The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-03


chatted cheerily, imagining his diffidence,
in part at least, to be occasioned by the bur
den of his sorrow, for they were an atfec-
Tomato family. By degrees he took heart,
and addressed me with more ease, and
was glad to see my efforts srcceed, not al
ways, fear, without tinge of selhshness
and that vanity which / suppose besets all
women. For he was not you must remem-
Der, merely country pumpkin, he had been
well scbooled. not in the highest tone. per-
baps; but his parts excelled those of any
youth, high or low, in Great Bielby.
was glad, l said, Sissy, but / have sor-
roved many a time since. For he inter
preted me differently, and a great hear suf-
fered, ! believe, greatly before 1t could for
get. Ny freedom in conversation, my readi.
ness IN appTeciating his stand point-I fancy
| am little gifted in that direction-the
clear expression of ideas-thanks TO my thor
ougb tIaining-which he stammenngly be-
labored; my, must say, apparent affability
toward him led him to suppose that would
accept his affection. What a sad mistake!
/ pray, Sissy, no such mishap may betall
you. And yet l shall love the memory of
that manly soul. Some time after the death
of his sister, when my visits became of ne
cessity fewer, he sought my father and laid
his hopes before him. What an unexpected
circumstance it was for him to think of
Mary, his own doubly- plighted daughters
marriage. How could il be? However, he
could not be harsh. rapid as thought he ex-
cused me to himself, accused himself of be-
ing unreasonable, and babe young Bartram
call on the morrow.
MY daughters welfare is my dearest con-
Germ, and If she has given her love to you,
you are welcome from my heart as her
choice"
Those were the words overheard from the
hall: and juet as If curtain had been rent
before me, / saw and felt their meaning
Unconsciously had won the devotion of a
warm-heated and worthy young fellow-a
gentleman Of feeling, l may truly say, ten
der as as child and faithful, as 1 already
we'll knew. 1t flashed before me vivid as
lightning. and fell on the couch confused
with hurrying tears. And so your grandpa
found me, my face buried in the cushions.
And his voice trembled as he told me not 10
grieve; he was willing, ready TO give any
thing for my happiness. And all this while
/ could not speak. At last / raised my head
and our glistening eyes met, and l threw my
arms around hip, sObbing, 1T is not So"
a sharp thrill went through him-I feel it
yet-as no asked, Truly When l replied
a new trouble had seized him. Poor Bar
tram and have told him TO come to-mer-
row." And then we talked il over / was
perfectly happy at home, and l could not
hope to be 80 with him. l liked him, GER
tainly, but our tastes were so unlike, and we
both agreed IL were better not to be. 1t was
not without a great struggle that he con-
sented TO my seeing Bartram next day. lie
feared the trial would be too great for me-
Bot held out, knowing that Bartrsm would
prize such attention, and determined that
the blow should fall upon him in the kindli-
est and gentlest manner. Indeed, l had
great hopes 10 win him over, and so explain
matters that be would acknowledge my views
to be the wiser
The morrow came, and received him in
the libraIy-dear room within which have
conferred all my happiest moments. No
soul knows what took place in that short
heur. To you breathe it for the first time,
partly because | long to share my secret
with young, fresh heart, and partly be-
cause would have you reverence to the full
the value of an sffectiOnate attachment such
as is very plain Frank Fordyce has toward
You.
Your stiff, rigid Aunt Mary dreams that
once she had heart as pliable as any; tbs
time and bereavement that have worked
their will. Bot let US continue
broached the perplexing subject by tell
Ing him l knew from pa the object of his
call. II was sorry he had ever thought of
me as other than a friend" and-modesty
and distance would have been cruelty then
i laid my hand in his and begged him not
to think hardly of me. l had never had q
thought of the kind he had contemplated.
He looked into my eyes with a dazed ex-
preston, and slowly uttered
can not be?''
Over and over again I repeated nv an
swer before he could compreh end that | was
in earnest.
you know John" said J. ''it might be;
but do you think it could be we'll when my
books and scholarly companiooshiD are my
greatest enjoyment i could not make you
lastiDgly happy; you so fond Of activity, so
full of outdoor predictions"
Yes, be knew be should be happy III that
20 OH l,u.g
strength; my viii was weak before his. /
could not win him over.
But" continued, "how could be happy
at the bead OF a stirring household. l am
not capable of making creditable presence.
i should disgrace you. Now, don't you
think so yourself, John2 You don't wish
me to do something that would make me
wTetched3"
NO; on, no." he replied earnestly, moth
ing against your mind but somehow | can't
get it out OF my head, and you could have
some one to manage the house matters
OBJ, Mr.. Bartram, when you get away and
think IL over some cool moment. you will
know il better otherwise. There are many
cleverer women than l am only a par
sons pet. How foolish yOu would be to
throw yourself away on helpless girl like
me-"
That's not the question. 1 love you
clever or not clever has nothing to DO with
i'll don't care for clever women"
But you would not have nae say Yes
when my heart is whispering No"
mo, no, no, dear Miss Wayne If you will
allow me for this day only-but il is hard to
believe"
al am only foolish hayward girl can
not love. If could | assure you that you
would come next to my dear papa in my es
teem."
Here be pressed my hand warmly and
drew me towards him. At that moment
fancy L heard both our hearts beating, for
mine was alpitating violently.
What must be must" he sighed ''You
will forgive my obstinacy. L know, and let
me have one first ard last embrace in place
of what hope l might have been"
Then be placed his arm around me, and
my head fell consentlng upon his massive
shoulder What thoughts fitted through
me-a multitude-a weight of images unsup-
portable; 10 yield and be at rest to linger
thus and die; TO hold so great love forever
and fOTever-to be in Paradise, and know no
more of partiDgs. ACd ever upon the rest
lay the dull, heavy leaden mo- that would
not be gainsaid. Many aud many a time our
lips met aud parted; you can not tell how
passionately. / do not believe accepted
lovers could realize its feryer. How reluct-
antly i drew away; how unwilling he was to
leave; how be pressed me to him again and
again: thanked me again and again for what
he called my forbearance. What il really