The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-10-26

smiled and said q am bit dlsappoInt
that you should have got engaged withou
my consent.
81 knew you would give it me; yO
! always do everything to make me happy
besides he told me chat in such solemn
thing as marriage girl must follow tn
dictates of her own heart onl y.
Il felt little frightened at these words
They seemed almost to imply opposition
from us. And as YOU know, my fear cam
true My husband made inquiries abou
him at once, and when he came down wa
obliged to declare that he could not eoun
tenance an engagement, Leslie was miSer
able at first but Is more cheerful now, anC
hopes to bring US around; if not. she vii
abandon us for him. He is gambler anC
firt, holds all women lightly, and j, j.
doubtful if he really loves Leslie. W,
have told her this, but she thinks we speak
with prejudice; if you can make herunder-
stand it we will bless you.
Il will not see a girl sacrificed if can
help it. | will DO my very best.
was Just ready to come down to dinner
when there was a tap at my door and les
lie came in.
Il am very glad to know you, Mrs.
Markham she said in low, clear voice
that charmed me at once; it Is very kind
Of YOU to come and read with me. | hope
we shall be great friends. | am come now
to show you the way to the dining room.
We went down the broad stairway side
by side, 50 | could not examine my com
pani0u critically. In the dining room |
was introduced to Mr.. Wyatt, a small,
round. homely little man, with rosy face
and rosy crown, a fringe Of grizElcd hair
/ falling to his shirt-colIar He welcomed
me kindly, wished me joy Of my pupil. and
added loosely she Is an obstinate little
+ puss.
"oh, pray don't prejudice Mrs, Mark
T ham against me, uncle "
There was a little ring Of pain in her
voice, 80 | smiled at her, to assure her be
could not do that. aud then saw how very
lovely she was \ complexion Of the most
delicate fairness; face rather long, but too
vide at the brows 10 be called oval; a well
formed nose. and a mouth that seemed
made for smiling. ihc lips arched with such
readiness aud beauty; dark gray eyes that
smiled with the mouth, and yet had
touch Of sadness in them, brown hair that
was swept from her face in soft, fluffy
cloud 4 round, white, slender throat;
slight, graceful figure. and over all an in
dcfnable expression Of youth, health and
refinement, and there Is Leslie Derrant as |
saw her that first evening
Nv heart went ont 60 her At once, and
| think she liked me a little from the very
beginning Of our intercourse
We read together, especially 10 Italian,
We we're both fond of drawing. and made
sketches Of old tres and all the prg;tics,
bits Of scenery in the park We rode,
sometimes accompanied by Wyatt and
tine yoaag follow, Philip Harrington,
neighbOr. who soon saw would have been
glad to be more than 4 friend to Leslie,
somctimes Wiih only a groom, and We
trudgod along The pretty lanes or over the
breezy downs, making friends with children
and dogs wherever we found them. We
werc always busy and Leslie was most
cheerful
A month bad passed aud Leslie had not
vet couhdcd 10 me her trouble, You have
iono the girl 4 world Of good. Mr. Wyatt
said. With beaming faec. Il cannot feel
grateful enough TO you for coming. whls.
percd Mrs Wyatt, but ! vas not content.
When Mr. Wyatt refused Charles Pen
nells suit, aud begged Leslie 20 gave him
up he had Dot forbidden her to receive
letters from hiln-he had feared such pro
hlhitioa might lead to deceit Aud once
a week lcttc. came that brought blush
of pleasure to the girls faoe. She always
put al letters straight into her pocket, and
often went into the garden to read them.
One morning | came upon her in little
dell in the park with one IN her hand.
There was such detection in her attitude
that cried inyoluntaTily
Leslie, dear, what i it 2
She raised her bead, aud the eyes heavy
with tears aud the hstle quiycring mouth
were all my answer.
"Iou must tell ne what grieyes you 30,
| said. dragging the little head down ON
my shoulder And then she told me she
story Of her love, and Of her great hope
that in time her uncle and aunt must see
Charlls as she did.
Il can wait, she said swait for year.,
ii necessary, but men are of more irritable
nature, aud be finds waiting very hard, he
declares, aud she touched his letter, ''that
this continued separation Is wearing him
out: that he must see ne, must know the
I limit to this waiting. II viii not tell him
I be shall think that |, too, am growing 10
believe him too humble, too poor for me.
/ think him too humble, too poor oh,
he Is brave, he IS honorable Mrs Mark
I ham, aud if | only had brother who could
20 about and fnd out all his good deeds,
( the errors that have come TO my uncle :
. knowledge would be as nothing.
II wish some one could Your uncle
would be glad to find his judgmen, ms
taken
Cannot you help me; you have friends
1 in society ?
Her earnest belief in the man, her
! patience in her sorrow, touched me deeply
7 | longed to make her happy.
Il will do what | can, | said, but fear
7 that her uncles objection was probably
wholly just made me add But if the
answers to my inquiries are not quite
favorable you will hear them all the same. -
certainly; am not afraid.
Her uncle was coming toward rs, so We
were silent.
After luncheon | watched Leslie ride
away, accompanied by her uncle and Mr.,
Harrington, and wondered at the contra
riness of fate in preventing union between
them.
IF it might have been it would have
made US so happy, said Mrs. Wyatt, who
had also been watching the departure.
'Is it possible that there has been mali
cious exaggeration in the reports you have
received about Mr.. Pennell ~ | asked,
II fear not
II love Leslie as if she were my own
child" | said, ''and wish you to let me
act in her interest without letting you know
what | do in the result 1t will give me
more influence with he and if anything
comes out against her lover she will feel it
less if unknown to you"
"You are right Do as you will. In
+ all things you have my fullest confidence