Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-21

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pains IN her own attire, which. always
neat and simple, was very becoming to
her fair face and slender form. she
bound her bright tresses with knots o.
blue ribband, and laced her bodice with
" the same. AT the appointed hour the
naughty Cunegonde came sweeping in,
attended by her lover LeLa, though
extremely agtated, could not help OBJ
serving the look Of admiration and sur
prise which Maurice cast upon her. 1t
did not escape the quick eyes OF his al
financed BRIDE, and she Showed her dis
pleasure by an instantaneous alteration
IN her temper; the smiles disappeared
from her scornlul lips, she scanned the
mean dwelling with naughty glance,
found fault with the poor girls most ex-
quIsltely wrought embroidery, and gave
her strict charge to take more pains
ilh the Workmanship of the robe,
which, after changing her mind thous-
and times: she at last selected, and then,
as if glad that the irksome duty of pa
tionlZing the unfortunate was at an end,
iiounced out OF the room. Maurice lin
eered behind to say kind word, but
Cnnegonde called him to open the lower
door, a d he took ii hasty leave. Thus
ended the dreaded interview; and Lena
having dispatched her mother to pur-
chase the materials for the bridal gar
ment, wept long and bitterly, even when
seated at her wearisome occupation she
could scarcely repress the starting tears,
or prevent the drops which would fall, in
despite OF all her efforts, from soiling the
delicate web, and furnishing the rich TO-
lage OF silver which she spread over its
glossy surface. She devoted herself
day and night t. the task, in her anxiety
to finish it by the appointed time, and
therefore knew nothing Of what was pass
ing al Maurice Ket,ler's house, except
ing through The medium of her mother,
whose whole amusement consisted i'm
watching the premises, and calculating
the expense OF the various articles which
we're continually brought by polters to
the gate.
Lena learned with grief from Mrs
Brugg ggemann's report, that constantly
surrounded by disspated companions,
Maurice pursued his lhoughtless career,
wasting h's time and money in rlotous
living Cunegonde seemed to exist on
ly in a crowd, and there was little chance
that marriage would effect a reformation
in his household. Suddenly the sorrow
ing girls attention was aroused by the
intelligence Of striking alteration
which had taken place in the ne ghbour-
ing edifce. Deserted by its late ioval
guests, half the windows closely shut up,
the porch unswept, and the garden neg
lected, il looked quite forlorn. The
servants Inst sead of bus ling about in their
flaming hveries, now seldom showed
themselves, or appeared in dlshabille,
aud answered the sulky creditors, who
supplied tho place of gayer company,
with crest fallen and detected air
Losses by land and by sea poured in up
on Maurice Kettler; he had wasted his
capita in luxurious loasting, and after a
trui,lcss effort to retrieve his affairs, he
was proc ia.med bankrupt
Well! TO see the changes and chan
ces of this world" said Mrs. Brugge-
mann, as, fatigued by walking to the far
thest part of the city, she returned tn G
identical parcel containing the bridal
robe, which Lena had packed with inf
mite care, into her daughters hands,
"l have been all the way up to the Ba-
ron's," continued the loquacious matron,
" and met with a smart rebuff from Ma
dam Cunegonde. 1t is all off, it seems,
between her and Maurice; and she has
refused to take the manteau and kyrtle,
which you have almost lost your eye
sight in making worthy of queen. Nor
will she pay for the materials, or allow
you the slightest compensation for your
labour. think she must have a spite
towards you, Lena; for by what could
see she need not despair Of requiring Il
wedding robe. There was one of the
Emperor's knights in the chamber; and
they jeered finely together about the
downfall of upstart Burghers. 1t is
plain that she never cared single doit
for Maurice, and now he has lost his
wealth, he may starve in prison with
out giving her the slightes' concern"
There seemed too great reason to ap-
prehend that this would be the thought
less merchants fate. Ills property, di-
minshed by unforeseen disasters, was
insufficient to meet half his engagements,
the extravaganza Of his conduct had left
him few friends; and the whole city was
filled with the clamorous outcry of ma
lignant tongues. Lena wept for the mis-
fortunes of her early friend, and felt an
anxious wish to console him IN his aE- |
n, IL L,,t ho Ln. T.. -