Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-10


On the following day, when the last
red tinge from the wintry sunset wa.
fading out of the sky, and the freight
seeming to gain confidence now that
the sun was gone, was dancing over the
old-fashioned furniture of the Haw.
thorne Deane drawing groom, Thirza sat
by the hearth, holding in her hand @
letter which she had been reperusine
by the uncertain light.
1t was from Madelon, who wrote in
high spirits, resulting from the belief
that her project with regard to Tita's fu.
ture was to be realized. Thirza was re-
folding it when she started, for there
struck upon her ear the infrequented
sound of wheels upon the gravel.
While she was still wondering, the
door was opened, and the servant,
without seeing that the room was occu-
pied, ushered in gentleman, with
" What name shall I say, sirP" to which
he replied by giving her card.
Miss Nicol came forward.
"Mr. Colvinp she said. in low.
startled voice. elias anything hap
pened? My sister"
"Your sister is perfectly well," he
said, as they shook hands.
He was triGe embarrassed-a thing
unusual with him but the dusk con-
cealed the fact.
"Pray sit down." said Thirza. "I
will ring for lights"
Bernard Colvin demonstrated.
"I like the twilight" he said. "And
it will make it easier for me to tell you
why have come"
81 think L can guess" she said,
placing Madelon's letter in her pocket.
-" [ heard from Mrs. Colvin this morn.
ing."
He looked at her suddenly and in
tently.
"You know how I am situated" he
begsn--"that I am compelled to quit
England when my brother does-not a
fortnight hence"
Thirza bowed. .
"Think of that, then, and do not
condemn my present proceeding as
hasty and ill-considered. Miss Nicol,
l have come to ask you to be my wife,"
She was silent from extreme surprise,
and he went on:
81 know too we'll that it seems very
abrupt-that it is at least unusual; but
1 can only plead that this course is
forced upon me. On the first evening
on which we met at your sisters 1 re-
solved to ask you as soon as I dared"
81 did not expect this" murmured
Thirza. 81 thought it was Tita. am
very sorry"
"Sorryl'
"It is impossible, Mr.. Colvin. Do
you know that am older than you ?"
eyes; your sister told me so. That
is nothing to me. see in you what I
never thought to meet-my ideal of
what woman should be. Miss Nicol, -"
and he took her hand and held it firmly,
"for heavens sake set aside all preiu.
dice, all conventionality, and answer
me simply from your heart. 1 have
never cared for any woman before and
want you for my wife. have seen you
but four times, but if it were thousand
1 could not admire and respect you
more. Dare you trust me with your
self9 In other words, do you-could
you ever care for meP"
The hand he held trembled in his
and Thirza was silent. 1t was the first
time such words had ever been ad.
dressed to her, and in her heart she
knew that she dare trust him implicitly,
that she would follow him to the ends
of the earth. But-there was Amy.
Besides which, she was saying to her
self:
"He does not love me. He wants a
wife and thinks that should suit him:
but that is not love-" For Thirza Nicol
at thirty had not lost her faith in senti-
ment.
81 am very grateful, Mr.. Colvin, "
she said, slowly, "but I cannot be your
wife. am sorry if you are feeling dis
but forgive me if I think
that it cannot be very keen"
He dropped her hand, and stared hard
at the fire, where, from the glowing
Goals, mocking face seemed to smile at
him in derision."
But it is" he said, in low voice,
"My life is a very lonely one. l
thought was too sanguine. Will you
not take it into consideration? May !