Year: 1859

housekeeping excuse. l understood tn


matter clearly enough: Josiah sew no,
deeply my aunt had set her heart on ou
marriage, and he had resolved for hi
own interest not to be the person {,
thwart her.


"My persecution began from that day
! was to be taught to like Josiah Wilson
NY aunt devised all sorts of plans fo
forcing US together; he used CONSTANT,
to bring me home presents from the city
Jewelry, bouquets, and the like, which
was forced to accept. NY aunt fire
quently told her friends that We wcr.
very much attached to one another, and
that she supposed, one day or other, w
should ask her consent to our union NJ,
greatest distress was TO see how piqued
and angry Edward, Mr. Huntly, was a,
the attentions received from my cousin;
ne evidently thought was on the point
Of being engaged Ny lips were sealed
It was impossible for me to give hin any
indication Of my real feelings. Josiah
was always at my side, paying me the
most assidious court.


" After short time Josiah made me
an offer, and refused him without hesi-
tatlon. l was certainly astonished by
the warmth with which he pressed hi.
suit, for | had fancied he was only acting
out of compliance with my aunt's wishes.
lie begged and prayed that l would not
pronounce an ultimate decision; he had
perhaps been rather premature in his
declaration ; he only asked further time
to prove the sincerity of his love. He
would take DO refusal and we parted.


AS might be imagined, my aunt was
very angry at my conduct she expostu-
lated earnestly with me, and, in order to
show how deeply she had the matter at
heart, she detailed to me the plans she
had formed for our future mode of life
We we're to live with her; at her death.
she would bequeath us all her property 4;
and on the d y of our engagement, she
Interded to present US each with Eve
| thousand pounds.


I" | was placed in a most delicate posi-.
ton: l was wholly dependent on my
aunt; | had not a single relation in the
world who could help me-; Mr.. Huutly,
as was natural under the circumstances,
had ceased to pay me any attention.


"Things took the course feared my
aunt, fading that her arguments in Jo-
siah' favor were unavailing had recourse
to threat; she reminded me that the
disobedience was wholly on my side; che
declared that it would be the worse for
me if | persisted in my refusal aud she
concluded very painful conversation by
desiring me to give her my final decision
after the dinner party to which we were
going on the following evening in the
meanwhile, I was to think over the mat
ter well.


"When she had ceased speaking, my
aunt recolected she had 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 | said |
would 60 instead Of her. 1t was a lovely
summer night, and the cool air was very
refreshing after the excitement l bad
gone through.


IL found the book in the summer
house, but did not return Immediately,
the intense calm of night was so delight
ful. | was in strange condition, half
musing, half crying, when l heard voices
behind the the summer house. / felt
frightened, and drew back into the shade.
Listening very intently, could distin-
guish my cousins voice, then another
voice-a woman shy aunt's maid, Lu-
ey! To my utter amazement, 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 veicc-I was certain Of that
They passed way This was the excel
lent man my aunt wanted me to marry
[ was quite overcome with anger aud in
dignation. l would denounce his con-
duet ut once ! When had sufficiently
recovered 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, the girl would
deny everything: his word from child
hood had always been preferred to mine;
my aunt, at most, would believe l had
mistaken the voice


Il resolved to hold my peace till the
following evening. What night and
day Of agitation passed Not ono word
did my aunt say about Josiah during the
next day, but her manner was all kind
ness toward me.


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


"You may imagine how little enjoy
ed myself seated next my cousin. Mrs.
Hnptly, Edwards mother, was at the
party, and | could see she watched us
very intently.


"It happened after dinner, before tho
gentlemen came up. that Mrs Huntly
aud myself were left alone together in
one of the drawing rooms. She address
cd me, aud laugbingy said she supposed
she would soon have the pleasure Of con-
graduating me on my engagement with
nv cousin | longed to speak out to
her, to tell her how disliked my cousin,
and loved her son, but l dared not, |
strove to say sou ething; my tongue was
powerlcss | burst into food Of tears.
Fortunately / recovered myself b, fore my
aunt caught sight Of me.


"Wo LEI. the party at about eleven
o'clock. As soon ~ we got home, my
aunt bade Josiah good night, retired to
her dressing room, and sent for her maid.
When my aunt wore her diamonds, 1t
was the custom for me to take them from
her dressing room, aud put them awsy,
and they were kept in room opesing
into the dressing-r room, which was used
as a boudoir, In this room vas large
fire proof safe, which on the outside had
the appearance Of an ordinary chiffon
Mere. | was in such state of nervous