Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-14

vain: besides, in the conversation which they
bad held together, be had dweit on beauty and
simplicity as the most attractive points in the
female character. Robert had felt. as he spoke:
tina, Susan was the very being whom he had
described, and had congratulated himself that
they were still unacquain!ed. But now they
had met; he had seen, he had studied, had
transferred TO canvass, the match!ess beauty.
had conquered the t~imidily, which, to Robert
had always seemed unconquerable; and won her
TO admit his gaze; had tanned that shvest, COY.
est dove; had become familiar with the sweet.
est face, and that dearesl'frame-oh. the very
thought was agony. 10 this mood, he arrived
at the farm; and there, working at her needle,
under the vine wreathed porch; with the even.
ing sunshine full upon her, and her little broth.
err playing at her feet, sat his own Susan. She
heard his rapid step, and advanced 10 meet him,
with a smile and a blush Of delight-jusl the
smile and blush OF the picture. AZ such a mo.
mem, they increased his miseries, he ~repulsed
her offered hand, and poured forth a torren, Of
questions on the subject which possessed his
mind. Her innocent answers were fuel 10 hi,
frenzy. "rhe picture! had be seen the picture.
and was it pretty?-mueh too pretty, Size
thought, but every body called it ike! and
Mary and Harry-was not he pleased with
them? What a wonderful thing i, was 10 make
a bit of canvass SO like living creatures. and
| what a wonderful man the strange gentleman
was! She had been al aid ofhim at first sadly
afraid of those two bright eyes--and SO had
Harry,-poor Harry had cried. bur he was SO
merry and so kind, that neither OF them minded
sitting 10 him now! And she was so glad that
Robert had seen the picture. she had waI,ed
him to see IL it was too pretty 10 be sure; but
then, Robert, would not mind that. She had
told he sen,leman"-"Go 10 the gentleman,
now" Interrupted Robert, "and tell him that i
relinquish you. 1t will be welcome news. Go
to him, Susan! your hear, is with him. Go to
him, | say!"-and throwing from him, with 4
bitter laugh, the frightened and weeping girl,
who had IaiI her trembling hand on his arm,
to deiain him, he darted from the door, and re-
turned to his old quarters at the hail.
Another fortnight passed, and Robert still
KEEP, aloor from his family and his home. His
mother and sister. indeed, occasionally saw
him; and sad accounts had poor Mary to give
to her friend Susan, Of Roberts i'll looks and
worse spirits. And Susan listened, and said
she did not care; and burst into a passion OF
tears, and said she was very happy; and avow
ed never to speak to him again, and desired
MARY never W IIlSui'ou y W mug VI hit ~
her; and then asked her a hundred questions
respecting his looks, and his words, and his
illness; and charged her with a thousand tender
messages, which in the next breath she with
drew. And Mary, TOO young TO understand
the Inconsistencies Of love, pilied and comfort.
ed, and thought it passing strange"
In the mean time, misfortunes OF a different
nature were gathering round Mrs. Kent. The
L - II. L...l .-ll
her kindest friend and largest credltor-died.
leaving his affairs in the bands Of an attorney Of
the next town-the pest and terror Of the neigh
borhood; and on the same day she received Two
letters from this formidable lawyer, one on &C
count of his dead client, the baker, the other on
account of his living client, the grocer-who
ranked next amongst her creditors--both
threatening, that il their respective claims were
not liquidaled, on or before a certain day, pro-
ceedings would be commenced againl her forth
with.
1t is in such a situation that woman most
feels her helplessness-especially that forlorn
creature whom the common people, adopting
the pathetic language Of Scripture, designate
by the expressive phrase, "a lone woman."-
Poor Judith sat down 10 cry, in powerless sof-
row, and vain self pity. She opened indeed her
hopeless day-book-but she knew too well that
her debtors could not pay. She had no one to
consult-for her lodger, in whose general Gle.
verness she had great confidence, had been alb
sent on one OF his excursions, almost as Tonga as
her son--aEd time pressed upon her-for The
letters, sent with he usual indirectness oiconn.
try conveyance, originally given to the carrier,
confded by the carrier to the bulterman to the
next village, left for three days at a public
house, and finally delivered at Hilton Crosby
a return post boy, had been nearly a week on
the road. Saturday was the day fixed for pay
men,, and this was Friday night, and Michael
mas and rent-day were approaching, and unable
even to look al this accumulation OF misery
poor Judith laid her head on her ~fruitless &C
coun, book, and sobbed aloud!
1t was with a strangely mingled feeling Of
comfort in such a son, and sorrow so to griere
him, tina, she heard Roberts voice a; her side,
asking :enderIy, what allied her? She put the
letters into his hands; and he, long prepared
for the blow, soo,hed and cheered her. \
must be given up " he said; and he would 60
with her, the next day, to make over the whole
property-"Let US pay, as far as our means 60
mother" pursued he, "and do not fear but,somc
~ -Mn8