time you will not be bound by a promise, and thus
forced from a sense of honor to fulfil a pledge of which
your heart might repent. Think of all I have said, and
I know you will acquit me of any harshness. But
believe me, in any event, my dear Mr. Beauchampe, to
be your true friend."
The lover saw that he could not change the resolution of Mrs. Wareham, and accordingly he was forced to submit. Eager to put his plan in operation, he lost no time in engaging á passage to New York. We will not attempt to describe his parting with Edith . Amid all her grief, however, there was no hope-hope for the future, bright and beautiful ! She had not seen disappointment like Mrs. Wareham, and life was sunny and alluring before her. With the tear that dimmed her blue eye at parting, there was mingled a smile to cheer her lover, and bid him look forward to a happy meeting. " Sweet girl," said Beauchampe to himself, as he drove away from the house, " she, at least, is not coldhearted ! She does not doubt my faith. Beautiful Edith, that smile is worth a world to me. And now for America !" During the long voyage that ensued, for it was protracted to an unusual length, Beauchampe thought often of that parting smile. It was to him a sign of hope. When should he behold that smile again ? CHAPTER v . THE first duty of Beauchampe, on returning to his country, was to acquaint his guardian with his resolution to abandon his fortune, since his heart could not endorse the vows which his uncle had made for him. The guardian was a man of the world, a cool old merchant of some sixty years of age, and he heard the determination of his ward with undisguised astonishment. "What !-throw away ten thousand a year and a lovely girl, for a mere whim, a passion that will not outlast the leaves. Pooh ! Pooh ! you are crazy, Beauchampe. You must not think of such a thing. Five hundred a year and a profession to support a family with ! —my dear boy, you never can do it.” " But I have made up my mind, and am willing to abide by my resolution," said Beauchampe, with a little warmth, "besides if you were to see Miss Wareham," he could not call her Edith before the calculating merchant-" you would not wonder at my choice." "And if you were to see Miss Harper, you would be cured of your romantic notion. By Jove ! if I were a young man I would move heaven and earth to win her. | Why all the young men have been crazy about her, in the few weeks since she has finished her education and come out !—and here are you, actually refusing her and ten thousand a year to boot, without so much as having seen her. You deserve to be cut off without a shilling."
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"But, my dear, sir, beautiful though she be, I do not love her!" " But you could love her if you were willing. No one can see her without loving her," exclaimed the old man with some warmth. "But I love another, and I am sure that Miss Harper would not wish me to bring her a cold unsympathizing heart. Her better nature must repel at being trafficked away as in a shambles !" "Well-well, you must call on me to-morrow at my house, when we will talk the matter over again. You will think better of it by that time." The next day Beauchampe paid his second visit to his guardian, and was received in the old man's library. The lover was firm, for the sweet face of Edith was continually in his memory, and could he barter her away for gold ? "I have one last argument to urge," said the old man, as he followed his guest down the hall, pausing, while he spoke, at the parlor door, which he threw open, "here is Miss Harper, and I leave you to express your resolution to her." So saying the old gentleman retired, leaving Beauchampe thunder-struck in the hall. His first impulse was to retire. But the young lady had heard his guardian's words, and he could not refuse the interview without rudeness. His situation was awkward in the extreme. But there was nothing left except to advance and extricate himself the best way he could from the dilemma. After a moment's hesitation, therefore, he stepped into the parlor, wondering in what manner he should open this strange and embarrassing interview. A female was sitting with her back toward him, half concealed by the rich curtains that shrouded the front windows. He felt satisfied that this was Miss Harper. For a minute she did not hear, or affected not to hear his footstep on the rich Wilton carpeting, and the embarrassed young man had nearly reached her side, before she seemed to be aware of his presence. "Miss Harper !" said he, and then paused, unable to proceed. The person turned around quickly and rose, revealing to the astonished gaze of Beauchampe the very counterpart ofthe features of the stage box beauty. 66 Edith ! Miss Wareham ! Do I dream ?" " And you are determined to refuse me ?" said she, with an arch smile. That voice and look removed every doubt, and catching the sweet girl in his arms, he answered her by imprinting a kiss on her pouting lips. " That's a practical argument," said the voice of his guardian, from the other parlor, " and has proved more conclusive than all my other ones. Ah ! Beauchampe did I not tell you that my ward was irresistible ?" "Yes! my dear boy," said the voice of Mrs. Wareham,
