The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-09
CHAPTER XIV.
AN ACCOUNT CLOSED.

the moths and bats were Hitting ana
circling round the light dresses of the
girls. Not much was said. Grace had
passed her arm through Philips, and
taken Mabelle's hand, and said
"What shall do when you both
leave me?"
After which there was silence, till
Mrs. Massey's voice called to Grace,
and she left them.
% must go, too, said Mabelle, re-
solved at once to take the initiative,
and display some firmness of character.
Go--why?'
Oh, my packing, you know
"Rdckbg! At 10 st you have time to
stroll to the cliff, and look at the Ger
man Ocean by moonlight. Who knows
when we shall have another chance?
Come!"
He opened the wicket in time for DR..
Johnson, who had appeared upon the
scene, TO march unceremoniously be-
fore them. and lead the way to the
cliff.
"TIe knows, you see" said Philip.
clasping his hands behind HIM as he
paced besi de the silent Mabelle.
They did not speak until, suddenly,
the great expanse OF heavlng waters was
spread beneath their eyes, with n long,
silvery track of moonlight down it-a
"High
Cold path of duty, leading to the sky
The sky was cloudless, deep blue: the
stars were clear, the moon radiant, the
air like balm.
GLOW beautiful said Mabelle, soft
ly; but Philip, instead of answering her
remark, said:
Mabelle, why don't you wish to
travel with me tomorrow"
"I-"
"Is my company very distasteful to
you"
"What question! 1t was only"
"Only whatP'
angela will meet me at Irkford,
and she does not know you are going
there." ...
"Is that alp She will be quite equal
TO the occasion, am sure; and, L sol
EMMY assure you, | have the best hopes
for my own presence Of m nd. Don't
distress yourself on that account.
"You are sure you will not mind?'
al shall ot-that is. should not, If
-Mabelle, told you month ago that
| was a married man after-after that
episode you can not forget-and so, in
way, was. know how it spoiled
me. | know my nature got warp
then, and will never be quite smooth
aga n, and I know am more adapted
to frighten a girl by my brusquerie than
to win her love by my amiability.
and have no right to ask any woman
10 bear with me, and love me in spite
OF my roughness, as my dear Grace has
done, God bless her! but IL seems that
trouble three years ago did not secure
me against ever falling in love again"
"Not with me-" exclaimed Mabelle,
involuntarily recoiling, and putting up
her two hands, ''you do not say 1t was
with mepp
"But I do say IL is with you, nlG
belle" said Philip, capturing her hand,
and clasping his arm around her, "and
/ wonder what just cause or impediment
there should be to my loving you. l
say that love you now, very different
ly from-but we'll not speak of that.
Only would never have told you had L
not fancied that you would help me to
wipe out this old account, Mabelle, and
help me to become better man than l
have been since that, day-you remem-
Der. / have often felt Wtcked when |
have thought Of it; Il thought you
would perhaps go on making repara-
tion-will you?'
Mabelle's struggle between tears and
smiles ended in Il conyulsiye laugh,
which would not stop.
Philip, deriving hope from this, and
perhaps pleased with his own ingenious
way oi recommending himself as n suit
or, by painting himself rs not the best
Of men, and inviting his beloved to DO
continually making repari-tion for a
wrong which she had not committed,
was also struck with sense of the
ludicrous; sentiment and solomnity,
moonlight and lovers vows, were for
gotten In peal on peal of laughter.
DR.. johnson, conceiving that he
alone was the object Of a merriment
which insulted and outraged his most
refined feelings, gave three short barks,
and walked away in inexpressible dis
gust.
"But this ill-timed mirth has prevent
ed you from giving proper answer to
my question: observed Philip, when
the laughter had somewhat subsidized.
II don't know wat 10 say" said
Mabelle, turning away, the confusion
which her mirth had covered rushing
over her again.
"Say yes"
at seems such o wild idea for you
and me to get married"
"Well, let us have a wild idea or two,
them" .I
"What would Angela sayp"
"She would say that II you had
played your cards properly, you might
have done better-like herself. Say
yes, Mabellel Say you love me at
least" '.H .tHrf
"Oh, do indeedl''
"And these lips Of yours are so true,
and this right hand never yet held a lie
in it, said he kissing first one then the
other. '.Let me calf them mine, and
you shall find that whatever else may
be, l am as true as Yourself"
Mabelle left her hand in his, and
Philip only released IL 70 put u In that
Of his mother, aud ask her TO bless her
new child. .te