Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-03-28

| Read it. ss i. a
As he spoke all traces OF his custom
airy languid, careless manner left him,
and his eyes sparkled with inward ex-
| citement as he eagerly watched her un
fold and read the letter
In an undertone, half aloud and half
to herself, she read without changing
her set expression
~ DEAR UNCLE, II have changed my
plans somewhat since / last talked with
you, when. you desired and I acquisced I
| that I should pay my court to the
daughter of your old friend. AS say,
| since then my plans are altered. and
feeling that you are now my nearest iv-
| ing relative, it is right you should know
| OF my Intentions. The amount of it all
is [ have given my heart into the keep
ing Of Miss Isabel Whyte, who has
| yielded to my love, and consented to be-
come the wife Of your afectionate
nephew, T. LEONARD"
Up, S.-Let us hear from you"
As Isabel finished Leonard dropped
on his knee, and taking her han dis, cried,
quickly 1 ~%'" 49,,
Isabel, darling! may Il send it?
Will you give me the right? Say you
viii, dear. See I AM waiting You
love me, you do love me, ] have seen it
In your eyes and in your words. Speak,
Isabel; do not look SO cold and calm"
! She turned her eyes upon him, still
with that strange expression, and, with
q half smile, said -
| would not that be carrying the Joke
a trife too far, Mr.. Ashley?"
"Joke?" gasped Ashley. "What do
you mean, Isabel? You cannot think I
am speaking in jest" 80
"I mean, Mr.. Ashley, that the old
gentleman, your uncle, would probably
echo the sentiments of your friend, Mr..
Mayne, and yourself, that might make
o man very clever little wife, only
there is not penny in the family and,
Of course, as it is, it is quite out of the
question, quite! And not having any
personal ill-feeling against your uncle,
1 must decline to make him the subject
Of so practical o joke, and possibly put
him thoroughly out Of hulnor with his
excellent nephew, all on account of "a
little tiirtation'!"
AS she finished speaking she rose to
ing with indignation.
Ashley said not word. He felt the
sting Of his own words and was silent.
The conversation which had occurred
in the morning when he was yet strug-
Cling with the love which this girl had
planted in his heart even during what
with him was but Irritation, but with
her a cruel reality until his cruel words
had undeceived her, came quickly be-
fore him, and he knew that he had lost
her; and OH! how doubly precious she
seemed now that all hope of winning
her had fed! He could not unsay those
careless words which had SO hopelessly
wounded her sensitive soul, though he
scarcely believed in the truth of them
at the time. He knew that even if she
had loved him that love was dead, or
her womanly pride would henceforth
word to say, and bowed his head as she
swept by him with quiet nod.
She did not re-enter the drawing
room, but went at once to her apart
ment. where as soon as she had closed
and locked the door, she threw herself
upon the bed, in the agony of her heart
found vent in tears.
ooh, how 1 loved him!' she sobbed
aloud. GLOW I loved him!" and then
with new burst Of tears she walled !:
"And now, even now, I love him, but I
cannot forgive those cruel words. *
REALLY, Mr.. Ashley, this is very sud-
den. Cannot your business be put of
for week OF more? or better still, cam
not Mr.. Mortimer, who goes up to town
to-day, attend to it for you?" inquired
the fair hostess, at the breakfast table,
when Leonard had made known his
intention Of leaving that morning.
"Thanks, Mrs. Mortimer, but unhap-
| PLY the nature Of my business requires
my personal attendance. lam extreme
~ sorry to have to shorten my stay,
which you have rendered so enjoyable
that it is a pain to have to leave"
'<Well, at leastyou will lunch with us
on the cliffs as proposed, and will
have you driven direct from there to the
station in time for the afternoon train. :"
, Il shall be only too happy to enjoy
the few extra hours in your society,"
answered Leonard, politely bow
, ing to Mrs. Lorrimer and casting COW
ert glance at Isabel, who still retained
her place beside him, having no reason
able excuse for changing it.&-s f.
As he left the table he paused behind
her chair q moment, and then with sud-
den movement as though having nerved
himself to speak, he bent over her. II
"Miss Whyte, " he said, will you 60? ?
Il ssNot this morning" she answered
coldly. II have a headache ] may
join them after lunch, when the sun is
not so hot" 5z 8
i She was avoiding him. He felt a
sharp pain in his heart, but still persist
ing, he continued: a,
!. I'm week I shall be on the ocean,
Miss Whyte; will you not grant me one
favor before I so. For the sake Of my
friendship if nothing else?" Il.
She did not answer, but bowed hes
, head assentingly. IS
, "Go this morning to the cliffs. :"
IL Once more she nodded without d
word, and he was forced to leave hel
, thus. She felt that, for all, he loved
, her now. and he was going away fol
that love. She knew she loved him
loved him with all her strong, womanly
heart but her pride had been wounded
and through that very love, and nov
!, she could not own it, though she felt be
was suffering deeply for the wound he
had inflicted. What could he want
Was he going to renew his attentions al
the cliff? She almost wished hewould
!, | for she felt her love could not hold out
against his pleading. No, he felt his
position too keenly for his pride to al.