Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-02-15

in those degenerate days, to break
a lance with the bragest man in the
country in vindication of her inpos
cence.
Mrs. Leonard, thinking it lbest
not to task the skill Of her new
needle-woman too severely at first,
gave her cambria handkerchief to
hem, which being performed with
neatness and dispatch she ventured
to trust her with pair of fine linen
bands, which, according, to the old
fashion, when women probably
found it difficult to eli up all the
time, were to be stitched twice
across, each stitch to embrace just
two threads. She bad finished one
band entirely to Mrs. Leonard's
satisfaction when the doorbell rang.
Miss Lewiston gave nervous start,
and rising from her chair requested
Mrs. Leonard's leave to retire to
her own apartments. The person
who ruug proved to be Mrs. Read
ing a lady with whom Mrs. Leon.
ard was intimately acquainted, and
to whom she determined to mention
the case Of her new seamstress, and
ask her advice relative to the pro.
priety Of permitting her to remain.
But Mrs. Reading had something
important to communicate, aud
commenced by saying
Have you heard the news Mra.
Leonard 2
No indeed-what news ??
'Yon know old Mr.. Draper, don't
you:
Il know there is such a person,
though am not acquainted with
him
And you have beard Of the beaa-
tifuI Miss Winthrop, his n zee a. d
ward ??
Yea.
And Of old Barner, whose prop
ertY Is said to EXCEED q million 2
'Ihave.
Well, il seems that Barner took
a faacy to Miss Winthrop and asked
her gunrdian's leave to propose to
her. Mr.. Draper's consent being
readily obtained, he proposed and
was rejected Not satisfied viii
this, he continued 10 persecute h.
with his address and finally, II %
said, offered her guardian a heavy
sum il he would either by PERSIA.
sion or threats induce her TO marry
him. Make Yourself easy, Mr.
Barncr, said he, she shall be your
bride lie found, however that.
he had undertaken a difficult task,
and desparing Of other means to
effect bis wishes, locked her into
her own apartment aud gave out
that she bad left town on visit
For several weeks she rerlains d
obstinate, bat knowing herself TO
be entirely in her guardians poser
and becoming weary of her imprs
onment she told him il he would 70
lease her she would marry Mr., i r
ner. As he suspected that she in.
tended TO invade her promise, be
told her that he could not trust her
with her liberty till the hour ar-
rived for the performance Of the
marriage ceremony. Knowing that
rsmonstranoes would prove VAN,
she. to all appearance, meekly ac.
quiesced. Yesterday morning WIS.,
the time Mr.. Draper wished it TO
take place, but she insisted on its
being deferred till the evening. A
splendid bridal dress had been pre-
pared, in which she was duly ar
rayed, and Mr.. Barner, fine as a
tailor could make him, was pupct-
ual TO the moment. One Of tie
bridesmaids now entered the apart
ment and whispered to Mr. Draper,
requested him to give her the key
to unlock the bride, as her assistant
had just called to her and told her
that Miss Winthrop was quite ready.
"But why were you not there to
assist them p inquired Mr.. Draper
~ arrived rather late, she re-
piled, and as you happened 20 BE-
out, | could not gain admittance.
Five minutes elapsed, but the
BRIDE did not appear. Mr.. Barner
kept his eyes constantly fastened