St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-06-14

stairs, and was lying on her bed, her
face pressed into the bed-clothes, Sob
bling as if her heart would break. Only
a woman after all!
= Il
Whit-Sunday that year was a glorious
day. All nature seemed at her bright
est.
Mr.. Maitland, Henniker and Lily
went to church. Coming back the mer-
chant joined friend, and Henniker and
Lily were perforce thrown together
He had seen very little of her since
the affair of the previous evening.
When they had met she was shy and
constrained. In church he had once or
twice cast quiet glances at her-indeed,
! his thoughts were far more occupied
with the pretty figure dressed in black
at his side than with the service; but
her eyes at such times were always
downcast and her attention seemed
wholly riveted on her prayer-book.
Henniker was terribly detected, and
he looked quite pale and haggard. He
| felt that he could endure this torture no
longer. To be in the same house with
this girl whom he loved with all the
strength and ardency of particularly
strong nature, to feel the constant
charm and attraction of her presence,
to know that she was not nor ever
could be his, and to realize that it was
entirely through his own fault that he
had missed winning her, was more than
he could bear. He would go away, but
before he went he. would explain mat
tiers to her.
The walked alone in silence for some
distance. At length Henniker said,
with a Slight effort: t.
Il am sorry, Miss Maitland, that
should still stay to offend you by my
presence. Believe me, would willing
ly have gone away last evening could / |
have done so--indeed, it is misery for
me now to remain here. But, as Mr..
Maitland expressly asked me for Whit |
Sunday, it seemed rude to run away on
the very eve of it; and indeed l could
think of no excuse that would justly |
such q course without Introducing your
name into the NATTER
II hope you won't think of leaving |
on my account" she interrupted hur-
riedly.
"As this, however, is perhaps the last
time shall have the opportunity of
speaking to you alone,' he went on,
without noticing her remark, Il should
like, if you will bear with me, to say
word in answer to your charge of last
night. | will speak frankly to you, Miss
Maitland. l did come down to Man
chester with the views you describe, and
| was an ignorant man in doing so-far
more ignorant than the very people
whom | despised. / did not think your
father well educated or well bred; but
see now how wrong | was to Judge
man by few external characteristics.
for have discovered that he possesses
q true nobility of disposition before
which l, with my small narrow mind,
ought to blush. | am al the better for
having known your father, Miss Matt
land; and have received a much-need-
ed lesson that hope | shall never for
get. But will confess more than that.
There shall be nothing but truth be-
tween us now. After to-day I shall
never see you again; but, at any rate, III 4
shall have the consolation of think NJ
hat there was no deception between us.
When came to Manchester, I did SO
With purpose-I came to marry YOU
ITO marry metz she exclaimed, start
ed out of her silence by surprise ~
Yes, to marry you"
But you had never seenme."
II know that; but I had heard of you.
knew that you were wealthy, or rather
hat Your father was. Twas poor and ..
Unfortunate ruin was staring me in the
ace. | determined to come to Man
hester. aud, if possible, to marry you. 5
relieve myself from my debts. But I
etore had been twenty-four hours in {
he house circumstances altered my
ase. was now really honestly in love
nth you. / could only think of the
1otve with which / had come to Man {
hester with horror. More than once j
etermlned to run away-to leave you
to get back to London, and, begin 9
ing . new and better life, to face my
nin like q man; but the sight OF your G
ice chained me to the spot. I could z
OF bear to part from you'll was pow Z
rless. dare say, Miss. Maitland, YOU L
link all have said the mere emotional o
Tx of Il manofthe world. accomplished q
such matters, but, fortunately for = !,
70, | have the means of convincing you u
the sincerity of my words. By this P
orning's post had letter ANNOUNCE 7,
g to me the death of an uncle, to 81
hose property succeed. am now q 81
cher man than your father. Will you v
'me to me, Lily--just as you are, with u
1t penny? If you like, we will live "
Manchester, and your father shall =
ay with us; ] shall be proud to live
lder the same roof with such man. 4
b, my darling, do have mercy on me!
ont be hard upon me! I can't part y,
Lth Won Won r1.n. +hn rrhnln ,r.c,..lI = u