Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-11-25

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lie, but ssppOsing he tAonght me ig'
norant of his having The Information
l explained briefly what my prospects
were, and impatiently aFsited his an.
swer.
It was not long in coning. Lean
lug back in his chair and slowly
twisting his heavy watchchain as be
spoke. I am deeply grieved. Mr..
Foster he began, in sarcastic tones.
to be obliged to decline your highly
flattering offer, but the auth IL look
higher for my daughter. Parents are
apt to be ambitious for their children.
you know; so perhaps | may be par
doned for hoping thai Nellie will
make q. wealthy nsstrE hsd snpr
posed that your own good sense would
teach you this, aud though l was al
ways pleased to see you as a friend, l
must beg you to distinctly understand
that anything of this sort is entirely
impossible
| bowed, and left the room without
a word. Some other time l might ar
que the matter with him, but if l
stayed another minute then, | knew
l should choke him; and as he was
Nellie's father, that would not an
swer.
In the hall met Nellie, who saw in
a moment that something was wrong,
and slipping her dear little hand into
mine, drew me out of the door, and
down into a shaded summer house in
the garden, where we could be secure
from interruptions, before she asked :
What is it, Harry ?
told her as quietly as l could,
longing all the while TO snatch her
up, and carry her off where her father
would never see her again.
i was afraid he would not consent
she said, sadly. Il am convinced he
intends me to marry Mr. Selby, if he
asks me; indeed, | think there is some
understanding on the subject between
them, but will promise you solemn
ly that l will marry no one but you.
Perhaps, when papa sees how much l
care for you. lie will relent. He is
very fond OF me, and generally ends
by letting me have my own way.
.L~-eL - -v>~y- o--ii r-----L:l-'
So with many promises to be faith
ful We parted, my only consolation as
l slowly returned to my lodgings be-
ing that | had not mentioned the
dear little house on Russian Hill to
Nellie. | had reirained from telling
her of my purchase, intending it as
delightful surprise, as soon as her
father had given his consent. and |
was now very glad that l had done
so. 1T would only have added to her
SORROW l reflected, as | found how
hard it was to give up al! my own
bright dreams connected with it.
Now, the question was. what should
be done with the house? ! could not
bear the thought of letting or selling
it, and finally determined to let it re-
main as it was for the present. If |
found could in no way change Mr.,
Jameson's feelings towards ms. |
would sell it, and leave San Francis
CO.
In the meantime, what should do
with myself 1t was, rs | said, my
vacation. | bad declined several in.
vitations to join my friends on THEN
summer excursions, preferring to re-
main near Nellie. Now almost all
whom l knew We're out of town, and
being in no state OF mind to join them.
| shut myself up in my room, and
moodily pondered on ways aud means
of winning Mr.. Jameson favor,
1t was on the evening of the TWEEN
ty-tifth that ! received little brok-
en- hearted note from Nellie, saving
ttst her father had brought home
Mr. Selby, and introduced him TO her
as her future husband, and upon her
appeal to him not to sacrifice her, he
had sworn that she should be married
the very next evening, and be out Of
my reach. Mr.. Selby. when she im.
plored him to withdraw his suit, say
ing she had no love to give him, had
coolly replied that he would be salts
fed with her esteem-endeayor 10 be
worthy of it, etc, etc.
Nellie concluded by saying that she
had resolved to leave home; she would
not tell me how or where she was 60
ing. lest l should be accused Of hav.
ing persuaded her to take this step,
but would let me hear from her again
as soon as possible. i shall wait till
tomorrow afternoon, she added. in
the hope that papa may yet yield
l knew we'll enough where she
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