as though they
had not been. Trust me. I have forgotten
already all that you would have me FORGET.
must hope to merit your good opinion of HE by
my discretion; and l shall only try to find out
who could have so insulted you. Have you any
suspicion?"
No l replied. 81 have not thought about
1t. Please let it alone. and let me go in now
He raised his hat and said AGOod-bye' I
was alone-mOre alone than ever. My bright
castles were shattered; and the letter. that had
been hooking phantom. to me-he had never
written it.
HIS STORY.
I have been in at the death Of many fox.
shot many an innocent bird and beast, as q
young man. and have said many cruel words in
my time, but never felt such a barbarian be- W.
fore that day. And yet it was not my fault
was obliged to do it. Truth and honor de-
manded it.
Poor little Marion Morley. I had often no.
ticed her sad face, and longed to be of use to
her, and even tried to make her think would
befriend her If she needed 1t. I had often
preached at her the hard lesson. in whatsoever
state she was Herewith to be content. But
had never dreamed of lOve-I had never tried to
win her affection. AS 1 told her marriage Law
very tar in the dim future with meas far in
fact, as the living that hoped would ultimately
fall to my lot. 1t never crossed nv widest
fancy that she would have taken more than a
friendly interest In me; therefore my utter as
tonishment can be imagined when / received
her poor little innocent letter promising to be
the wife had not desired. How hard it was to
tell her had never penned the letter she had
received!
l returned home humbled and greved
grieved to have wounded her sensitive feelings.
grieved that she should have given me her love
unsought. prayed that night that she might
forget me. felt very guilty and vet could
find nothing of which to accuse myself. NV
chief feeling, however, was Indignation against
the person. whoever he or she might be- whose
wicked jest had caused all this. had nv sus-
piciOns. Caroline Thomson was never a fayorite
of mine; thought her a forward. sly girl. pre-
cOcious and assuming and imagined her quite
capable OF playing such trick.
One dav met Miss Thomson in the village and
joined her. Purposely led the conversation
around to practical jokes
Z" do not know anything more cOwardly than
to play practical JOKE" / said ION person
whose circumstances place them to certain ex-
tent in ones power. A practical Joke of any
magnitude is insulting, cruel, stupid and a
DISGRACE to one person only-the perpetrator.'
The girls face got very red, and she Uttered
nervously.
Have you ever played such joker" 1 went
on. 81 am pretty sure you have ~and on Miss
Morley; have you not!" demanded sternly
"Wnat do you mean?" she stammered
Please answer me straightforwardly. Miss
Thomson" said cor must, as your clergy
man, apply to your mother. You will know
what l mean if your conscience accuses you.
Did you not lately play practical joke upon
Miss Morley?'
The girl burst into tears, and gradually told
me all-how she and Amy had written the letter
in fun, and never meant any harm; how, when