The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-11-13

young BlTl, anu AS piOAOisOu oiAS
conversation purposely, I fancied.
When, at last he tore himself away,
we had discovered that the young
lady's name was Maggie, that she
was living with her cousins in the
country, and had only come home
for few days.
"What sweet girlW muttered
Gerald. "What a pity she is not of
a good family Has she not won
derfully sweet and beautiful express
sion ?"
quite agreed with him, but BAN
tered him not little by reminding
him, every time he alluded to Mag
gle, of his family pride, and the sol
emn VOW I had so often heard him
make, that the girl he loved must be
his equal in birth and position.
We returned from Long Branch
late that evening, and heard Maggie's
sweet voice singing an air from 'La
Sonnambula" as we assembled the
stairs.
noticed during the next few
days that Gerald found great many
reasons for speaking to Mrs. Robbins
in her apartments. Nothing could
exceed his ingenuity in discovering
small items which needed her at
tention. Then it suddenly had oc-
Cured to him that he had heard
during the last few days, that she
and her daughter were fond of going
to the theatre, and he was thought
full enough to procure tickets for
them, taking care to reserve a seat
near them for himself.
Gerald tried to laugh off my in
situations as to his being in love
with Miss Maggie, but the fact was
quite apparent. and I knew the strug-
gle between pride and affection
which prevented him from declaring
his attachment.
An event soon occurred which
brought matters to crisis A tall
fine-looking man called at our stud
10 one morning and seemed partic-
ularly struck with some of Gerald's
pictures. In the course of conver-
sation he informed him that he was
already the possessor of his two best
pictures, which three years before
had made a sensation in the exhibi-
ton at the Academy. After pur-
chasing little sketch my friend had
just completed he left us, and We
heard him stop and speak to Mrs
Robbins on his way down stairs
But ! was greatly surprised and Ger
aid horribly dismayed when we saw
him ten minutes afterward enter his
carriage with Maggie and drive
away.
Gerald paced up and down the
room in a fury of jealousy. My GU
riosity was considerably aroused as
/
the nature of Maggie's acquaintance
with the stranger.
"I am determined to ask her why
she went out with the fellow, and
who he is, directly she returns
prowled Gerald,
"Have you any right to be inqvis.
itive?" l ventured to suggest.
Perhaps not, except that she
knows 1 love her better than any
one else, and that l intended asking
her to be my wife," he retorted pas
sionately.
"What marry a girl in her sta
ton ?" was the question which rose
naturally to my lips,
"Oh, hang family pride in this
case am now rich enough to
fling it aside for once and marry q
girl who will, l know, make me
happy, Besides, Maggie is a per
feet lady. Yet l do not understand
why she drives out with a stranger
retorted Gerald.
The lover sat anxiously at the
window watching for her return
An hour passed and he grew gTadu-
ally more wFetOhed, At length the
carriage drove up to the door. Il
contaiued no Maggie, but the coach
man handed u note TO Mrs, Robbins
Gerald rushed eagerly down stair
and exclaimed, as he met the house
keeper:
"Where is Maggie gone to?"
For answer she placed the note il
his hand. 1t was written in haste
and was from Maggie, 1t ran q
follows!
"Dear Mr., De Voissy ALLOW m
to thank you for your kind attention
during my stay in New York.
have been unexpectedly obliged t
| return to Long Branch, and cannc
therefore, have the pleasure of bic
ding you good bye except by lette
"Yours, truly, Maggie"
This was all tho information poo