The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1886-11-04

ails your" cried Ellen in turn. "Alas
I have carried this to too cruel an ex
tremity!!" she murmured, as Henry
began slowly to open his eyes.
The letter was, in fact, an excellent.
ly we'll written but formal proposition
for her hand, and as the writer was
not ten the lady's senior, though
of a cold and pompous disposition,
there could not be any very serious
obstacle in the way. It was to Hen.
ry Morland like the receiving of death
blow; a sense of duty, Of propriety,
of manllness, came to his aid, how.
ever; and, with a desperate effort he
said: "I-I-congratulate you, Miss
Vernon"
II won't be congratulated" broke
in Ellen, "and you are not in earnest
when you say SO; and I won't be call
ed Miss Vernon-you may as well say
Lady Beazley, ofBeazley hall, at once
its odious-its shameful" and she
walked impatiently about him. There
was a pause on his part, for he knew
not what to say.
WY AOu v yOu CpCNh w 111CS 1xCl1'
ry?" began Ellen. "Have you no feel
ing?"
"You have a proposal" said Henry,
"that many q lady in the country
would envy. should wish you we'd.
ded to a man you love; for, whatever
you may think of me, I canrfot forget
that we have been children together,
and your happiness has always been
the object of my thoughts" "
"Thank you, Henry! thank you'll"
and with a frank, unconscious and un-
speakably 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 to resist the fascination of that
glance, and Henry, attracted without
the power of resisting, took her tacein
his hands and kissed her forehead.
It recalled him to himself; and the
sudden revulsion was absolute tor
ture.
II cannot pretend to advise you in
this matter, my sweet cousin" he be-
gan; "but if you entertain the thought,
l trust a2 d: you will I'LL be ,a happy" o,;,a r,,on
flinging away his hand angrily. zone
would think that all were tnrned
against me-"
ado not believe it,, said Henry,
gravely. "And as this may be the
last interview"
"The last?" echoed Ellen.
"That we may have for years to
come, let us not part with a misun-
derstanding. Had my own prospects
been different I should havefound my
self in a condition TOTO advise you
BETTER"
"In what way, Henry?" asked Ellen,
with an arch smile.
II cannot tell you now. Let it
suffice to say that my inability to do
aught prevents me from saying what
I would. Poor and dependent as I
am, with a debt of gratitude to pay,
which I would not have lessened by q
sentiment of false pride, 1 must tell
you that for my own happiness, my
own advancement, I must make q
bold step in the world and fight
for my own share. of good or i'll for
tune, as fate Wills it," .a.>t.
"But what necessity is there for
this?" demanded Ellen, with a touch
of her old Impotence. "Does not my
father love you? Has he not made
your future prospects his study? Be.
sides it will be necessary for you to
attend, vs. a near relative, at my bri-
dali"
A faint smile crossed his pale lips as
he said, "In this, without accusing
me OF unkindness, you must hold me
excused. I can make some sacrifice of
feeling, but this is beyond my power"
evil you, if you please, speak plain.
or, and tell me what you mean and
why you cannot do this?" asked Ell
len, with mock gravity; ':for," thought
she, che will tell me now that heloves
me-"
every sentiment which makes a
man respect himself-every impulse of
honor will tie my tongue forever on
that head. Spare me then, Ellen" he
added mournfully. "Icannot prolong
this interview. / am so1ittle tutored
in Disgusting my feelings, that I must
say I regret this, while I trust it will
eventually he for the security Of your
own happiness"
"You love me, Henry-youlovem mel"
cried Ellen, catching him by the arm.
Ellen felt that he trembled from
head to foot. She saw that he turned
as pale vs. death; but the firm COM
preston OF those pallid lips told her
that nothing could wiring forth a con-
fession from him. She knew that his
lofty nature cherished a n
OF honor bordering upon the
chivalric. He was silent
"Must I, then, speak," said Ellen.
''Is the order ofthingsto be reversed?"
And she smiled radiantly. cit is we'll
for my maidenly character that leap
year entities ladies to a privilege
which they may use uncensured. Hem
ry, my dear consin, I love you'll Must
Isue in vaina Will you not love-your
| pretty cousin Ellen?'' = - q
The establishment OF the youth was
only equalled by his joy. With the
most unfeined rapture beaming out in
every feature, he could barely articu-
| late her name NEl1oni1, a~