The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-12-04

was HC W llcI, VI Slle 10 MIN w nat
right had he to dictate or to question?
And thus he was as far off as ever.
Ellen found that her plan for awaken
ing his jealousy had been effectual
enough, but that no other result at
tended it. She also found that her poor
cousins sadness and detection in
creased, and its melancholy began to
communicate itself to her.
II was therefore absolutely neces-
sary for the happiness of both that
matters should be brought to a. crisis;
for, in addition to the annoyance she
felt at Eenrys silence, the marriage
which was rumored in jest began to
take an aspect of serious earnestness. a
proposal having actually come. from a
rich and estimable man in every way,
to her father, which proposal Sir John
Vernon had Just communicated to her.
Holding la her hand the letter which
had been sent to Sir John, she sought
the library, and her heart beat little
strongly as she reflected that she wss
about to press her cousin, so that he
should either be compelled to declare
his passion at once, or give her up for
ever.
"Ellen," said he, I" let me beseech you
to tell me what is the cause of this agi-
tatioa: you alarm newly are you so
movo.l?"
"To you behold this letter." asked
Ellen. tapping it, accompanying the
action with mysterious look.
Henry glanced upon it with increased
misgiving, but merely said, "Yes."
"And can you guess it's contents?
No, you cannot; you who have ceased
to be interested in me, cannot divine
its nature"
"Spare me reproaches that have not
merited, Ellen" said Henry, in tone
so mournful as to make her regret the
words she had used in a mere jest. "If
you knew ALL" he continued, you
would be inclined to be more lenient
toward me. II do not say pity" he
added, with bitter emphasis, because
there is something debasing in the SEN
timent. But to end this, improbable
as it is, tell me what all this signifies
suspenseis is agOny-what is that paper
:" Read it, and judge for yourself"
and as Ellen spoke she gave him the
dreaded letter. Hastily glancing over
it, his countenance grew white as
sheet, and he felt himself about to faint
from the deadly sickness that attacked
him. He made a desperate effort to
bear against it, but the internal fight he
had long held had Frustrated his
strength more than he thought, and he
sank with a groan, upon the chair.
"For Heavens love, Henry, what ails
you?" cried Ellen in turn. "Alas. l
have carried this to too cruel an ex-
tremity." she murmured, and Henry
began slowly to open his eyes
The letter was, in fact, an excel
lently we'll written but formal PROPOSE
tion for her hand and as the writer
was not ten years the lady's senior
though of a cold and polnpous DISPOSE
ton, there could not be any very serious
obstacle in the way. 1t was to Henry
Moreland like the receiving of a death
blow: sense Of duty, of propriety, of
manliness. cane to his aid, however:
and with desperate effort, he said,
IL - congratulate you, Miss Yer
non"
81 won't be congratulated, broke in
Ellen; land you are not in earnest when
you say SO: and won't be called Miss
Vernon--you may as well say Lady
Beazly of Heazly Hall at once-it's odi-
Ous-it's shameful and she walked
impatiently about him. There was
pause OH his part, for he knew not what
to say.
"Why don't you speak to me. Henry ?"
begun Ellen; "Have you no feeling?"
"You have proposal, said Henry,
"that many a lady in the country would
envy. l should wish you welded to
man you love; for, whatever you may
think of me, cannot forget that we
have been children together, and your
happiness has always been the object
Of my thoughts"
"Thank you, Henry. thank you." and |
with frank. unconscious and unspeak-
ably tender manner. she laid both hands
upon his shoulders, and bent her deep,
beautiful eyes upon his face.
1t was next to impossible for any one