The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-16

Gated to her.
Holding in 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 was about to press her cous-
in, so that he should either be COM
PEELED to declare his passion at once,
or give her up forever.
"Ellen," said he, 'let me beseech
you to tell me what is the cause of
this agitation you alarm newly
are you so moved ?"
"Do you behold this letter ?" ask
ed Ellen, tapping it accompanying
the action with myterious look.
Henry glanced upon it with in
creased misgiving, but merely said,
Eyes"
"And can you guess its 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
a 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. 4 do
not say pity" he added, with a bit
ter emphasis, because there is some
thing debasing in the sentiment.
But to end this, improbable as it is,
tell me what all this signifes-sus-
pense is agony-what is that pa
per2"
"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 des-
perate effort to bear against it, but
the internal fight he had long held
had prostrated his strength more
than he thought, and he sank with
groan, upon the chair
"For Heavens love, Henry, what
ails you?" cried Ellen in turn. "Alas
l have carried this to too cruel an
extremity she mumured, anc
Henry began slowly to open his
eyes.
Theletter was, in fact an excellent
ly well written but formal PROPOSE
ton for her hand, and as the writel
not ten years the lady's senior
though of cold and pompous dispo
sition, there could not be any very
serious obstacle in the way. 1t was
to Henry Moreland like the receiv
ing of death-blow Il sense of duty
of propriety, of manliness, came tC
his aid, however; and with desper
ate effort, he said, "I-I-congratu
, late you, Miss Vernon"
81 won't be congratulated" brok,
, in Ellen; "and you are not in earn
est when you say so; and | won
be called Miss Vernon-you may a
, well say Lady Beazly of Beazly Hal
f at once-it's odious-it's shameful 7
and she walked impatiently abou
him. There was pause on his part
for he knew not what to say.
"Why don't you speak to me
Henry?" begun Ellen "Have yol
no feeling? ?"
: "You have proposal" said Henr.
"that many a lady in the countr,
would envy. 1 should wish yol
| welded to man you love foi
f whatever you may think of me,
cannot forget that we have beel
l children together and your happi
, ness has always been the object o
, my thoughts"
, "Thank you, Henry thank you!
and with frank, unconscious an,
e unspeakably tender manner, sh
bent her deep, beautiful eyes upoi
his face.
| 1t was next to impossible for an
" one to sesist the fascination of tina
glance, and Henry, attracted withou
:, the power of resisting, took her fac
! in his hands and kissed her fore
. head.
1t recalled him to himself an
! the sudden revulsion was absolut
torture.
81 cannot pretend to advise yo
in this matter, my sweet cousin" h
began "but if you entertain tn
: thought, l trust you will be happy.
. Il detest the man " cried Ellel
finging away his hand angril.
"One would think that all wei
against me.
do not believe it," said Henr,
E gravely, "and as this may be last il
terview-"
! 'The last ?" echoed Ellen.
"That we may have for years