Year: 1859

doir There was always some difficult,
about the lock Of the safe, which wa
very elaborate; he took the keys out o
my hand, aud opened the door for me
and almost before l had placed the dia
monds in their usual place, he renewed
his hateful offer It was on my lips te
tell him that knew Of his taseness
luckily, as events will show, restrained
myself; but did solemnly declare that
come what might, l would never be his
wife. In the midst Of our discussion, in
came Lucy from the dressing room with
a message that her mistress wished to
see me Immediately.


1t was relief, at all costs, to be out
Of Josiah's presence.


My aunt was sitting ia her easy
chair, wrapped 10 her dressing gown
Her manner was all kindness toward me
she made me sit close By her. To my
surprise, she did not say one word about
the marriage ). she began talking, acci-
dentally as it we're, about the alterations
she intended to make in the house she
asked my opinion of her different plans.
| replied incoherently enough, I'm sure,
but she took no notice of my manner.


GAS we lived in the neighborhood of
Loudon, it was Josiah's custom very fre.
qaently to discharge pistol out Of his
bedroom window. Hearing the report
recalled to my mind that had left the
keys of the safe with him. My aunt
kept these keys in secret place in her
room, and was always very careful to see
that they were safely deposited before
she went to bed. l was puzzl ng my
head how to get these keys from Josiah,
for l had not the courage to 60 for them
myself, when there came a tap at the
door, and Lucy brought in the keys,
saying that Mr. Josiah had told her to
give them to my aunt.


The conversation about the improve
ments was resumed, aud | soon found
that all this had really reference to our
marriage-my aunt choosing to assume,
by implication, that I had consented to
the match


" 1t was a warm sultry night, and, on
pretence Of wanting air, went to the
window. How my heart beat Look
out, could just perceive, in the breaks
of light on the path, figure hurrying
down the garden strained my sight
hard to be assured of the fact. The time
had come to tell my aunt Of my cousins
conduct


IL turned abruptly from the window,
and threw myself at her feet. Aunt,
| cannot marry my cousin! At that
moment, to my utter astonishmen: and
dismay, there was "a knock outside the
door it was Josiah he had come to ask
whether Lucy had delivered the keys.


"My aunt answered Josiahs question,
and he went away; then turning to me,
she asked, in severe voice, what l had
to say.


81 knew it was in vain for me to speak
without proof. l was silent through
painful heIplessness. My aunt waiting
while for me to speak, sternly declared
| had willfully thrown away my best
chance in life !; henceforth she should
never recur to the subject, and she babe
me good night. / reminded her that
this was my first act Of disobed'ence to
her wishes; | declared l would never
marry without her consent. 1t was all
in vain notwithstanding my tears and
protestations, could not move her to
forgiveness


But however great my distress of
mind. it was for the time lost in bewll
dcrment at Josiah's conduct 1t could
not have been more than FIVE minutes
after he had inquired about the keys, that
he hurried into my aunts dressing room.
without so much as knocking at the door,
and told as, in going the rounds of the
house, he Lad found one of the dining
room windows, which opened o. the gar
den, uubarred aud the window open
He was certain there was some collusion
with people outside; thieves might
even now be secreted in the house. He
rang the alarm bell which was connected
with the room. His manner seemed so
perfectly natural that began to believe
/ must have mistaken the voice. The
woman, servants, dreadfully frightened,
came budding into the room, all but
Lucy! Where was Lucy? Nobody
knew; she was not up stairs. Josiah
and the two men were to search the
house. the butler declared he had him
self shut and hsrred the dining room
windows. Presently, we heard voices
outside in the garden, and Josiah came
back to my aunt's room, laughing he
said it was all false alarm. The butler
and footmau had pounced upon Lucy
just AS she was coming in at the window.
The wretched girl was hurried into my
aunt's presence, aud cross-questioned,
Josiah standing by quite unconcerned,
What had she been doing' she was SO
scared and frightened All We could
gain from her WAS, she had gone to meet
her sweetheart.


NV aunt gave her warming on the
spot, and declared she should leave the
house next day.


Il was far too excited to sleep that
night Josiah's voice was it Josiah's?
l could think of nothing else.


''Early in the morning, Lucy came into
my room, crying bitterly. She begged
and prayed would interccde for her with
my aunt


"Tell me, Lucy, whom did you re-
ally 20 to meet?


!" Why, miss, only my young man.
she replied.


g" What an hour to choose. Lucy


"Yes, miss but he's Mt work in
London all day long


81 was determined to solve the mys-
terry about Josiah


So listen to me, Lucy / watched
her closely as spoke The night before
last, abou. half past ten, went to fetch
a book from the summer house, She
blushed scarlet at my words Il heard
the meeting between you aud that man ar