The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-05-15
RISING SUM- CECIL COUNTY. Md, FRIDAY, MAY 15 1891.


the impulse which led me to discover what
otherwise would not have allowed my
self to suspect, and though it will never
cease to cause me to desire your happiness,
must now cease to prompt me to hope fol
my own, for it would be idle IN me to pre-
tend that what have unlntentionally
found out is not perfectly clear tome. And
though / have no right to comment upon
it, can at no other time better ask you to
forgive me for being so injudicious. AL
low me to express to you, my dear Miss
Jones, my greatest respect and give you
my best wishes; and though cannot help
framing a suspicion as to the identity oil
the happy man, promise you that will
| not even think of congratulating him until
your engagement is actually announced
Forgive me once more for my lack of sell
control. and pray do not judge 1t too hard
ly."
! This was too much. My feelings during
this polite but really heartrending speech
were so conflicting that, when he stopped
and looked at me gravely and sadly,
could hardly help screaming with laugh
ter. But was still actually afraid of him,
and Icould only stammer out the truth.
"Oh, dear me, Mr.. Hallr' / said. ooh,
don't know what you'll think-but I-pm
| not engaged to Mr.. -, Pm not engaged
to anybody-and," I added desperately,
"pm not going to bel'
| For moment or two he did not speak,
and the expression of his face hardly
changed, but he gave slight start when I
| first spoke Then he said, in his deepest
| tones:
! "Then am happy that you are still in
such a position that I may offer you my
| hand and heart sincerely Here he broke
| off for minute and then went on to say
something about that being hardly the
place in which he had looked forward to
| asking me to be his wife-but could not
listen to him. Heavensl What fool 1
| felt myself to bel And how noble he wasl
And yet, despite my admiration for him,
was very much vexed with him. could
not understand It'll Why, why, when he
found that the girl he liked had been flirt-
ing outrageously with another man, did he
not give his bride rein a shake and say
adieu forevermore? This was his abomin-
encyl How beautifully he had entangled
himself, first by his insane habit of ex-
planning himself, and then by his more in
sane habit of refusing to take the fair adj
vantage of the games 1t is true that he
may not have seen anything particular
he may only have inferred from my blush
ing that something had happened-I pro-
test don't know to this day exactly what
he thought, and cannot decide with any
satisfaction to myself. But l remember
what my own thoughts were likei Icould
hear the chattering of some people behind
us, and their inane laughter Gathering
about the rocks. longed to sit down Just
where was and cryl But shook myself
together. Come, Ethel Jonesr' said |.
"have you no force of character at allpn
At first felt as if had swallowed the
mucilage bottle, but motioned to Mr..
Hall, who was still speaking slowly and
gravely (heaven knows what he was sayingD
and began bravely enough.
"Oh, Mr.. Hail." I said, ''if admiration
and respect could make me want to marry
you, it would be easy to say yes. But you
must not think of me any more cannot
marry you-you would not be happy if |
did,
Here paused-for want of matter. Mr..
Hall was listening gravely; he made a
slight gesture of protest. Itried for speech
once more-I had no idea of what was
going to say. But restrained Mr.. Hall by
convulsive waves of my hand, and present
ly got my voice, only to lose it again.
gasped out few words-hade him to for
get me-said that ! didn't know what he
would think of me, and desired him not to
say anything more to me about it-"for."
said !. with great gulp, "my nerves won't
stand it." And walked up to the Light
house as fast as possible.
Thus did Ethel Jones, the clever, the
self composed, the perspicacious Ethel
Jones, fail utterly in her first crisisl I can
fairly say that with any other man it
would have been different; but Mr.. Hall
magnetized me, and by the superior weight
of his character compelled me to exhibit
myself In my haldest colors. During the
rest OF the afternoon | kept laughing Fee
bly, to myself while thinking of the picture
that should have presented If had given
way at the critical moment-seated in
stagnant rock pool at the feet of Middleton
Hall and weeping BITTERLY was terribly
disguised with myself; longed to be able
to go through it all over again 80 that
might try to come off successful, yet at the
same time could not help feeling that /
had done something vaguely heroic in
throwing away such chance. In fact |
do not know which was the stronger feel.
fng-my vain regret or my unwarrantable
pride.
After thinking 1t over for some DAYS
came to the conclusion that after having
betrayed myself by that wretohed blush
had done the best thing possible in refusing
him instead of trying to keep my hold on
him, for felt confident that il he had nj.
timately married me it would have been
only from his sense Of honor, and he would
have been miserably unhappy to think he
was marrying fiirt. And now, said to
myself, it's all over, once for all, and can
begin my pursuit of Penn Charter with
out being distracted by thoughts of any
other man. But though Iagreed with my
self was not by any means satisfied.
When returned to town got together a
copy OF Matthew Arnold and beautiful
little set Of Macaulay's works that Mr..
Hall had given to me, and sent them to his
club with a note saying that in view of
what had occurred did not feel justified
in keeping them. received brief answer
thanking me for my note, and telling me
that he was going to Heidelberg for the
winter to study Roman law. So, with a
sigh, in which disappointment and virtue
still struggled for the mastery, babe him
adieu, and he rode away
But to return to Narragansett and Mr..
Charter. When came to begin my cam
paigl in earnest found that was by no
means as confident as had been. Perhaps
the adventure of which have Just been
speaking made me doubt the soundness of
my foresight and Judgment ! certainly
felt nervous and perhaps depressed. and !
was little at loss how to proceed. Luck
lily Mr.. Charter did not come to Narragan-
sett for several days after Mr.. Hall had
gone AWAY so nv GENERAL fana hod q ohanoa