Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 140: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 127 than that he should perish because I chose to re- main rich. Therefore, my dear sir, you seo that I am selfish * Oh,” exclaimed Mr. Macdonald, “ if the world knew no other selfishness than this, what a paradise would earth be!” “And now go, my dear sir,” I hastily said,— | “go to your wife and daughters, and tell them that your long life of goodness and respectability is not to be tarnished and rendered wretched to- wards its close! God bless you, my dear sir! and may you henceforth prosper !” I turned hastily away to avoid any farther ex- pression of gratitude on the part of the manufac- turer; and said to Alexander Graham as I flew to the door, * Come with us!” He followed my father and myself; aad when we were in the street, I said to him, “ Be so kind as to repair to your uncle’s lawyer—tell Henry that I am in Paisley—that I wish to see him— and that he is to come to me at once. But in the first instance break to him what I have just done —or at least afford him an insight into it—for I do not wish to be compelled to give all the ex- planations from my own lips.” “T will go at once, Miss Percy !” replied Alex- ander. “Oh, believe me! I would go to the end of the world to serve you!” Away he sped; and I accompanied my father back to the hotel. We walked on in silence: my own heart was now again too full of emotion to allow my lips to give utterance to a word—while my father was naturally lost in the contemplation of the enormous sacrifice which I had made, and which though he had been fully prepared for it, was still sufficient fo bewilder and astound him. We reached the hotel; and my father under. stood that it was now wy wish to be left alone to tranquillize my feelings and prepare myself for the approaching interview with Henry. But not long did I remain alone ; for presently hasty foot- steps were heard ascending the staircase—then the door was burst open—and Henry Wakefield entered with a half-wild expression of counte- nance. “Ellen, my beloved!” he at once exclaimed, taking me by the hand; “tell me, is this true P is it indeed all truth that I have been told P” “Whatever Mr. Graham may have communi- cated to you, Henry,” I said, “is undoubtedly correct , “Ellen, you are an angel!” and he folded me in his arms. “Oh, my beloved! is it possible that you havo made this tremendous sacrifice ?” “No sacrifice, my dear Henry!’ I said, as we sat down together. “Your name will exist un- tarnished—the magnanimous sensitiveness of your disposition will not be wounded 4 “Ah! and thus if was for me—and for me only,” he exclaimed, “ that you have done this ?” “For whom else would you have me do it? Certainly no sentiment of friendship or gratitude towards Mr. Macdonald would have been powerful enough . * Oh, no! you have done it all for me, Ellen!” he cried, almost with wildness. “But my God! am I worthy of it? Oh, if the illimitable love which I bear you, Ellen—if the resolve which is imperishable in my heart, to make your happiness —_————— ee rl NF the study of my life—if to cherish you as never woman was before cherished,—Oh! if all this, with its infinite variety of pure and ennobliug influences, be sufficient to render me worthy of the immensity of your own love—Oh ! then, Ellen, I do indeed deserve it !” . “ Henry, such language as this from your lips,” I said, “is more than an adequate reward for any little sacrifice I may have made. And indeed it is no sacrifice! That fortune which came to me so suddenly and unexpectedly, can scarcely be missed when it has departed in a similar manner.” “Qh! but, Ellen dearest,” ejaculated Henry, “you have not parted with it all ?” | “Yes—all!” I answered: “it is exactly sufii- | cient to make up the sum which would save Mr. @ Ne from the ruin and the disgrace that would redound upon yourself.” “All your fortune, Ellen ?” cried Henry, with a look of wild affright. “Compose yourself—do not be excited,” I said. “'Yet—it was al? my fortune: and why not ?” “Then, by heaven! this shall not be!” he ejacu- lated: “it is too much! Macdonald shall at least give back a part !”—and Henry was rushing fran- tically, when I ran after him and held him back, “Stay!” I said; “and listen to me! Let Mr. Macdonald keep all or none; for it is only the entire sum which can save you both—and if you are not to be thus saved, it were needless to fling away @ portion only. Now, Henry, will you be led by me? will you suffer me to have my own way P” “Ellen, I feel distracted at the thought! You have made a sacrifice for me “ Answer me, Henry,’ I interrupted him; “ would you not, if need were, lay down your life for mo?” ‘ Oh, you know that I would!” he enthusiasti- eally exclaimed: “ you know that I would, Ellen!” —and he pressed me to his heart. “ Well then, Henry,” I rejoined; “and if you would lay down your life for me, as I would as- suredly lay down mine for you—what in com. parison is this surrendering up of so much dross P” “Ab, Ellen!” cried my cousin, “ if it were I who had made the sacrifice, I should glory in it! But, Oh! for you—you, who have made so many sacrifices on my account—you who have rejected the offers of titled nobles when they have pro- posed to lead you to the altar a “ Hush, Henry—hush!’ I said. “ Do I not love youP and is there any merit in following the inclinations of my own heart ?” “Adorable being that you are!” exclaimed Henry: “by heaven I feel ag if I could kneel down and worship you! JBeautiful, beautiful Killen! you are a veritable angel in my path! Oh, I cannot explain the feelings which now pos- sess me! Iam mad in my love for you!—mad in my grief that you should have made this fearful sacrifice !” ‘‘ But you must not be afllicted, Henry,” Lin- terrupted him. “Your heart ought to be light and buoyant; and it is thus that I wish to know that you are. As for money, Henry, it does not constitute happiness; and I ought to thank heaven that there is a profession open to me-——~” “Ah!” ejaculated Henry, as if thus suddenly ten ECORNICLOOC) SS (E©)