The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-07-27

tndL Keep us apart Ills sensitive
s4yness is unequaled. Oh, | know
him | have studied him" She shed
a tear or two.
You are certain you are not dc
ceived p said Mrs. Urquhart, with
so emn eyes.
Deceived ? Quite impossible ! He
made me an offer one day which
should have accepted, but Just at the
critical moment Septimus came in
provoking creature ! and we have not
had another opportunity. lie has mis-.
interpreted something should have
been a happy woman, and should
have made him happy. The last time
] saw him his wistful look went to my
heart. The atmosphere at Penny
Royal is full of mocking laughter.
That Mr.. Scatcherd had jested away
my happiness am convinced. Ali
if Percival were only here in this peace.
full paradise, everything would be set
tied directly"
"Shall | ask him to Gomez" said Mrs.
Urquhart.
"Ah !! no, no; no not think of it.
But Mrs. Urquhart did think of it.
She mused and pondered, and at last
she boldly plunged into the rescue of two
perishing parted lovers, and resolved
on gallant effort to save all She sat
down and wrote to Mr.. Parcival, she
flattered herself, skilfully
4 know you are an angler, scrib.
bled she. "What do you say to a week
at Sanneton The Mayhy is out and
the liver is in splendid condition.
Perhaps it may be an inducement TO
you if say our mutual friend Miss
Lacy is here, invaluable to me. |
have heard from her at last, dear Mr..
Perclval, all the story of the trouble
and difficulties of your coultship-of
the proposal you made, which she was
never able to answer. Need | say
what sincere pleasure it will give me
if | can aid in any way to bring about
too explanation you mutually desire.
She does not know | am writing to you.
Do not betray, but give me the instense
pleasure of knowing | have been in
strumental in making two people hap
| py.'
She posted her letter and waited.
In two days she received her an
swer
DEAR MRs URQUnART / am ex-
coedingly sorry I cannot avail myself
OF your kind invitation to Sanneton. MY
holiday is arranged elsewhere. Your
letter has sorely perpleped me. l can
only be explicit. Miss Lacy is, fear,
laboring under some extraordinary
hallucination. ! certainly never have
entertained for her any sentiment be-
yond sincere respect and cordial lik-
ing. | have never in my life dreamed
of making her proposal of marriage,
and it is perhaps better to say a. once
that my affections have been long en-.
gagged in another quarter Leaving
you to decide how best to disabuse her
mind, and with sincerest gratitude to
yourself for your most friendly, though
mistaken, attempt to promote my hap
plncss, believe me, very faithfully
yours,
DERwENT PERClvAL
Mrs. Urquhart sat perfectly still. She
was more astounded and angry than
she had ever been in her life. That
she should have been duped, and that
Miss Lacy should have been capable Of
S1ch folly, awakened the bitterest sen
timents. Shame, veXaticn and perplex
ity took hold Of her and shook hel
like storm, Had Miss Lacy been de
celycd ! Or was she decever? There
were women who fancied every mar
Was IN love with them but Miss Lacy
W., no fool. She is cUquetiiug now
" % the old man. she said 10 herself
a.d los. self command in a paroxvsm
OF wounded pride and indignation. In,
little woman was in towe,Ing passion
1t was under the influence of the yehe
ment recoil that her next interview
with Miss Lacy took place. Its resul
bore testimony to the ruinous nature o
a breach between bosom friends
Shocked and humilatcd by the fina
overthrow of her castle in the air, an,
embttered by the bitterness of he
friend, Miss La'y yet emerged fror
the ruins with some measure OF dignity
She ma lc an effort to appease and re
capture her friend, but Mrs. Urquhart'
wrath burned too fercely and her cpl
thets stung. At the insufferable wor
degradation" Miss Lacy stood up, re
stored to her normal attitude of eas
nOnchalance. II make no allowauc
for your excitement" she said, "bu
you will soon recover. Only your var
ity is wounded, Mrs, Urquhart. NJ
deeper hurt is naturally of secondar
+ moment / will leave you to O,
l cool. We have blundered all around
, she added, with supreme impert
9 nance.
"We have blundered !" cried Mr.
, Crquhart, with flashing eyes. 1t wa
e the last word ever exchanged betwee
!; these women, who never forgave eac
l other
Meanwhile Derwent Percival, COZ
vnced by this untoward little incider
;, that it would be wise to steer for III
I heven of matrimony, stole down {
y Easter to the quiet hamlet whei
Frances Lomimer passed her Made
days. When he stood at last at he
: gate, the gates of her mothers hous
= n tender tremor passed through hin
+ and he leaned upon the wooden ba
quietly dreaming, He was near he
G Somewhere not far off she moved
+ the beautiful calm of her simple, earne
life, lie had fortnight before hin
!, II was the very moment for wooin,
All nature was setting the exampl,
r. The rocks We're cawing in the tall lin
e oyerhead-the primroses were o.
@ everywhere, delicate, dewy and fai
e Then hearty voice hailed him, Il
= voice of an ancient friend, fellow al
It tutor of New College, for three yea
2. vicar of Brent,
II Hello Percival-I didn't know yC
ir were expected here, wrote to you IL
d morning
d did you, Brandon Well, was yo
1t news particular ?"
t. "Decidedly so-au amazing thir
a has happened-that should liveto [,