LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1001, 10 September 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

“ MAN PROPOSES.” ( Concluded .) 4 Do-o-n’t, Jess ; you’d have done the same, if you’d been in tl • fro at ’ _ They walked along together, puffing their cigars in silence. ‘ .Don’t say anothing about this, Jess,’ said Charley, when they reached the inn, 4 not to her at any rate - I mean Mias Coraoa—l hate gratitude —our whole summer’s fun would be spoilt.’ ‘All right. If you don’t want me to, 1 won’t,’ answered Nort n, rather surprised. ‘ 'I h»nk you, Jess,’ said the other heartily. When the young men had 1 ft, the quart ymen looking for iVliss Corson, saw she was gone. That young lady ■ad been awakened by the shout ng, and not knowing but what they were making fun of her, and suddenly remembering that she was in a position which some of her backbiting friends who liked to criticise her actions would style unladylike, quickly made her way back as she had come, Norton kept his promise. The. week slipped by, and Miss Corson never knew how near death she had been, nor how bravely she had been rescued. On the last evening, Charley found himself sitting alone with her on the inn porch. The lady who was to join the party was momentarily expected. He felt slightly nervous, almost bashful. He had lost a good deal «f his confidence in himself since he had met this ‘ forward girl.’ He could not flirt with her. She started the conversation. * Your curiosity about our future companion will soon be satisfied, Mr Benon.’ * Can’t you tell me, so that I may be prepared ?’ he asked. Before she had time to reply, however, a sudden thought stru k him. ‘ Oh ! of course I know who it is,’ he said ; • how stupid not to have guessed it before. Y our mother, of course, 1 will expect in a minute to see—’ but he stopped ; something in her face made him do so. ‘My mother is dead,'she said, in a low voice. 4 Oh! excuse my carelessness,’ Charley said hastily. An awkward silence ensued. He felt extremely uncomfortable. Jessie’s last speech was in such a changed tone as to have made him start. 4 1 was but two years old when she di ed, so I remember very little of her, only that once I was taken into her room- she was lying in bed, and papa stood be.-ide her, crying ; she kissed me a great many times, and said, 4 lake care of my child, Ben,’ and then I thought she went to sleep ; 1 did not know what death was.’ < barley said nothing. He did not know what to say. There was something in his > throat which he could not cough up. S 4 1 often wish I had a mother,’she went ■ on; ‘I might be a better girl ; but papa is j very kind. He thinks I look like mamma, j and until he came here, we have never been separated more than one day. He has been my only school-teacher.’ Bhe paused again, and then returned to her old gay style, j 4 How I am boring you !’ she said. I 4 No, indeed ! please go on. lam very j much interested,’ said Charley. | 4 Hush,’said she. ‘Listen!’ j In the room next to them the shrill voice of a child was relating what had happened *at the quarry. Not a detail was omitted, ! not a syllable was lost to the couple on the porch. When the story was told, she turned to him, half crying, half laughing, and held out • her hand. He took it. 1 4 ls it true, Charley?’ she asked.- She had never called him Charley before, j ‘Yes, L —’ I 4 You need not make any excuses. I know how bravely you did it. I don’t know how to thank you.’ j She stopped. He was holding her hand ! very tightly, and the hand, she knew, was throbbing as if there was a steam engine in it. She tried to release it, but he held it tighter still. 4 You have my hard, Mr Berton,’ she said, looking him in the face. What she saw there made her look more quickly to the floor. 4 You have my heart, Jessie,’ he said, with I an earnestness *hat made her heart throb till she was well nigh choked. The ‘forward’ girl was modest now. .she was trembling all over. But she did not try to take her hand away. Ah! that little baud; it was his hand now, and her heart was with it. They were happy, indescribably and supremely happy. All human joys are fleeting. They were reminded of the fact by hearing the latch of the gate lifted. Messrs Norton and Corson entered, accompanied by a very pretty young lady. Charley’s hair stood on end. It was Nellie Montague, j When Jessie was about to introduce them, : Nellie remarked that she thought 4 Charley i and I do not need an introduction,’ and | Charley was just sufficiently recovered to stammer out something about having ‘ met the lady before.’ During the rest of the evening he sat in a corner and conlined his conversation to monosyllables. He was thinking. At night he told Norton all. 4 Go to sl p ep, Charley,’ said that individual. 4 Put your trust in Norton, and he will fetch you through. ’ Comforted by this assurance, he resigned himself to the denizens of dreamland without further remark. When he arose at noon the following day he found that Norton and Nellie had taken a walk together, as had also Mr Corson and his daughter. Charley succeeded after some time in finding the latter couple. Jessie had just told her father of what had happened, and the latter had finally consented to her marriage. Consequently, a few minutes afterward, when they met the other party in tie wood, she said, ‘ Allow me to introduce Mr Charles Berton in a new character, as my future lord and master. ’ ‘And allow me to introduce the future Mrs Norton,’ said the gentleman of that name, presenting Miss Nellie Montague. As soon as he recovered from his amaze ment Charley advanced, and held nut his hand to Nellie. 4 Wo were both untrue,’ he said, ‘as lovers, but as friends we will be the opposite, ’ 4 And the trip to Europe ? ’ said the irtist ‘ We’ll put that off a year.’ ‘ Are you not anxious to admire the works of art there ? ’ ‘prefer nature,’ he said significantly, taking Jessie’s hand again.