The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-04
NARROWLY ESCAPED.

and from all that / have seen don't
think am this time. Take my word
for it, their engagement will be very
soon announced"
Mrs. Carton spoke composedly,
nodding her head as she did so. Her
hostess looked at her in surprise, and
her hostess daughter, Amy Feather
stone, lost from her face all sembIance
of attention to the converse ton OF
young Mr.. Carton.
"YOu think 50, Mrs. Carton ?" in
terrogatively, from Mrs. Feather
stone.
81 certainly do. Laura Gordon is
a beauty, and very captivating ; DR..
Ferrers is a rising man. The match
would please her family. Then there
is the power of propinquity, you
knew" affirmed Mrs. Carton, Hs
she arose. "Come, Bruce, if you
are done saying pretty things, we
will 60"
Bruce Cartons complimentary re-
marks were certainly at an end, 1t
was so evident that the girl was lost
in her own thoughts. He rose, cast
ing a half reproachful last glance at
the fair, doWncaSt cOuntenance, and
in moment Mrs, Featherstone's call
ers, mother and son, had taken their
departure.
In spite Of herself, Amy looked pit
fully at her mother.
81 do not believe 1t, DEAR" sad
Mrs. Featherstone.
With a throb Of gratitude toward
her mother, Amy's heart yet aclled,
as tho IA sword had been thrust
through it. She stood at the win
dow a moment, but Sh,, turned away
at last, and Weht up to her own
room.
She flung herself face dOwnwards
across the bed, and lay shivering and
thinking bitterly enough in the cold
chamber. Though her mother had
the utmost confidence of this pure
young girls heart, she wanted to
be alone awhile with he meditations.
All the long, pleasant autumn
Charles FerrerS had frequented Moss
mere, as the picturesque old house
was called and for weeks Amy had
enjoyed the sunshine of his society,
sweet and unconscious as a flower,
But one day her father had said,
with a half-laugh:
"Child, do you imagine your hand
some young doctor comes to see me
or your mother? No; he comes to
see you"
Amy's blue eyes grew wide with
surprise.
"Mother ~ she said appealingly.
the rosy color mounting to her tenn
pies.
"Certainly, my dear; you are six
teen years old. good and pretty.
Why not ?" responded Mrs. Feather
stone, quietly.
The color faded slowly from the soft
cheeks. Amy grew thoughtful from
that moment she WAS no longer a
child. And all that winter the visits
Of DR.. Ferrers at Mossmere cOntin-
ued. 1 was delightful home, and
Amy, so widely different from the
girls Of the period whom he was con-
stantly was in the habit OF meeting,
had 4 decided charm for him. She
was his secret ideal of what a girl
ought to be; and yet there was Laura
Gordon and the influence of Elm.
croft, the most magnificent estate in
the country.
1t was often frequented - yes.
thronged-by the weaIthiest, the gay
est, the most fashionable people. He
saw them constantly. daily lived in
this artificial atmosphere. He felt
sometimes that only the grave re-
81 Onsibility Of his calling and the in
fuence OF the sweet girl at Mossmere
kept him from becoming as light
butterfly as the rest.
And part Of the luxury of ELM
croft was Laura Gordon. No pic
tured creature was ever so bewilder.
ingIy fair--an houri, with nothing to
employ her idle white fingers but the
counting of the rose. tinted pearls
that formed her favOrite necklace.
And for DR.. Ferrers all her smiles
were honestly sweet. His voice,
manners, and beautiful physique
pleased her fancy, and she knew that
he was considered talented.
AS Mrs. Carton had SAID, "the
match would be agreeable to the
family" And vaguely he felt it.
Mrs. FeatherstOne saw, with con-
cern, that Amy loyed, was dropping,
and impulsively combatted the idea
that Mr.. Ferrers loved another. She
had studied the young man-beiev.
ed that he appreciated her daughter /;
and if this were true, how could he
marry Laura Gordon, with her sell
I Ass-l,