The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-25

4 all that-it was too wild, ttoo Nsentimental.
fanciedhe would have written more .eoberly,
more thoughtfully. wished that he had spoken
| instead of writteh-itwas so formal to have to
| answer him. His proposal was not quite SO
nice as some had read of. And yet should l
quarrel with my bliss, come how it nights y,
| no!
1t was xith a heart full to. eEeffewing that
| / answered HIM. did so at once, for my pupils
and were going eutandN had a chance of
! pSsdtf4g GIsSEs 1bS oSsa aa Rsfs
to think, lest shogh lose my courage; lwrote
| my answer, 1t was not an easy task, ~n
| i'DE4fs Mr. GEffHERoE:-I cannot tell you
II how your letter surprised me. | feel SO nat
tered So Grateful ii to y99 for py " ne ~
and THAT is that 1love yod, and have loved you
for 2 long tine, Yours MInRtossi I baaigy
III Thsditi not seem'at all theltind of note to
| send, SO i wrote apotherl and another, all
| worse, until, in desperation, sealed and di-
reeted the FIRST rfdid NOS allow myself to
think farther till | saWit safe in the post
office, and then for very shame, would have
gone IN and asked foriit back. ] felt I had
taken a, plunge into unknown waters. My
thoughts were in state of chaos-I was joy
full, trembling and excited.
j fear my four girls thought me very absent
that afternoon. AS we went out, Caroline
and Amy, the two eldest, begged me to go a
different way from that which 1 had chosen,
but said must post aletter.
Let me run with it to the post, Miss Nor
ley,n said Caroline. Z" 1t will take me only a
minute from the turnpike, and then we can
still go by the high-road." iiH tN
"No, | must post it myself, DEAR" Irepled,
hugging my letter tight.
They pressed me to ! ct them take it, those
tiresome girls; and, like silly little thing
turned red whprAnDOn Carrie
said fs ff. ..et
"You look so red, Miss Morley Perhaps
it is love-letter. l do believe it isl" she
cried, as stupidity got more and more crimson.
You must not be SO forward; it is very
vulgar to talk about loye-letters,n answered,
according to my rule. .E '-.
Is it vulgar to be ip love, then, Miss Nor
ley!n she asked " never knew that. Do
you hear, Amy! It's vulgar to be in love-"
Well, not exactly vulgar, of course, Car
rie,'' extenuated; "but it's better that young
girls like you and Amy should not talk of such
things yet" ..
''Niiss Morley, I've often heard papa say that
he was in love with mamma when he was quite
bow said Amy ''Was he vulgar!1
"Of course not, Amy" replied because
because he married your mamma, and it was a
suitable match in every way.n
80, | see" said Caroline. But supposing-
supposing-iust for instance, you know-that
be vulgar, would it nots" ...
"How often have | told you, Carrie, that it
is very rude and vulgar to make personal re-
marks % said, Gwen drop the subject, if you
pleasen
spoke with as much angry dignity as my
confusion would admit. Tiresome, forward
children, lido believe their sharp eyes had some
how seen the. address on my letter However,
it was posted; and the rest of the day and
night passed in a sort of trance. My upper
most feeling was wonder as to what would
come next. ..E - .,r = n .-t, .
l had to endure tormenting suspense all the
next dav. The post was my first trial i longed
to, yet dared not, look at the letters, and al
most felt relieved that there was not one for
me. Tben every ring at the bell set my heart
quivering. At last, in the afternoon, when
was speaking to Mrs. Thomsonin 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 l held out to him trembled. He looked
conscious, tool saw that before | slipped
away. Would he tell Mrs Thomson, and would
she send for NEE 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
was free for a few hours. | took my book
out into the garden, but | could notread. The
click of the gate startled me. / leaned for
ward to see who it was, and beheld Mr.. Clith-
eroe. o, how my heart beat, and how |
trembled as he approached!
How do you do, Miss Morley?' he said.
l am glad to be able to speak to you alone,
for have something to say and to explain ~
| stole a glance at his face He looked
flushed and agitated. He sat down, and there
was minute of silence, which grew almost
insupportable to me. Why did he not speak
or take my hand! 0, could have sunk at his
feet and hidden my h1uehinr face
g Miss Morley" he continued, received
letter from you yesterday"
"Yes, yes" l said, hurriedly. at was a
stupid letter, know: but yours surprised me
SO. never dared believe you could love me-
stammered, and hid my glowing face in my
hands. .n i
when did YOU get the letteryou answeredr'
he asked, gently.
" The day before yesterday" I answered !:
and in my nervousness ! drew it from my
pocket
He put out his hand and took it, He read it
through, and then he took my hand.
f" Miss Morley" he said, gravely and kindly,
''believeIpe, you cannot know how highly |
respect and esteem you, and how difficult
find it to tell you that never wrote that letter
at ALL" s0
Never wrote it !" i echoed, stupefed. p
Mop he REPLIED there is some mistake
here, some cruel jest. never penned it; nor
is it my writing, though in close imitation.
Had 30 meant to address you thrust should
have treated SO high and holy theme in a
more dignitied manner. could not write to
you like that, Miss Morley"
" l thought, felt" / muttered. "But
you never wrote it-you did not, you do
not
And then the real nature of my miserable
situation flashed upon me. 1t was all mis-
take; he did not love me!
" do not love you, Miss Morley, as that
letter says" he continued. " Forgive me; but
i feel it is best and wisest to be frank with YOU
have never yet dreamt of marriage. / have
no present means, and have been % busy with
my profession to think as yet of love- / bit
terly deplore that some-I fear wilful-mistake
has exposed you to this unpleasantness."
listened as in dream my head was buried
In my hands, and my very heart was faint. o.
the shame, the humiliation, the misery Of hav-
ing let him so openly 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, butI had waved him off.
4" Go away, go awaym was all could say
heard his steps die away, and then my tears
came. For along time | sat on thus, crushed
and stunned by this cruel blow. At last rose
to 20 in. The blissful hours Of free ION were
drawing to a'clOse, and instinct taught me to
hide my wound from others l was startled
to behold Mr.. Clitheroe still in the garden, ap-
parently examining some plants. He heard
me move, and hurried, up to me before could
csc ape. tH t.fIt 'L
81 cannot let'you go like this, Miss Morleyn
he said. "Wiil you forgive me for being the in
nocent cause of this.cruel annoyance?D'
Il. mutt ra1 D.,4T I