“And in shaking the last few sands in my mother’s glass of life. The discovery of that girl’s treachery has driven me to despair—it would kill my mother! No, lady! I must marry her, that my beloved mother may depart in peace.”
“Marry her!” screamed Georgia, with the cry of a wounded hyena—“marry her, and sacrifice all your hopes of happiness, for the sake of keeping quiet the last few hours of a dying woman! You will not do such a thing.”
“My hopes of happiness, did you say, Mrs. Clifton? Ah, lady, can you not comprehend, then, that when one at my age has discovered—beyond all possibility of doubt—the total unworthiness of one the most beloved on earth—the heart’s most cherished darling—the life’s dearest hope—” down broke his voice, and down dropped his head upon his hands—then rising, impatiently, he exclaimed—“I say, can you not comprehend that I have no hopes of happiness left? I loved her so! I trusted her so! I sacrificed such strong prejudices for her! And I was as happy as a converted sinner, when the struggle was over and the sacrifice made. I could have shaken hands with her freckled-handed brother, and claimed kindred with all his rugged race! And now!—I am unmanned! I am a fool!”
“No, you are not, unless you marry her. You are not the first noble-minded man that has been duped by a bad woman! You feel it as every generous hearted man would. But it will pass. Life has many chances, and you will be happy yet. My friendship is not much, perhaps, but is it not something?”
“Yes—yes—yes—yes—sweet friend, it is much,” said Archer Clifton, slowly—half soliloquizing, as he took and held her hand. Then suddenly starting, as out of a reverie, he exclaimed—“Mrs. Clifton, you know my errand here—it is to bring you over to Hardbargain, for the purpose of which you have already been advised by the note.”
“To be present at your mad marriage, among other things?”
“Yes.”
“I will not go! I cannot! I cannot witness such a sacrifice.”
“As you please, dear Georgia. I suppose there is no imperative necessity of your doing so—good-bye!” and he arose, and lifted his hat from the table.
“Yes! good-bye, indeed!” replied Georgia, bitterly—“good-bye, indeed! if you persist in your insane purpose!—I shall remain here, and hope to the last. But when I hear that this marriage has really taken place, I leave White Cliffs within the hour!”