FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158  
159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   >>   >|  
then hurrying on, soon reached the graveyard, where, as Ella had said, there stood by her parents' graves a large handsome monument. William Bender was the first person who came into her mind, and as she thought of all that had passed between them, and of this last proof of his affection, she seated herself among the tall grass and flowers, which grew upon her mother's grave, and burst into tears. She had not sat there long, ere she was roused by the sound of a footstep. Looking up, she saw before her the young gentleman, who the year previous had visited her school in Rice Corner. Seating himself respectfully by her side, he spoke of the three graves, and asked if they were her friends who slept there. There was something so kind and affectionate in his voice and manner, that Mary could not repress her tears, and snatching up her bonnet which she had thrown aside she hid her face in it and again wept. For a time, Mr. Stuart suffered her to weep, and then gently removed the gingham bonnet, and holding her hand between his, he tried to divert her mind by talking upon other topics, asking her how she had been employed during the year, and appearing greatly pleased, when told that she had been at Mount Holyoke. Observing, at length, that her eyes constantly rested upon the monument, he spoke of that, praising its beauty, and asking if it were her taste. "No," said she, "I never saw it until to-day, and did not even know it was here." "Some one wished to surprise you, I dare say," returned Mr. Stuart. "It was manufactured in Boston, I see. Have you friends there?" Mary replied that she had one, a Mr. Bender, to which Mr. Stuart quickly rejoined, "Is it William Bender? I have heard of him through our mutual friend George Moreland, whom you perhaps have seen." Mary felt the earnest gaze of the large, dark eyes which were fixed upon her face, and coloring deeply, she replied that they came from England in the same vessel. "Indeed!" said Mr. Stuart. "When I return to the city shall I refresh his memory a little with regard to you?" "I'd rather you would not," answered Mary. "Our paths in life are very different; and he of course would feel no interest in me." "Am I to conclude that you, too, feel no interest in him?" returned Mr. Stuart, and again his large eyes rested on Mary's face, with a curious expression. But she made no reply, and soon rising up, said it was time for her to go home. "Allow me to
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158  
159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Stuart

 

Bender

 

bonnet

 
friends
 
rested
 

replied

 
returned
 

interest

 

William

 

graves


monument
 

rejoined

 

beauty

 

praising

 

wished

 
surprise
 

manufactured

 

Boston

 

mutual

 
quickly

vessel

 
answered
 

conclude

 

rising

 

curious

 

expression

 

regard

 
earnest
 

George

 

Moreland


coloring

 

deeply

 

refresh

 

memory

 

return

 

England

 

Indeed

 

friend

 

removed

 

roused


mother

 

footstep

 

Looking

 

school

 

Corner

 

Seating

 
visited
 

previous

 

gentleman

 

flowers