Year: 1859

nad formed lor our future mode Of life
We were to live with her at her death,
she would bcqueoth Us all her property !,
and on the day Of cur engagement, she
intended 10 present US each with five
thousand pounds.


was placed in moot delicate posi-.
lion, Twas wholly dependent Oh my aunt;
had not single relation in the world
who could help me Mg Huntly, as was
natural under the circumstances, had
ceased to pay mo any attention


" Things took the course feared my
unit, finding that her arguments in Jcsiah's
avor were unavaihng had recourse to
threats she reminded me that the disc.
hedieuce was wholly on my side she de.
;lared that it would be worse for me if l
persisted in my refusal and she concluded
very painful conversation by desiring
me to give her my final decision after the
dinner party to which we we're going Oh
the following evening; in the meanwhile
| was to think over the matter we'll
When she had ceased speaking, my
aunt recollected she left the book she was
reading in the summer-house, near the end
of the garden she was about to ring for
the servant to fetch it l said I would 20
instead OF her. 1t was lovely summer
night, and the cool air was very refresh.
ing after the excitement I had gone
through.


found the book in the summer.
house, but ! did not return Immediately,
the intense calm Of night was SO delight.
tul. | was in strange condition. half
musing, hall crying, when l heard voices
behind the summer.house. | felt fright.
cned, and drew back into the shade
Listening very intently, l could dis.
tinguished my cousins voice, then another
voice-a womsn's- my aunt'a maid
Lucy To my utter amagement. heard
him ask the girl to meet him at that spot
on the following evening, after we re.
turned home from the party. 1t was my
cousins voice-I was certain Of that
They passed away. This was the excel.
lent man my aunt wanted me to marry
| was quite overcome with anger and in
dignation. would denounce his conduct
at once When had sufficiently re.
covered myself hurried back to the
house my aunt was not in the drawing.
room; | had time for reflection. How
did matters stand Why, only my word
against his OF course, tho girl would
deny everything his word from child.
hood had always been preferred to m,ne
my aunt, at most would believe l bad
mistaken the voice


II resolved to hold my peace till the
following evening What night and day
ofagitation l passed Not one word did my
aunt say about Josiah during the next
day, but her manner was all kindness TO-.
ward me.


" The dinner party was to be very
grand affair and my aunt, as was usual
on such occasions, wore her diamonds.


"You may imagine how little enjoyed
myself seated next my cousin. Mrs.
Huntly, Edwards mother, was at the
party, and l could see she watched us
very inteutly


&" 1t happened after dinner. before the
gentlemen came up, that Mrs, Huntly and
myself were left alone together in one of
the drawing.rooms. Sue addressed Inc,
and laughingly said she supposed she
would coon have the pleasure of congrat.
ulating me on my engagement with my
cousin, l longed to speak out to her, to
tell her how I disliked my cousin. and
loved her son, but l dared not. 1 stroye
to say something my tongue was power.
less burst into food of tears, For.
tunately, recovered myself before my
aunt caught sight of me.


We left the party at about eleven
O'Clock AS soon as we got home. my
aunt bsdc Josiah good night, retired to
her dressing-room, and sent for her maid
When my aunt wore her diamonds, it wa,
the custom for me to take them from her
dressing-room, aud put them away, and
they wore kept in q room opening into
the dressing.room, which was used as a
boudoir, In this room was large fire.
proof safe, which on the outside had the
appearance of an ordinary chiffonniere. |
was in such state Of nervous agitation
when entered my aunts room to obtain
the diamonds, that at that moment
seemed to lose my head. Lucy was as
sisting my aunt to undress /; the diamonds
lay on the dressing.table; placed then
in their box, and took them out of thC
room without saving a word. To nv dis